2008 Findleton El Dorado Syrah (Gold Medal Winner)
The 2006 Findleton Estate and Vineyard Syrah is named after Pamela Findleton’s “Willi’s Wine Bar” painting, which she was inspired to paint during her visit to the infamous Willi’s Wine Bar in Paris. This Syrah is a blend from three of our favorite Syrah vineyards: 50% Stonehaven Vineyard, 25% Matson Vineyard, and 25% Marchini Vineyard. Each of the Syrah vineyards vary in soil composition, elevation, and climate and imparts a different essential component to the blend. The grapes were hand picked, fermented with 30% whole berries, and co-fermented with 5% Viognier to encourage co-pigmentation and complexity. The wine was barrel aged with 20% new oak for 14 months. This complex Syrah has aromas of wild berries, briar, and black licorice, with overtones of white pepper and sweet pipe tobacco. The palate is medium bodied and reveals layers of red fruits, lingonberry, dark chocolate, and Christmas spices. 150 cases produced.
