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Wine Details
Price:
Description:
Shiraz is also known as Syrah. It is the same grape and appears under either name depending on the winery. With a warm growing season in Lodi in 2003, the Syrah matured fully and to its optimum. The wine was fermented at warm temperatures in small batches using gentle techniques that maximized color and flavor extraction without adding bitterness. The addition of Petite Sirah and Cabernet created additional depth and complexity, while a touch of Malbec enhanced the smooth character of this bold wine. This Shiraz is a big, full-bodied red wine with aromas of plum, spice and hints of violet. With layers of complexity, this wine reveals flavors of dark plums, white pepper and a hint of earth framed by toasty notes of vanilla. The wine has both concentration and elegance, and the finish lingers with velvety, mouth coating tannins.
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Varietal Definition
Shiraz:
Alternate name for the french Syrah clone grape grown in Australia and responsible for very big red wines that are not quite as intense in flavor as the french Rhone versions.
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Malbec:
Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, this grape is among the "big six" for red wine grapes. Malbec is typically a medium to full-bodied red wine. Ripe fruit flavors of plums and blackberry give it a jammy characteristic. The tannins are typically a bit tight and the earthy, wood-like appeal makes for a fairly rustic wine. Malbec goes well with roast meats such as chicken or turkey. It should be served at 58F and can be aged for up to 5 years typically.
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Petite Sirah:
Petite Sirah is the same as the French variety known as Durif, a cross of Peloursin, with the true Syrah. A French nurseryman, Dr. François Durif, propagated the grape trying for resistance to powdery mildew and named it after himself, in the 1870s. Petite Sirah has long been an important blending grape, prized primarily for its deep color and fairly intense tannin. It is the variety most often chosen to blend into Zinfandel for added color, complexity, body, and to tone down the tendency of Zins toward "jammy" fruit.
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Syrah:
Syrah is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhone grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with - healthy, early ripening, resistant to mildew and rot; suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. The wines from Syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell of dark blue fruit like blackberries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. Syrah is famous for its part in the French blends, such as Côtes du Rhone and Châteauneuf du Pape.
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