Woodward Canyon Columbia Valley Syrah 2004

Flavors of ripe mountain blackberries, vanilla, and spice marry beautifully showing great balance. This wine is fuller in the mouth with a silky texture, softer structure and a delightfully long finish. There is a very high-toned fruit aroma that I have not seen before but absolutely love! This wine cries out for sturdy Mediterranean food. While this wine may be consumed now it will benefit from additional cellar time. Cellared properly, this wine should age well for five years from vintage.

This red wine was produced exclusively from grapes grown at Champoux Vineyard (51.36%) above the Columbia River near Alderdale, Washington and at Dubrul Vineyard (48.64%) near Sunnyside, Washington in the Yakima Valley.

The warmth of the 2004 vintage is definitely reflected in this rich and very complex red wine. Average brix at harvest was well over 25 degrees. The grapes were harvested by hand and sorted prior to destemming and were fermented in small stainless steel tanks. The wine was punched down two times per day. Following pressing, the wine went to older 500-liter puncheons and newer French oak barrels for maturation and development. The wine aged in these barrels for 18 months and was bottled in spring of 2006.