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This is the first release of Syrah from Clover Creek Vineyard located near the Santa Ynez River, a few miles west of the town of Santa Ynez.  Our good friends, Michael and Carolyn Balaban planted several grape varietals for our use, including two clones of Syrah.  This is the first year we had enough quantity of this wine to bottle separately and we are extremely pleased to offer it to our club members.

The grapes were harvested on September 29th at an average sugar level of 25.7 Brix.  The grapes were entirely destemmed and put into small open top fermenters for a three week fermentation period.  After wine wine was pressed off and had settled, it was then transferred to small oak barrels for aging.  The wine was fined to remove coarse tannins, filtered and bottled in March 2006.

A beautiful, very dark almost impenetrable ruby/purple color announces that this is a wine of depth.  The aroma is an exuberant mixture of cranberries, raspberries and boysenberries.  On the palate it is rich, full bodied with strong, lush, raspberry and boysenberry flavors and the same acidity and slight astringency that berry seeds contribute to jams and preserves.  The finish is persistent and long.  Although the wine will soften and become more complex with four to seven more years of bottle aging, the charm of this wine is best enjoyed within the next two to three years. Pair this versatile wine with pork tenderloin, prime rib, and venison.

Rick Longoria, Winemaker
October 1, 2006

Composition: 94% Syrah
6% Grenache
Vineyard:  Clover Creek

Production:  183 cases
pH:  3.20
Alcohol by volume:  15.3%
Titratible acidity:  0.86 g/100 ml.

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