Syrah 2006
Winegrowing Information
In 2006, Sonoma County experienced the second year in a row of heavy rainfall. Because temperatures remained cool from early
spring through harvest, bud break was late, and the growing season was longer allowing the grapes extended time to ripen without
worries of dehydration. One major heat spike was recorded on July 17 with triple digit temperatures. Our grapes survived well
through this time because our farming practices have been designed to give us the ability to moderate vigor. Kamen has four
unique blocks of Syrah planted at four different elevations from 1100’ to 1400’. Individual clones were selected for each
block, and the Syrah was planted in cooler sites to optimize an extended hang time for ideal grape maturation. Prior to harvest,
we thinned the crop to one cluster per shoot allowing each grape bunch optimum air and sun exposure. Our Syrah blocks yielded
only a mere 1.5 tons of grapes per acre. We picked the fruit into small bins, only three quarters full, which prevented any
juicing in the field. Delivered promptly to winery in the cool, early morning hours, the grapes were immediately processed.
Sorting of leaves and less than perfect fruit was done in the field and then, again, at the winery.
Winemaker Tasting Notes
This Kamen Syrah is inky, purple-black in color. Its nose reveals the telltale aromas of syrah with tar, smoke and bacon fat
along with appealing brown spices, black pepper, blackberry syrup, black currant and an earthy minerality. In the mouth, the
wine is sweet and full, thick and broad, framing the intense wild mountain berry flavors of blackberry and ripe black cherry
intermixed with a rich, fatty animalistic gaminess over layers of sweet violets, cured meat, plum compote, cassis, sweet spices
with the more austere notes of graphite. The perfectly-honed tannins are big, yet fine and smooth supporting a long chewy
finish that goes on for minutes. This is a massive, super-lush, powerful, extracted wine with impressive ripeness that is
full-bodied and muscular. It has an abundance of fruit and great compelling depth from beginning to end. Two diverse characteristics
combine giving the wine its substantial appeal with both a classy elegance and a briary savageness.
Grape Source
100% estate-grown Syrah at elevations from 1100’ to 1200’
In the southern Mayacamas Mountains of Sonoma County
Kamen Estate Vineyards
Production and Technical Data
|
Alcohol:
|
15.1%
|
|
Production:
|
125 cases
|
|
Release Date:
|
March 5, 2009
|
