Rhys Alesia Alder Springs Vineyard Syrah 2011
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Parker
Robert
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Sourced from a rocky, high altitude vineyard located halfway between San Francisco and Oregon, this Syrah offers a very unique profile. The fruit is dark and intense, almost brooding, but cool and tense in character. The dark earthy complexity makes this a serious Syrah that will drink well on release but continue to improve for years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Reminding me of a top-quality Crozes Hermitage (or maybe a Cornas), the 2011 Alesia Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard offers lots of darker fruits, scorched earth, iron and pepper to go with a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, lively and character-filled style on the palate. Inky purple/ruby colored, with good concentration and plenty of texture, this is a solid, balanced Syrah.
At Rhys Vineyards we aspire to make great Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from some of California’s most unique and expressive vineyards. This pursuit has led us to search the state for exciting rocky soils that exist within the mountainous, cool, Coastal climate zone. Over the last 15 years we have developed seven estate vineyards, six in the Santa Cruz Mountains and one in Anderson Valley, each of which is capable of producing uniquely compelling, distinctive, soil driven wine.
Their overriding belief that unique vineyard expression is the key to truly great wine leads them to an approach that includes: 1. A relentless, spare-no-expense, focus on producing the best possible fruit in the vineyard; 2. Carefully selected cool weather sites that offer interesting and expressive soil character; 3. Natural winemaking with minimal intervention. These core tenets help produce age-worthy wines that emphasize vineyard expression, balance, fresh fruit, and concentration.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.