Departure Wine Company, Tierra Alta Vineyard Syrah

Tierra Alta Vineyard Syrah
(98% Syrah / 2% Viognier)
195 Cases 

The guys at Departure made a fantastic wine.  The wine shows excellent fruit flavors like blackberry and cherry, but it’s not overpowering like many central coast Syrahs.  I found it to be very balanced and I think the viognier added nice structure.

 The 2005 vintage in Santa Barbara County was exceptional.  Unlike the scorching heat of August 2004 that launched sugar levels through the roof and forced winemakers to pick weeks (or even months) ahead of schedule, the 2005 vintage was blessed with picture-perfect weather from August through November.  This year’s steady march from late summer to fall allowed our grapes to ripen at their own pace, slowly and completely.  Syrah in the Santa Ynez Valley was generally able to develop on the vine 2 - 4 weeks longer than any vintage in recent memory.

Check out notes from the wine makers and order online: http://www.departurewines.com/Wines/2005/WinemakerNotes/tabid/72/Default.aspx.