Saracina Syrah Rodgers Creek Vineyard 2007

Vintage and Release Information

Sonoma Coast 2007
Released October 17, 2010
Production of 12 cases

Varietal Composition

100% Syrah

Technical Data

15.3% alcohol
0.59 gm/100 ml titratable acidity
pH 4.04
Bottled August 12, 2009

Vineyards

The Rodgers Creek Vineyard lies in the hills east of the Petaluma gap in the Sonoma Coast appellation.  Our southwest-facing block is planted with an Alban selection clone, originally taken from Cote Rotie, on 101-14 rootstock.  The grapes struggle to ripen due to the vineyard's extremely cool site and windswept aspect, making for a "white-knuckle" harvest every year.  This struggle for ripeness and an exciting clone make this a superlative site for Syrah.

Harvest

Although this is a truly marginal site for ripening Syrah, 2007 was a winemaker's harvest.  The growing season was long and even; therefore, we had the ability to wait for ideal maturation without the need to rush to beat adverse weather.  We harvested on October 11 with clear skies and cool breezes.

Winemaking and Cooperage

The grapes were hand-picked at full maturity.  Nearly 35% of the fruit was put into open tops as whole clusters and treaded by foot.  The remaineder was de-stemmed and gently crushed on top.  Native yeast fermentation began seven days later and was complete by November 25.  During fermentation, we used gentle aerative pumpovers to keep the skins in contact with the juice.  Post-fermentation maceration with heat followed for one week.  The wine was aged in Francois Freres oak barrels (40% new) for 18 months, which included six months of native malolactic fermentation.  We bottled the wine unfiltered.

Winemaker

Alex MacGregor

Winemaker's Comments

ack garnet in color, this stunning wine offers a nose of white pepper, black olive, garrigue and black fruits.  The palate is equally impressive, with ripe black currant and plum flavors, game and a smoky inner mouth perfume.  It is a true expression of extended California ripeness, in a very cool-climate site, with more than a suggestion of Northern Rhone.  This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for 5 to 10 years.