Set of 5 - Vertical Syrah Magnums

Set of (5) 1.5L Magnums from 1998-2002. Signed by Craig Jaffurs. Stored at winery.

Description of each of the wines below:

1998 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah


The 1998 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah is big, dark, and spicy. It has a high-tone, clean berry aroma and a clean, dark-fruit flavor. It shows the same white pepper flavors characteristic of Bien Nacido Pinot Noir. It is made using two new and two one-year-old barrels of the following types: Billon (French), Damy (French), and Radoux (American). (300 cases produced)

• This wine is 100% Syrah fruit from the high saddle of Z(b) Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria.
• The fruit was harvested October 22, 1998 at 24.2 brix, 3.3 pH.
• The fruit was stemmed with intact, whole berries and placed in small bin boxes for fermentation.
• Fermented on the skins for 14 days.
• This wine represents twelve choice barrels selected out of a total lot of thirty.
• Four Billon French barrels were used. Two were new and two were one year old. Wood was sourced from Vosges and Allier.
• Four Damy French barrels were used. Two were new and two were one year old. Wood was sourced from Vosges and Nevers.
• Four Radoux American barrels were used. Two were new and two were one year old. Wood was sourced from Missouri, Appalachia, and Minnesota.
• Wine was racked in mid May, and again prior to bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in February.
• Unfined and unfiltered.
• Spicy and toasty aromas with dense, dark fruit on the taste. Loads of tannin - another big wine!



Food Pairing: This is a powerfully 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. Seared, spiced Ahi is a favorite, as is smoked salmon.



1999 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah


The 1999 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah is dark as night and spicy like gingerbread. As usual, it has a high-tone, clean berry aroma and a brooding, dark-fruit flavor. It shows the same white pepper flavors characteristic of Bien Nacido Pinot Noir. Suprisingly given its power, this is the leanest of the four syrahs. It is made using five new and three older American oak barrels, and two new and six older French oak barrels. (389 cases produced)

• This wine is 100% Syrah fruit from the high saddle of Z(b) Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria.
• Harvested November 12, 1999 at 23.8 brix, 3.4 pH.
• The fruit was stemmed with intact, whole berries and placed in small bin boxes for fermentation.
• Fermented on the skins for 14 days as individual lots in small bin boxes.
• RC212, D254, and Assmanshaussen yeast used.
• This wine represents sixteen choice barrels selected out of a total lot of thirty.
• Eight French barrels were used. Two were new, two were one year old, and four were two-years-old. Wood was sourced from Vosges, Nevers, and Allier.
• Eight American barrels were used. Five were new, two were one-year-old, and one was two-years-old. Wood was sourced from Missouri, Appalachia, and Minnesota.
• Wine was racked in mid April, and again prior to bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in January.
• Unfined and unfiltered.
• Alcohol is 14%
• Spicy and toasty aromas with dense, dark fruit on the taste. Loads of tannin - another big wine! Leaner than earlier vintages. Dark.



Food Pairing: This is a powerfully 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. Seared, spiced Ahi is a favorite, as is smoked salmon.









2000 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah


The 2000 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah is our darkest wine. As usual, it has a clean, high-tone, berry-herb aroma and a rustic fruit flavor. It shows white pepper and authentic Rhone flavors. This powerful wine is the leanest of the five syrahs. It is made using four new and four older American oak barrels, and four new and four older French oak barrels. (383 cases produced)

• This wine is 100% Syrah fruit from the high saddle of Z(b) Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria.
• Harvested November 13, 2000 at 24.2 brix, 3.4 pH.
• 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 as individual lots in small bin boxes.
• RC212, D254, PDM and Brunello yeast used.
• This wine represents sixteen choice barrels selected out of a total lot of thirty three
• Eight French barrels were used. Four barrels were new and four were older from various forests.
• Eight American barrels were used. Five were new, two were one-year-old, and one was two-years-old. The majority of the oak was sourced from Appalachia.
• Wine was racked in mid June, and again prior to bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in March.
• Unfined and unfiltered.
• Alcohol is 14%
• Spicy and toasty aromas with dense, dark fruit on the taste. Loads of tannin - another big wine! Fatter than the 1999 vintage. Dark!
• Bottled in August 2001.



Food Pairing: This is a powerfully 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. Seared, spiced Ahi is a favorite, as is smoked salmon.










2001 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah


The 2001 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah is our darkest and most balanced wine this year. It has a clean, high-tone, berry-herb aroma and a pleasant dark-fruit taste. It shows classic Bien Nacido white pepper and authentic Rhone flavors. It was made using four new and four older American oak barrels, and four new and four older French oak barrels. (387 cases produced)

• This wine is 100% Syrah fruit from the high saddle of Z(b) Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria. This is an extremely cool vineyard site and is exposed to constant marine air flow.
• Harvested on October 29, 2001 at 24.0 brix, 3.5 pH.
• 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. Half the lots were fermented in small bin boxes. The other half was fermented in a larger, jacketed, open-top fermenter. The results of both lots were quite similar.
• RC212, D254, and W-S yeast used.
• This wine represents sixteen choice barrels selected out of a total lot of thirty.
• Eight French barrels were used. Four barrels were new and four were older.
• Eight American barrels were used. Four barrels were new and four were older. The majority of the oak was sourced from Appalachia.
• Wine was racked in mid July, and again before bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in April.
• Unfined and unfiltered.
• Spicy and toasty aromas with dense, dark fruit on the taste. Loads of tannin - another big wine! Fatter than the 1999 vintage, more aromatic than 2000. Dark!
• Bottled in January 2003



Food Pairing: This is a 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.










2002 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah


The 2002 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah is clean, dark, and balanced. It has a deep, high-tone, raspberry-herb aroma and a pleasant dark-fruit taste. It shows classic Bien Nacido white pepper and authentic Rhone flavors. It was made using four new and four older American oak barrels, and four new and four older French oak barrels. Good power. (387 cases produced)

• This wine is 100% Syrah fruit from the high saddle of Z(b) Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria. This is an extremely cool vineyard site and is exposed to constant marine air flow.
• Harvested on November 6, 2002 at 25.0 brix, 3.5 pH.
• 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. Half the lots were fermented in small bin boxes. The other half was fermented in a larger, jacketed, open-top fermenter. The results of both lots were quite similar.
• RC212 and D254 yeast used.
• Twelve French barrels were used. Four barrels were new and eight were older.
• Four American barrels were used. Two barrels were new and two were older.
• Wine was racked in mid April, and again before bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in April.
• Unfined and unfiltered.
• Bottled in August 2003



Food Pairing: This is a 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.