2003 Wellington Vineyards Syrah Cuveé R
Winemaker’s tasting notes, Feb. 27, 2008
Color: Dark, slightly purplish red.
Aroma: Closed at first, with simple grape and blackberry fruit and a floral (violets) note at first. Different aromas develop with time and aeration – gamy/smoky, bacon cherubic, chocolate, cassis (black currant), coffee, clove, dusty/earthy, iodine, black cherry, white pepper, sandalwood, mint. During the first few minutes the fruit aromas fade and are dominated by spice aromas, but after a half hour or so the wine really starts to open up.
Palate: Initially, fairly full entry with bright acid, somewhat chewy tannins and muted flavors. Medium weight, slightly astringent, thins a bit on the finish. After 30 minutes the flavors blossom, with black cherry, cassis and that spicy, gamy Syrah je-ne-sais-quoi. Style: This leans a bit more to the Northern Rhone than to the California fruit bomb type. This wine would be a good one for that decanter you got from Woot. For those inclined to cellar wines, it should develop richness and complexity with age.
This wine was a one-time deal. It was sourced primarily from vineyards we used in our 2001 and 2002 Reserve Syrahs. Don’t be misled by the bargain price; this is no simple quaffer and is probably best enjoyed with a hearty meal. I think it will actually outlive the 2002 Reserve Syrah.

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