Redline 2004 Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah
From the Winery
"Redline" is a term for maximum engine revolutions. Used in the context of auto racing & harkening back to winemaker Larry Roberts' racing photographer days - it also implies top performance, which Larry is dedicated to achieving with Redline Wines.
Balance, density, richness, structure, complexity - the Redline winemaking philosophy is centered around creating wines without excesses, always striving to showcase the character of the variety and the vineyard. Our goal is to craft wines not necessarily designed for instant gratification, but which will show well in their youth and continue to improve over time.
Eaglepoint Ranch, located high above Mendocino County's Redwood Valley, is simply one of California's great Syrah vineyards. Meticulously farmed and carefully hand-harvested, these beautiful grapes were trucked down from Mendocino to Paso Robles, a full day's drive! With fruit this special, it was essentially a "do as little as possible and stay out of the way" winemaking job (though two different Rhone yeast strains were used to emphasize different characteristics). The new wine at pressing was inky, with aromas filled with earth-spice complexities. It was obvious as soon as the wine was through malolactic fermentation and starting to clarify that we had something amazing on our hands!
Tasting Notes
Big yet balanced, dense yet distinctive, our 2004 Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah is major league! The ethereal mineral quality of the mountain soils shows in waves, along with rich blueberry-blackberry, mocha, plum and light red-fruit spice notes. The style of the wine is definitely "California" but with the quasi-terroir of Northern Rhone. It will greatly impress now but will most certainly reward with patience, drinking beautifully and improving over the next decade!
| Composition | 100% Syrah, Eaglepoint Ranch Vineyards |
| Appellation | Mendocino |
| Alcohol | 15.2% |
| Production | 116 cases |
| Awards | 91 Wine Enthusiast, "Best of the Year 2006" 90 Hanes Wine Review, Feb. 2007 |
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