2012 Axiom^® Syrah Alegría Vineyards

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91 points & Cellar Selection - Wine Enthusiast
92 points - Zinfandel Chronicles
91 points & Gold Medal - Critics' Challenge Wine Competition 90 points - Purely Domestic Wine Report

Tasting Notes

Intense enticing aromatics of ripe blackberry merge with saddle leather and tarry earth notes. The rich, concentrated entry showcases juicy wild blackberry and creamy mocha flavors that coat the palate and linger into the finish. A hint of chocolate covered espresso beans adds interest and depth to this delicious wine. The youthful tannins express the need for additional bottle aging; however, this wine can be enjoyed now when given time to open.

Winemaker's Notes

An axiom is a self-evident truth. We call our Syrah “Axiom” because it is evident from the first sniff and sip that this is a classic expression of the Cote Rotie tradition of co-fermenting Syrah with Viognier to enhance aroma, mouthfeel, and color.

Our south-facing hillside is planted as a field blend of three clonal selections of Syrah inter-planted with a small amount of Viognier. The weather in 2012 was nearly perfect, and the crop ripened evenly. We co-fermented the two varieties in an open top fermenter with Syrah yeast.

We aged the wine for 17 months in a combination of barrels, carefully selected from different forests and coopers, to add structure and notes of vanilla and spice, while enhancing the spicy berry flavors typical of our Russian River Valley Syrah. The result is a delicious reflection of the vineyard and the best of the vintage.