Our Estate vineyard is one of the coldest vineyards in California growing Syrah. When we purchased the property we were concerned that we would not be able to ripen Pinot noir, much less Syrah. But due to our dry October weather, we have an additional month to ripen our grapes in comparison to other typical Syrah growing regions of the world. It is true October days are shorter and daytime highs rarely exceed 75 degrees, yet these qualities lead to longer hang time that imprints our Syrah with characteristics that speak of our place.
Cool climate syrah can take two forms. They are either red-fruited with floral and sanguine notes or leaning towards dark fruit with meaty, earthy notes. In both cases refreshing acidity and low alcohol are key for achieving balance and age-ability. Each of our two cuvées capture one of these expressions while delivering our site's unique mineral and white pepper characteristics.
As we discussed in last Spring's newsletter, you will benefit greatly by aging our syrahs. When young, the power and concentration will no doubt impress but aging syrah, like most red wines, allows aromas to integrate and coalesce while bottle age characteristics develop. The result is a uniform, more complex profile. So drink a bottle now, if you must, but then hide a few and forget about them for a few years.
2008 La Bruma Estate Syrah
Tasting Notes
La Bruma (“the mist or fog”) pays tribute to the role fog plays in producing our unique microclimate. The 2008 La Bruma has the classic cool climate characteristics found in our Syrah. The style is more similar to the 2002 and 2005 vintages showing finesse over power.
The 2008 La Bruma Syrah radiates an electric purple hue. The nose is bright with fragrant notes of boysenberries, blackberries, graphite and violets. Really pretty. There is a touch of dark Mission fig underneath the top notes and a sweet bacon edge to the overall aroma. The mouth is elegant and medium-bodied. The bacon fat and berry notes are wrapped in smoky, lead pencil aromas. Without a decant, the palate is tight and compact. The tannins are persistent and silky but not firm or green. After a 45 minute decant a softer and broader mid-palate emerges. We suggest you age for at least 3-5+ years.
2007 Peay Vineyards Les Titans Estate Syrah 
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Tasting Notes
The cuvée name, Les Titans ("the Giants"), refers to two enormous and old growth redwood trees left by loggers over 100 years ago that flank the blocks of Syrah. True to its name, Les Titans is the more masculine, meaty, compact cuvee compared to the floral and peppery La Bruma. Our Syrah comes from one of the coldest Syrah vineyards in the United States. As a result, it has power but does not sacrifice balance and complexity. This will not be your big, blueberry jam style of Syrah or Shiraz but a wine with elegance, refreshing acidity and aromas of meat, dark fruit and earth.
The 2007 Les Titans is a powerhouse and reveals the strength of the superb vintage. The dark and brooding nose showcases a deep, dark plum core with grilled meats, boar sausage and fennel aromas. The tannins are soft but drier than La Bruma. As the wine carries across the palate the flavors amplify and fill the mouth with iron, white pepper and dark blueberry fruit flavors. The length is incredibly long and persistent with excellent acidity that will make it perfect at the table with steak, braised meats, lamb, anything with savory, bloody, meaty flavors. Drink now with at least a 30 minute decant and age for 5+ years.
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