2016 Domaine de la Terre Rouge 'High Slopes' Syrah Sierra Foothills

Winemaker Notes:  Tis wine is made from two of our higher elevation Syrah sites. We thought that they expressed the racy aromatics of the Syrah grape that reminded us of Côte Rotie. We are bottling these two sites together as a special treat for those that appreciate the finesse that Syrah can achieve. Te 2016 vintage yielded rich, profound and opulent wines. Two of these higher elevation vineyard sites are over 3,000 feet where it generally stays moderate and cooler in the summer, as in 2016. One site has soil that is granitic in origin and one site has soil that is volcanic in origin. Tese sites are geographically across the Mokelumne River Canyon from one another. Tey ripened normally in 2016 (September 16th & October 1st) with an average sized crop of about 3 tons per acre. Every year, these vineyards are mature at lower sugar levels. Tese up-slope lots have a lot of finesse and express the wonderful meaty, white pepper nuances of Syrah, while still retaining some of the smoky, spicy qualities of the grape. Our artisan cellar techniques include fermentation in small lots, native and special yeast strains, manual-punch downs, gentle transfers and pressing, and barrel aging for 20 months in French oak (33% new), prior to bottling the wine unfiltered.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Wine Enthusiast - " Intricate, subtle oak spices complement deep, rich and opulent fruit flavors in this big, full-bodied but completely agile wine sourced from sites near or above 3,000 feet. A panoply of cedar, graphite, earth and mineral accents enhance luxurious black cherry and dark chocolate while a velvety wrapping of fine-grained tannins caresses the palate. Best from 2024."