2008 Saddleback Cellars Los Carneros Syrah
Mission Codename: Laying Low
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Visit Saddleback Cellars and winemaker Nils Venge to acquire a limited quantity of the latest vintage of their highly esteemed Old Vine Zinfandel.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Saddleback Cellars
Wine Subject: 2008 Los Carneros Syrah
Winemaker: Nils Venge
Backgrounder:
The popularity of Syrah is undeniable. Big and bold in flavor and texture, it packs a concentrated punch of flavor that many people love. This Rhone varietal, although many believe that the grape originated in the Persia region, is 100% French in lineage. The Syrah grape is directly descendant from the Monduese Blanche and Dureza varietals and is grown worldwide with great success. Today’s delightful Syrah is a bold and balanced delight with deep flavors, dark aromatics and a voluptuous mouth feel.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Beautifully dark and dense ruby and garnet with a clear core that has ruby streaks when held to the light. Along the edges, the color remains dens and pails but slightly. When swirled, widely spaced fat legs are replaced by slow thin legs that hang on the side of the glass.
Smell – This redolent wine invites you in with ripe and spiced dark fruit blend seamlessly with other complex aroma of black pepper, summer flowers, toasted wood notes, soft earth and a touch of dried green herbs.
Feel – Rich, plush and velvet smooth on entry, this full-bodied dry wine’s sturdy tannins and tangy but balanced acidity hits at mid-palate and expands over the tongue. Textured minerals and the tangy acidity lingers into the finish as the tannins dries the palate.
Taste – Savory and spiced flavors blend with ripe and rich black-cherry, dark plum and other black and red fruits. Black pepper and toasted woody notes meld with floral, herbal, savory leather and earthy minerals.
Finish – Extremely long with the ripe, spice and savory fruit lingering on the palate for several minutes as the other complex aromas and flavors softly fade.
Conclusion – The 2008 Saddleback Cellars Los Carneros Syrah is a truly delicious, full and rich wine that invites you in with ripe fruit that blends spicy and savory notes. One the palate, this smooth and rich wine is both expansive and generous but with enough tangy acidity to make it great for enjoying with food or simply on its own. Enjoy this wine with a savory winter stew now or cellar for the next five years.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER BRIEF
AGENT RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
NILS VENGE: This Rhone style Syrah comes from Carneros, the southernmost part of the Napa Valley. We make an extremely small production from a single vineyard. The wine is handcrafted in small one to two ton batches that are punched down by hand in T-bins.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
NILS: Grilled Venison with a Green Peppercorn and Morel Mushroom Sauce. Peking Duck with Hoisin, Pecorino or Gouda Cheese.
RED: In your opinion, what makes the Napa Carneros region so special a place for Syrah?
NILS: Carneros is the coolest region of the Napa Valley. In warm years, like 2008, Carneros makes an ideal, incredibly balanced Syrah .
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
NILS: We are always busy at this hands on winery. Currently we are racking our 2011 red wines that are finishing Malolactic fermentation. We are also getting ready for our next bottling .
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of the Saddleback Cellarscan be seen in this satellite photo.
