The 2006 UPSLOPE Syrah represents the best 6 barrels of Syrah in the winery for the vintage. It contains the best wine from each Thompson, Bien Nacido, and Verna’s vineyards wine lots. Now in its fourth vintage, it is deep and extracted, but with elegance and smoothness that only careful blending can produce. It is a statement – our highest ideal of what fine Syrah can and should be. (142 cases produced)
• Bien Nacido Vineyard harvested on October 18th at 25.4 brix, 3.25 pH, 3.5 TPA.
• Melville/Verna’s Vineyard Syrah harvested October 11th (Clone 1 25.5 brix and 3.5 pH, Estrella Clone 24.4 brix, 3.3 pH)
• The Thompson Vineyard Estrella Clone Syrah on its own rootstock harvested October 14th at 26.5 brix, 3.6 pH, 2.1 TPA.
• The fruit was stemmed but not crushed. Intact, whole berries were placed in small bin boxes for fermentation.
• Fermented on the skins for 14 days after a 48 hour cold soak.
• Wild, RC212, D254, and W.S. yeast used.
• Unfined and unfiltered.
• Bottled in April 2007.
• Barrel use is undefined and unimportant – we just taste them all and pick the best ones.
Food Pairing: Great for Holidays and very special occasions. This is smooth, yet highly flavored wine which works well with similarly flavorful food. Try dark sauces, even some with dark fruit. Makes a great reduction sauce. Try spiced or BBQ pork, lamb, or beef. Slow roasted short-ribs in syrah reduction cannot be beat. Seared, spiced Ahi is a favorite, as is smoked salmon.