|
Steele Reds
STEELE SYRAH
LAKE COUNTY
After many years of close observation we decided to plant
Syrah in Lake County. This decision has been affirmed as
each vintage has rewarded us with great fruit. Five growers
made the initial plantings, and of these, two have stood
out as superior vineyard sites. Floyd and Jolene Silva
farm the benches to the west on the Big Valley between
Kelseyville and Lakeport. Don and Betty Fiora have a picture
postcard vineyard well to the southeast of Clear Lake.
Both of these vineyards produce wines of intense color,
flavor and structure. We find the friendly competition
between growers for the best wine of the vintage to be
a healthy thing.
All of the fruit is hand harvested and quickly delivered
to the winery. The grapes are de-stemmed and gently crushed
to tanks for fermentation. Temperatures peak at 87-90º F.
Fermentation lasts six to seven days and the grapes are
on the skins for a minimum of two weeks. After pressing
the wine is placed into barrels with oak from Oregon, Hungary
and the Eastern United States. We like to have about 30%
of the barrels new.
This is a very robust and intense style of Syrah. The tannins are firm and chalky,
the flavor is of crushed black fruits, and the aroma has the dusty character,
which is a classic Terrior for Syrah. Well worth cellaring this wine will
reward someone patient enough to wait a few years to drink it. As far as food
pairing I would recommend hearty dishes, grilled meats, sausages, rib eye or
rack of lamb. |
