Alexander Valley Vineyards 2019 Syrah Case of 12 bottles

Loads of juicy berry flavors, a little spice, a wisp of violet and a hint of smokiness from the barrel aging make this a top Syrah. Our first vintage of Syrah in 1994 was made from purchased fruit, but that wine was the inspiration for us to begin planting Rhone varietals on our family-owned property in 1995. Today, we are well known for our rich and aromatic Syrah. Although the weather was a bit cooler than usual early in the 2019 growing season, there were no unusual temperature swings during bud break or flowering. The moderate temperatures continued through the summer, allowing the grapes to mature gradually. After 2019’s record setting crop size, 2019 swung back to an average yield. At harvest, the quality of the fruit was excellent with high acidity and intense flavors. The Syrah and Viognier ripened together in 2019, so the two grapes were harvested the same day, de-stemmed, then cold soaked together, retaining the bright berry flavors and stabilizing the color. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. The 2019 Syrah is a deep purple wine with rich aromas of plum, violets, black cherry, vanilla, oak and blackberry. The vintage is a classic with flavors of blackberry jam, black cherry, plum, white pepper and vanilla. In a nod to its Rhône heritage, our Syrah has a slightly “meaty” quality along with the classic floral notes and a dry structured finish. Accolades: 2019: 95 points & Double Gold Medal - Sunset International Wine Competition, 2019: 93 points & Best of Class of Appellation - California State Fair, 2019: 93 points & Gold Medal - Beverage Dynamics/Cheers, 2019: 91 points - James Suckling, 2019: 90 points - Owen Bargreen, 2019: Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2019: Gold Medal - TEXSOM, 2019: Gold Medal & Top of Class - San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Intl Wine Competition