2011 Syrah
Winemaker's Notes
2011 was a long and cool growing season without the extreme daytime heat the South Okanagan is known for. This resulted in grapes that achieved full phenolic ripeness at record low sugar levels (and thus low alcohol levels).The 2011 Syrah is comprised of fruit grown in all four sub appellations in the South Okanagan Valley. A traditionally made Syrah in that sense, as the sum is considered greater than the parts (lieux-dits trumping single cru ala Chez Jamet, JL Chave, Clape). The resulting effort is a very complex wine with medium garnet colour. Despite the relative youth of the vines the finished wine continues to surprise us and captivate our imagination from vineyard to bottle.While it combines elements of both the old and new world, our Syrah leans more toward what you would expect from France’s Rhone Valley - hence the name. The wine is nuanced, elegant and refined. Black peppercorn, game meat, a meĢlange of wild berries, bacon and smoke form the aromatic and flavour profiles of this wine. There is something more perfumed and high toned about the 2011 vintage that marks the uniqueness of the 2011 growing season.
Food Pairings
Centuries ago the black pepper spice trade launched voyages, wars and epic tales. Today we suggest trying a black pepper crusted New York Steak paired with this wine to fill the air with all that peppery goodness.
Accolades
90 points – "For release in the spring of 2014, this is an elegant Rhone-style red with only 12.7% of alcohol.
The wine begins with aromas of white pepper and floral berry aromas. On the palate, there are flavours of cherry and blackberry. The wine is medium-bodied but the flavours are ripe." - John Schreiner
