Wine Article

2010 Hudson Ranch Syrah South, T’n’S Blocks: Starting in 2010 I will be splitting the Hudson Syrahs into two bottlings based on the two distinctly different parts of Hudson Ranch. The Hudson T’n’S is composed of two beautiful blocks of Syrah (and a dash of Viognier) from the South ranch. T, planted in 1993 for my good friend and partner in Abrente, Michael Havens, is composed primarily of Syrah Noir clone. S, planted more recently, is Alban-selection. In 2010 I cofermented the two blocks together after picking at 24.1 brix (as usual I was the first to pick out of the vineyard which seems to be becoming a theme). For structure and spice I included 40% whole-clusters, which were foot trod and added to the bottom of the open-top fermenter. Fermentation, as always, was done with native yeasts. The wine was transferred to a variety of new demi-muids (600 liter barrels) and older French. The wine stayed on lees until racking for bottling in December of 2011. As with most of my Syrahs this is an ageworthy wine, that is going to need some time to unwind and come into itself. $39