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Steele Reds
STEELE SYRAH
PARMELEE-HILL VINEYARD
SONOMA COUNTY
Steve Hill has farmed in Carneros and the Sonoma Valley
for over 20 years. For this period he has been the Vineyard
Manager at the renowned Durell Vineyard in Carneros. Steve
still holds this position but has started his own Parmelee-Hill
Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, adjacent to Carneros. We source
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah grapes from this vineyard,
all of which are used in our Single Vineyard varietal bottlings.
This is our only Single Vineyard Syrah; we feel that this
location and microclimate are perfect for the variety.
It consistently produces Syrah grapes that yield delicious
wines - rich in color, flavor, aroma, and velvety tannins.
Syrah is a relatively recent addition to California vineyards
and we feel that this vineyard will continue to improve
with age.
As with all our grapes, Parmelee-Hill Syrah is hand picked.
After crushing, we kept the wine on the skins, while doing
pump-overs twice daily, for two weeks. We racked the wine
to French oak barrels for 18 months of aging before bottling.
The wine received another year of bottle aging prior to
release. This wine, with its rich flavors and firm tannins
will cellar well for 8-10 years.
The nose on the Parmelee-Hill Syrah is earthy with saddle
leather, tar, and rich fruit. On the palate the wine is
earthy with a hint of fruit and coffee. Firm bodied with
medium tannins and a long, lingering finish. Savory foods,
wild game, Beef Wellington, strong cheeses, and rich sauces
are the preferred matches for this wine. We recently had
this wine with braised venison with a cherry and Syrah
reduction sauce – exceptional!
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