2001 Yoakum Bridge Syrah
Dry Creek Valley
Healdsburg, California

Purchased for $34.00 a bottle at the winery. 14.5% alcohol. 470 cases produced.

Opened about 15 minutes before serving in Spiegelau Authentis Balloon Magnum glasses without any decanting. Dark garnet colors in the glass. Nose of leather, mocha, vanilla and raspberry; some of which was unexpected with this 100% Syrah. Flavors of dark fruit such as black cherry and boysenberry. A well-balanced wine that begs to be drank over the short term, 2003 through 2007 range. 90 points.

Notes from the bottle:

“This distinctive French cloned Syrah is grown at Palindrone Vineyard, a west facing bench property of deep, red volcanic soil in Dry Creek Valley. The small, long clustered berries thrive in the great heat of our valley and contribute to the fruits’ remarkable intensity. The grapes were picked at 25.5 Brix on September 7, 2001 and crushed the same day into one ton fermenters, then punched down by hand four times a day for the following two weeks. The wine was then aged in French and American Oak.”

I bought a case of this while at the winery in November. I'm real tempted to call David and Virginia and order another case. Good syrah at a reasonable price.