Clayhouse 2013 Syrah Red Cedar Vineyard, Paso Robles

Deep purple-garnet color, with aromas of violets, liquorice, cloves, and blackberry. The wine is medium-weight on the palate, with smooth rounded tannins that balance the juicy, sweet, ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit. There are tantalizing undertones of fresh anise. This Syrah finishes with light-smoke-spice and a lingering vanilla warmth.

Grapes were de-stemmed directly to stainless steel fermenters, without crushing. We allowed the must to cold-soak for 3 days before beginning fermentation. After 17 days on the skins, the new wine was pressed at dryness. After pressing, the wine was settled for 3 days, then racked off its gross lees to mature 9 months in a combination of American, French, and Hungarian oak.