Vinification notes:
Syrah fruit was hand picked on our Lily Hill Estate and delivered directly to the winery below. The grapes were crushed and destemmed before being pumped into tank for the initial fermentation. The wine spent two weeks on skins, with pumpovers being performed twice daily. After being pressed off at dryness, the wine was aged for 16 months in French and American oak barrels.

Sensory Notes:
This is a complex and nuanced wine that showcases the intersection of Rhône Valley style with Dry Creek Valley climate and soil. This syrah entices the palate with a bouquet of dark cherry and caramel. Earthy flavors of ripe fruit, plum and toffee complement this wonderfully balanced wine. Old vine grenache from Lily Hill adds body and complexity to its exquisitely long finish. This wine should be cellared until at least spring 2009 and enjoyed before 2018.

Vineyard Notes:
Our Lily Hill Estate vineyard is located on the western slope of the Dry Creek Valley, overlooking our winery and the Dry Creek watershed. We are privileged to have some of the best hillside vines in this area growing in the red, clay-heavy soil above our wine cave. These vines were planted in 1915 by the Costentino family and continue to produce incredibly ripe, complex fruit.

Vintage Synopsis:
2006 was a challenging but rewarding harvest season. Cooler temperatures made for a prolonged harvest that allowed the grapes to develop deep, rich flavor and color. The brief threat of rain in early October put us on the alert, but with some moderate thinning and cluster sorting, an excellent vintage was achieved. A good balance of sugar and acid in the fruit yielded dark, complex wines that rank among the best we have ever released.

Strictly limited production. Only 300 cases produced.