2005 Reserve Syrah
2005 Reserve Syrah
Wine Notes
by Barnard Griffin
Vintage Notes
Again with a warm vintage we gained great color and dramatic structure. The aromas of our 2005 Syrah are intense and very ripe with a background note of spicy toasted French oak. Scents of plums, blackberries and violets are dominant. The flavors are dark and rich on the palate following through with the dark fruit theme. The wine is soft in its tannins but balanced with good acidity.
2005 Reserve Syrah
Vineyards
The 2005 growing season was a hot with deep ripening fruit that did give us wines of good structure. Both sugars and acids were balanced and optimal throughout our contracted Syrah vineyards. I believe that Syrah achieves best results in our climate if allowed to begin its characteristic dehydration. I remain dedicated to blending different vineyard sources to achieve balanced, full flavored wines. Here are my sources for 2005 Syrah:
Desert Air Vineyard Columbia Valley/Wahluke Slope
Gunkle Vineyards Columbia Valley/Columbia Gorge
Sagemoor Vineyard Columbia Valley/Columbia River
Wine Making
ICV D54 yeast was used with a maximum fermentation temp of 88F
Pump-overs 2 to 3 times daily until fermented to ca. 5 degrees brix
Bottled 8/06 Malo-lactic positive
Aged in both American and French oak barrels
6567 cases produced