R&B Cellars

Vineyards:
We have found over the years that oftentimes the best blend of a certain varietal will be better with a mix of regions, and also that blending can add significantly to the complexity of the final wine. This superb wine is a combination of Syrah from three excellent regions of California, each bringing its own distinct characteristic to the blend.

The Wine:
In order to create a wine with richness and complexity yet still fruit driven and varietally accurate, we blended 2006 Napa Syrah with 2006 Sonoma Syrah, and just a touch of 2007 Lodi Viognier. The combination of these three areas yielded a wine with exceptional varietal character and flavor. The oak program on the three wines was very different, with the Napa Syrah receiving the most modest oak ageing and the Viognier no oak ageing at all. The wine was cross flow filtered, which also contributed to leveling out the tannins and making the wine eminently drinkable upon release.

Winemaker's Comments:
The vibrant fresh blackberry fruit from Napa combined with the dark, spicy components from Sonoma complimented each other and set up a rich massive fruit platform that was softened ever so lightly by the addition of the Viognier. Adding Viognier is very traditional and typical in the Rhone region of France, and helps to soften mouth feel and make the wine a little more approachable upon release. It also adds that "Je ne sais pas", the French are so fond of pointing out in their wines. The resulting wine is complex, intense, and a blockbuster of blackberry fruit and blueberries, with exotic spice and the subtle tarry components one expects of a great Syrah. The moderate oak program in the Napa preserves the vibrant fruit and a softer mouth feel. The bouquet shows layer upon layer of dark berry fruit with hints of pepper and spice laced throughout. The flavors are dark blackberry and currant with hints of smoke and tar ending in a smooth silky finish. The color is intense, to say the least. If your pen runs out of ink, you can use the wine.