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Wine Recommendation
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
2003 Syrah, Wildcat Mountain Vineyard(Carneros ~ Los Carneros)
Wildcat Mountain Vineyard sits on the southwestern-most corner of Carneros-Sonoma Valley. It’s steep, windy and very close to the San Pablo Bay. The rocky soil is comprised of cobbly clay loam, volcanic elements and decomposed andesite.
Steve MacRostie of MacRostie Winery owns this vineyard, and produces some really tasty Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Syrahs from it.
“Because of our Spartan growing conditions, Wildcat Mountain produces Syrah vines that are balanced, countering the tendency for Syrah to be vigorous. Our vines aren’t,” comments MacRostie. “The flavor profile is therefore more complex, and tends toward the spicy, peppery side of the spectrum. You won’t find jammy wines here, but instead tightly structured wines with the addition of some nice fruit elements. Our crop is light, and Wildcat Mountain gives us some beautiful fruit.”
Enticing aromas of leather, coffee and black fruit lead to tart and zingy flavors of red cherry, plum, white pepper and spice. This is a big Syrah, and one can be seduced by its Zinfandel-like character. Upon first sip, I realized that this wine would benefit from more bottle age or decanting. Multiple delicious layers define what is one of the most complex Syrahs I’ve tasted in a while.
Reviewed June 11, 2007 by Bradley Gray.
Other reviewed wines from MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
The Wine
Winery: MacRostie Winery & Vineyards |
The Reviewer
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray writes about wines from the Sonoma Valley, with occasional forays into neighboring regions. Stylistically, Bradley prefers wines that are clean and expressive, where varietal character comes before winemaking wizardry. To Bradley, a good wine is balanced, and speaks of the vineyard in which it was grown. |