SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:

Today’s wine, made by award-winning winemaker, Robert Broman, is a remarkable and superbly delicious example of just how incredible a great Syrah can be. Please do not miss out on this special – and rare – opportunity to sample this amazing wine that was never released to the public.

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Mission Codename: The Lost Vintage

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Investigate rumors of an unreleased vintage of superb Syrah at Broman Cellars

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Broman Cellars

Wine Subject: 2002 Napa Valley Syrah

Winemaker: Robert Broman

Backgrounder:

Robert Broman has been ‘in wine’ for more than 30 years. As winemaker for some of the most prestigious wineries in the world, Robert Broman has perfected his skills, making some of the most precious wines. Today he brings his depth of skill and accomplishment to bear in making his own wines under the aptly named Broman Cellars, where he makes wines of remarkable distinction. Today’s selection is very limited production wine that has never been released to the public.

The popularity of Syrah is undeniable. Big and bold in flavor and texture, it packs a concentrated punch of flavor that many people love. This Rhone varietal, although many believe that the grape originated in the Persia region, is 100% French in lineage. The Syrah grape is directly descendant from the Monduese Blanche and Dureza varietals and is grown worldwide with great success. Today’s delicious Syrah is a delight with original flavors, deep aromatics and a tender mouth feel.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dense and dark purple with dark garnet edges and an almost inky and barely clear dark heart. When swirled, slow fat and color-laden legs descend and are followed by even slower thin legs.

Smell – Rich and bold with classic aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum are layered on a base savory spice and pepper, smokey herbs and subtle meaty, gamey and leather aromas.

Feel – Smooth and dry, this warm full-bodied wine is plush and expansive on the palate with an almost chewy texture supported by firm tannins, tangy acidity and earthy minerality.

Taste – Classic rich and bold fruit flavors of blackberry, blueberry, cherry, and boysenberry that are almost jammy with savory spice, smokey herbs, a meaty quality and soft well developed oak.

Finish – Extremely long with lingering textured but well developed sturdy tannins hold the fruit and spice for several minutes before gently fading.

Conclusion – The 2002 Broman Cellars Napa Valley Syrah is an amazing Syrah that is broad and expansive on the palate with exceptional aromas, flavors and a sturdy structure. Both bold and powerful, but with tremendous elegance and finesse. This wine is perfect for your summer-time grilling as you linger and enjoy the warm nights.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Bob. We are thrilled to be showing your 2002 Napa Valley Syrah today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

BOB: We promise not to tell anyone how you managed to get your hand on this unreleased wine today!

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

BOB: It was the very first winemaking class that I took at UC Davis – it was a survey course and I fell in love.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

BOB: My time working with Warren Winiarski at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars really helped me to define my winemaking style, but really every position that I held was a step towards the wines that I make now.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

BOB: I started by making wines for myself. My wife, Deborah, and I started Broman Cellars so that I would have an outlet to craft the wines that I wanted to make and not the particular style of any other winery.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

BOB: The Broman Cellars 2002 Napa Valley Syrah was never actually released. We give our red wines a couple of years of bottle age before release to make sure that consumers are getting our product at their best point, but when that time came this vintage just wasn’t ready. We’ve been tasting it over time, and now find this Syrah to be drinking wonderfully with great cherry, blueberry and spicy, bacony notes.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

BOB: No question – ribs, smoked and cooked until the meat is falling off the bone!

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Oak Knoll District so special?

BOB: I consider the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley to be a “sweet spot” for Syrah with it’s slightly cooler valley temperatures. The Page Nord Vineyard always yields fruit of great character and complexity.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

BOB: Watching our red wines sleeping away in their barrels.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

BOB: We see our wine as something to enjoy and savor with friends, not something to stow away for years waiting for the right occasion.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Broman Cellars can be seen in this satellite photo.