2013 Tucker Syrah- Santa Cruz Mountain
The grapes used in this Rhone styled Syrah come from a beautiful family owned vineyard in the southern Santa Cruz Mountain appellation. This 100% Syrah experienced extremely long hang time to fully develop its rich bold complexion. Harvest wasn't until the beautifully formed clusters had begun to dimple or soften and the seeds had turned a golden brown.
The fruit was then rushed back to the winery were it went through a gentle destemming process thus leaving the whole berries intact to cold soak for four days. At this point the native yeast fermentation had begun and the black juice was beginning its transformation.
After a long, slow, cool fermentation which took approximately 18 days the wine was covered in argon gas to let the new wine macerate with the skins and juice to extract sweet tannins and complexity.
Once the wine had reached its optimum balance the wine was gently pressed off of the skins and put into new French and American oak barrels to age for 16 months with a series of rackings to help oxygenate the new wine and develop character.
Notes of spicy black cherry, ollalieberry and black pepper great your palate, then transition into a full round well balanced wine with sweet caramelized oak, firm tannins bright acidity and an incredibly long finish.
100% Syrah Southern Santa Cruz Mtn.
Brix at harvest 25.6
Cooperage 50% New Missouri Oak, 50% once used French Oak
Alcohol 14.6
pH 3.75
TA 7.1 g/L