94points
2018 Hyde Vineyard Syrah
Tasting Notes
Bramble & briar, violets, espresso nibs, cocoa, spicy finish
Wine Score
94
From the great site known so well for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this Syrah is littered with white pepper, violet and bright, persistent acidity that boosts its brooding qualities of game and leather. Meaty and fragrant, robust layers of blueberry, currant and iron fill the picture.
Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
Description
Bouchaine's Hyde Vineyard Syrah, weighted each season with dense color and dark ripe fruit, delivers California sunshine in a bottle. The Hyde family is known for their expertise in growing cool-climate grape varietals in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. They originally planted Hyde Vineyard in the 1970s. Their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are well known around the world, and their Syrah isn’t one to let those alone share the spotlight. This Syrah is meticulously farmed, which gives the Bouchaine winemaking team the amazing opportunity to translate that incredible terroir into the bottle.
Growing Season
2018 delivered a late but incredible harvest. Beautiful weather during bloom allowed for a bounty of exceptional fruit. A cool, foggy summer with no heat events ensured slow even ripening, vibrant acidity and superb flavor development.
Vinification
Grapes are hand harvested at night, preserving berry integrity and low temperatures for cold soak. After a 7-day cold soak in open top tanks, only native yeast is used to ferment the Syrah. The wine is drawn off at the end of fermentation and the must placed into a basket press for gentle pressing. Malolactic fermentation is completed in French oak barrels, where the wine will age for 18 months on lees before final assembly just prior to bottling.
Tech Sheet
