Production: 771 Cases

Release Date: February 2011

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2009 Sonoma County Syrah

The 2009 vintage was a mild growing season, generally allowing the grapes to hang on the vine until mid-October, ripening them fully up until that point. Then, on October 16 and 1t rain came to Sonoma County, a real dousing of almost 6 inches (1-2 inches were predicted). We had to choose whether to pick our Syrah prior to this rainfall, or take a chance and wait it out. In some cases, we let the fruit hang thru the rain (when it simply wasn't ready), while in others we picked prior to the rain. Generally, we were happy with each decision, feeling that we did what was best for the production of the best possible wine.

The 2009 Sonoma County Syrah is a blend of fruit from five different vineyards stretching from the warmer northern end of Dry Creek Valley to the cool Russian River Valley (Parsons', Simpson, Sapphire Hill, and Christensen, plus a touch of co-fermented Viognier). In 2009 this wine could have actually been labeled "Russian River Valley" as it is almost 90 percent Russian River fruit, but we felt that in style and character the Sonoma County label was more appropriate.

The 2009 Novy Sonoma County Syrah is one of the biggest Sonoma County Syrahs that we have produced. It shows some of the classic peppery characteristics that you get from Russian River Syrah, but with more weight and tannic frame that this is built upon. That backbone and extraction comes in part from the Dry Creek fruit, but is also characteristic of the vintage. This wine drinks well now, but think it will be even better with time in the cellar or with an hour or two of aeration!