Progress Update – Syrah

TERMINIM 2017 – Mendocino County Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard

Up Front – total production currently rests in 5 barrels; 3 once-used French Oak barrels and 2 new French Oak barrels.

Bottling is anticipated in the Spring of 2019 with a release shortly thereafter. Donald and François in August of 2017 (also) signed up for 2 tons of Syrah from Alder Springs Vineyard from 3 different clones and two different parts of the vineyard Cahto Ridge and from Spirit Rock. Harvest was on September 27th and 28th and yielded one ton of Syrah from Spirit Rock at 24.6o Brix and one ton of Cahto Ridge at 23.8o Brix. The two pickings were fermented separately using the “Methode François” for keeping the cap wet.

No punch-down or pump-over was used instead the two fermenters had the fermenting juice poured over the cap bucket by bucket to calibrate the proper levels of extraction and prevent over-extraction. This produced quite a different Syrah than typical of the varietal in California. While it has plenty of color and lovely tannin structure the wine also is more aromatic and perfumed that you might expect. After fermentation (and the fires completed wreaking havoc on Northern California) the two small fermenters were drained, and the free run juice placed into barrels.

Progress Update – Syrah