Before sunrise on harvest day, we sat on the back of the flatbed for a moment savoring the essence of dust and dried grass kicked up from the previous day hanging in the cool, clear night. These are palpable reminders of a vineyard's unique place. Casatierra Vineyard is in the tiny American Viticulture Area of Fiddletown, which is a little cooler than the rest of Amador County. It's not a cool location, but its fruit remarkably exhibits some of the attributes of both cooler and warmer climate Syrah. Syrah grown in warmer climates tends to exhibit rich berry notes, while Syrah grown in cooler climates tends to have more earth and spice. We believe that our small block of Syrah positioned at the top of the vineyard's slope gets a number of its special attributes from cool flows over the ridge at night. The interplay between supple fruit and alluring spice in 2009 is unmistakable.

Tasting Notes

Plump blackberry and blue fruit are layered with notes of exotic wood, spicebox, and white pepper. Good structure and supportive tannins make this wine worthy of some time in the cellar, while it remains approachable in its youth. Representative food pairings: molé poblano, seafood gumbo, or eternally slow-cooked pork shoulder.

Other Details

View our list of 2009 wines
Read about Casatierra Vineyard
Acquire our wines now