Robert Karl Syrah 09

Review:

Big and spicy with expressive aromas of bacon, chocolate and blueberries followed by silky tannins on a mouthful of plums, blueberries and blackberries finishing with that trademark mocha.

2005 Vintage Tasting Notes

Rating: Excellent -- Wine Press NW Spokane's Joe Gunselman developed this wine in rather classic fashion. He zeroed in on one vineyard: McKinley Springs in the Horse Heaven Hills. He chose the Cote Rotie route by co-fermenting with Viognier, then employing 100% new French oak. The results are jammy black raspberries, warm and inviting chocolate, spice of anise and caraway seed, and smoked meat. A little patience will allow it to loosen up just a bit.

A full bodied, rich red with wonderful integration of flavors. It is big and spicy with aromas of bacon, earth and chocolate followed by silky tannins on a mouthful of plums, blueberries and blackberries finishing with that trademark mocha.

The 2005 growing season was near perfect! A cool spring followed by a long warm summer with sunny days and cool nights. The grapes were the most beautiful we have seen to date.

In 2005, we co-fermented the Syrah with 8% Viognier in a classic Cote Rotie style. The grapes were sourced from McKinley Springs vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills. It was aged in 100% new French oak for 14 months. We produced only 150 cases. The ideal consumption is 3 to 7 years from release date, but this wine will develop for another 10 years. The alcohol by volume is 14.7%. It was bottled January 19, 2007.