2006 SYRAH “PURISIMA MOUNTAIN VINEYARD”

This wine is 100% Syrah from the biodynamically farmed Purisima Mountain Vineyard, just west of Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley. The vineyard is owned by the Beckmen family, and Steve Beckmen has been at the forefront of biodynamic farming here on the Central Coast. Purisima Mountain is widely considered one of the top quality vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

2006 was a very cool vintage. This is a blend of two clones of Syrah - 67% Estrella clone, harvested on October 23rd, and 33% clone 1, harvested on October 13th. Since they were picked 10 days apart, the grapes were fermented separately in small open top fermenters. They were aged separately in French oak barrels (25% new Ermitage) until the first racking in March 2007. The wine was aged in barrel for a total of 16 months before 142 cases were bottled in February 2008.

Purisima always yields one of our most elegant Syrahs. It shows delicate spicy and floral perfume along with an intriguing anise component. It is full in the mouth, yet light on its feet, with balanced acid and tannin. This is probably not as long lived as some of our other Syrahs, enjoy over the next 6-8 years.