Steele Stymie Syrah 2009

Stymie was a famous racehorse in mid-twentieth century American history. Stymie was known for never giving up the lead when he gained it. He was so infamous for this in fact that the horse callers brought the word into the English vernacular by calling out “They’ve been stymied again!!” whenever he pulled ahead. In 1950 Jed’s father, a newspaperman, wagered a bet on Stymie that paid off well. So well, in fact, that the winnings financed the Steele family’s move from New York to San Francisco. As a tribute to the horse and to Jed’s father, our Stymie label is reserved for rare, small production wines of the highest quality we produce.

Vineyards The Syrah grapes were grown by Floyd and Jolene Silva until we purchased the vineyard in 2005. The now named Steele Stymie Bench Vineyard fruit is the backbone of our Steele Stymie Founder’s Reserve Syrah. The Stymie Bench Vineyard was planted in 1993 and is located on a gravelly bench, overlooking the Big Valley area of Lake County.

Winemaking We use our typical Syrah winemaking techniques on the Stymie, including gentle crushing and fermentation temperature below 90 degrees F. Because of the high quality and intensity of the grapes, we age the wine in barrels made by the acclaimed cooper, Taransaud for 22 months. Total production of this wine is just 250 6-bottle cases.

Food Pairing Stymie Bench Vineayrd Syrah shows a rich, dark red color with firm body, with excellent New World fruit aromas and flavors of berry, cherry, bacon and a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon. The rich, full-bodied palate has subtle fruit with medium tannins and well-integrated oak. The finish is long with a hint of leather in the back palate. There’s enough fruit to enjoy through the warmer months with summer lamb or steak, yet enough body and structure to pair well with winter cassoulet, stews, game, and braised shanks. An excellent Syrah that you won’t want to miss.