Cottonwood Syrah Raya Jade 04
Very very big wine, full of sweet black fruit. very intense, and 18% alcohol. This is a wine that will not cellar well, but right now, it's just the thing for those who want a truly over the top Syrah.
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2003 tasting notes:
From the moment we opened the bottle, we were crazy about this wine. Aaron says the fruit was as good as it gets, and then he performed his magic. Black color, rich, complex, meaty, plum, cassis, black cherry, hints of anise, licorice, toasted coffee bean, a touch of mocha, a hint of fresh earth. The finish goes on and on. We fought over this bottle for the last few sips!From the winery:
2002 Tasting Notes:
The grapes for our 2002 Raya Jade Syrah come from Crawford Vineyard. Crawford Vineyard is located just north of Prosser, Washington in the Yakima Valley. Crawford is perhaps the best Syrah vineyard in the Yakima Valley and this wine is a faithful expression of that quality. In this wine you will find aromas of leather, fresh meat and raspberry leaves along with flavors like black cherry, butterscotch and tomato sauce followed by black pepper and vanilla on the finish.
Because of the quality of the excellent vineyard we were able to allow the grapes to come to full flavor maturity while maintaining plenty of acid. The result is a richly flavored, full-bodied, perfectly balanced wine which will compliment many foods. Pair it with coq au vin, porcini and asparagus risotto, saut?ed pork tenderloin flamb?ed with brandy and served with cream sauce or Pork Chops Charcuti?re (a spicy wine, tomato and vinegar sauce).
The grapes were carefully picked and then, after being chilled to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, were gently destemmed and allowed to cold macerate for six days. With about 1% sugar remaining in the grapes they were lightly pressed and the wine transferred to French oak barrels (25% new) to finish fermentation. This wine barrel aged for 17 months. It will cellar for a decade or more but is stunning now. The wine was racked a total of four times to achieve clarity and stability, it is unfined. 98 cases produced.
