We cannot possibly express how thrilled we are with the 1999 Novy Napa Valley Syrah. We think it simply tastes fantastic. Moreover, we poured this wine at the Family Winemakers Tasting in San Francisco and it was a huge hit, only confirming our enthusiasm. If you are a fan of Australian Shiraz you definitely shouldn’t miss out on this one!

Quite frankly, part of the reason for our enthusiasm stems from the fact that, up until a few months ago, we weren’t even certain we were going to bottle a Napa Valley Syrah. Here’s what changed our minds. Syrah can be a very “reductive” wine. Reduction is the opposite of oxidation and specifically refers to a somewhat unpleasant smell when wine is stored in the absence of oxygen. Some grape varieties and wines are more reductive than others. For example, Pinot Noir is rarely reductive but Syrah can often show reductive tendencies. Usually reduction can be eliminated through a simple racking of the wine (moving it from one barrel to another which exposes it to oxygen). Since much of our winemaking experience has been with Pinot Noir (and we rarely rack) we were concerned that the Napa Valley Syrah, which tended to be rather reductive, would not clear up with a simple racking. Our fears turned out to be unfounded. When we racked the wine approximately 9 months after harvest it gave off the most wonderful aromas and, when tasting it after racking, it was a revelation! This is wonderful stuff!

The grapes for the Napa Valley Syrah came from the Page-Nord Vineyard in Southern Napa. The Novy family, along with the Page-Nord crew, harvested the vineyard on October 19, 1999 at a healthy 25.7 brix. Destemmed and fermented in one-ton bins and a tank, the wine was pressed to primarily new French oak while still sweet (about 7% brix). The fermentation then finished in these barrels. This technique is often used in Australia and produces the remarkably rich and heady Shiraz wines they have become famous for down under. We racked the wine once, as we describe earlier, and then bottled it unfined and unfiltered.

The 1999 Novy Napa Valley Syrah shows huge amounts of fruit on the nose. Rich berry and cherry aromas combine with a vanilla, allspice character making this seem like an utterly stylish wine. In the mouth, however, the wine reveals itself to possess both style and substance. The fruit flavors are even more concentrated (akin to a fruit compote) and are joined by vanilla, nutmeg and even a hint of cinnamon. On the finish the wine shows a good tannic backbone promising an outstanding future if cellared.

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