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This is the first Alisos Vineyard Syrah to be bottled separately since we did so with the 2001 Alisos - Rex Syrah. Alisos Vineyard is located east of the town of Los Alamos, along Alisos Canyon Road. This area is starting to be recognized as the sweet spot for Syrah.

I've learned that in order to bring out all of the complexities of the Syrah grapes at Alisos Vineyard, we have to have patience and let the grapes reach a fairly high level of ripeness. In 2003 this meant harvesting at an average sugar of 25.7 Brix. The grapes were destemmed and crushed into small open top fermenters. After a three week fermentation, the must was drained and pressed, the wine going to a tank for settling. The wine then was moved to oak barrels, of which only 25% were new. It was aged for twenty-one months before being fined, filtered and bottled in June 2005.

This wine has a very dark purple color, so dense that it is difficult to see any light through it. The aromas are of sweet licorice combined with ripe plums. On the palate the wine is dense with dusty tannins dominating. A second sip will reveal dense flavors of anise, black pepper and ripe blackberries. This is definitely a wine that would benefit from being decanted for an hour or so prior to serving. It will also greatly benefit from four to eight years of bottle aging to soften the tannins and allow the complex flavors to come out. Serve with wild game, roast pork and grilled meats.

Rick Longoria, Winemaker
March 1, 2006

Composition: 100% Syrah: Alisos Vineyard

Production: 96 cases
Alcohol by volume: 14.7%
Titratible acidity: .67 g/100 ml.
pH: 3.71

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