Gold Medal, 2007 Orange County Wine Competition Silver Medal, 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

The Twisted Oath: I, state your name, do solemnly swear that I am AT LEAST 21 years of age, I am allowed to cross the street by myself, and I clean up my own messes (mostly). I promise to be faithfully Twisted in thought, word, and deed, without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, personal hygiene, or hairstyle, and will to the best of my ability, uphold this glass, with its aromas of dark berry and leather, plummy flavors and firm tannins before consuming it forthwith.

Food Pairings: Carnivores rejoice! Beef, pork, game - classic leg of lamb - even hamburgers and SPAMburgers!

750 ml     $24.00  Geek Sheet Data for 2004 Calaveras County Syrah

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Tasting Notes

This Syrah is Big, Bold and Deep Purple in color. You’ll detect pronounced aromas of raspberries and white peppers, along with perhaps a little Smoke on the Water. You’ll taste Lazy flavors of plums, grapes, vanilla, cloves and pepper. This is a wine that might make you feel like a Highway Star, but it might be better to stay at home and enjoy it with your Woman From Tokyo.

Production Notes The 2004 Calaveras County Syrah is a blend of Syrahs from 6 different vineyards. The season started off with an early budbreak in Calaveras. The weather slowly warmed up resulting in a very protracted bloom period. This kept the berries small and assisted with a very low skin/juice ratio. After bloom, the weather turned quite hot... very typical for our region in July and August. We had a late heat spell that kicked the vines into ripeness just before the weather changed up and sent some rains down.Upon reaching the winery, the fruit was fermented with approximately 80% of the berries crushed and 20% destemmed and left as “whole-berries”. After primary fermentation, the wine was pressed and racked to barrels where we induce the secondary, or malolactic, fermentation to soften the mouthfeel. The wine spent 19 months in new American and Hungarian oak before being bottled.     TECHNICAL NITTY GRITTY Varietals & Vineyards:100% Syrah from Tanner, Ferriere, Flicker Oaks,Cave City, Canterbury and Smith VineyardsHarvest Date:All Over, 2004Oak Program:20% new American oak20% new Hungarian oak60% 2-year old American & Hungarian oakFood Pairings: Carnivores rejoice!Beef, pork, game - classic leg of lamb - even hamburgers and SPAMburgers!