2020 Curvature Syrah
Available
144 Cases Produced
"This wine was a beacon of hope for us in 2020. It looked like the fires that ravaged all of California would take every bit of our precious red juice from that vintage, but this was the wine that prevailed. In a horrible year for so many we were blessed to be able to make this juicy and aromatic Syrah from the Thompson Vineyard in the Central Coast. This aromatic daily drinker expresses dark berry characters, pepper and lots of savory notes. Enjoy!" - Cristie Kerr
Tasting Notes
The nose is intriguing and complex, with dark fruit beautifully complemented by floral aromas of violets and sweet peas. Delicate, fresh blackberry bramble pairs perfectly with hints of graphite and tapenade. On the palate, the smooth, silky entry slowly yields to fine tannins which develop from the mid palate to the finish. The interplay between rich, dark fruit and pleasant herbal notes continues from the nose to the palate. This wine is effortlessly pleasurable, light on its feet, and lengthy, resulting in an easy drinking wine that delivers remarkable complexity and depth.
Blend
100% Syrah from Alisos Canyon AVA in the Central Coast
AVA
Alisos Canyon
Aged
16 Months in 30% New French Oak
Alcohol %
14.6
Winemaker
Helen Keplinger
Harvest Date
October 20th 2019
Agro Ad Amphorum
Latin Translation: From Soil to Bottle
The Thompson Vineyard, located in the Los Alamos Valley between Santa Maria and Buellton in Santa Barbara County, has a well-deserved reputation for growing outstanding Syrah. Planted in the late 1980s along the slopes of Alisos Canyon, the vines grow in a relatively cool appellation and planted on the highly regarded Estrella clone. Soils are low nutrient sandy loam, which helps restrict yields and promote an elegantly light expression.
The 2019 vintage was one of the cooler vintages of the last decade. Ample spring rains fueled healthy canopy growth and a crop that was nearly as generous as 2018. The first half of the growing season was moderate, and therefore somewhat extended. This allowed the vines time to slow their growth heading into veraison and maximize their nutrient uptake and pre-ripening photosynthesis. The second half of the season, in which the grapes ripen and are harvested, was warm, with some heat during the harvest period, leading to wines of incredible silkiness, fresh and pure fruit, elegant texture, and impressive length.
The 2019 vintage was one of the cooler vintages of the last decade. Ample spring rains fueled healthy canopy growth and a crop that was nearly as generous as 2018. The first half of the growing season was moderate, and therefore somewhat extended. This allowed the vines time to slow their growth heading into veraison and maximize their nutrient uptake and pre-ripening photosynthesis. The second half of the season, in which the grapes ripen and are harvested, was warm, with some heat during the harvest period, leading to wines of incredible silkiness, fresh and pure fruit, elegant texture, and impressive length.
