A well grown and made Syrah encompasses just about all of the qualities one could seek in a red wine.
It can simultaneously have depth like a Cabernet, but stay supple in texture like a fine Merlot; it can incorporate fruity and ripe tones like those of Zinfandel, but still keep enough of the graciousness and style of a Pinot Noir to pair well with food. Getting consumers to latch onto all of these merits has proven to be no easy task. And yes, the jokes about needing a "Sideways" movie for Syrah are getting old. So I decided I had to do my part to correct the situation ... How? By making a wine that bowls you over and shows you the light of course!!
The 2005 "Monterey" Syrah is 100% Syrah, and the fruit is sourced from the both the organically grown Mesa del Sol Vineyard in Arroyo Seco (51%), and from Paraiso Vineyard on Santa Lucia Highlands (49%).
Since Mesa del Sol is quite a warm, protected location and Paraiso is a considerably cooler site, the intent of this wine is to fuse the characters of the two appellations into a fruit-forward, but still complex, Syrah that showcases Monterey's fine overall climate for the variety.
The 2005 "Monterey" Syrah shows a fine balance between upfront blackberry-ish fruit, lingering peppery spice, and caramelized oak. The primary flavors of plums, blackberries, and vanillin are woven together in an elegant texture. Classic cool climate Syrah spice notes show both in the wine's aromas and on the finish.