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What We Say 2005 Alexander Valley Estate Syrah
DOUBLE AGENT SPECIAL:
We are featuring this delicious Syrah because we already sold out of our featured selection from Rodney Strong. Please be sure to visit us early as in many cases, our allocation is very limited.
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Mission Codename: The Strongman II
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Return to Rodney Strong Vineyards and retrieve their newly released Alexander Valley Estate Syrah
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Wine Subject: 2005 Alexander Valley Estate Syrah
Winemaker: Rick Sayre
Backgrounder: Our Operatives loved the 2004 vintage of Rodney Strong’s Alexander Valley Estate Syrah, making the wine one of the most popular we have ever featured. Today, Agent Red returns to Rodney Strong to procure the newest release of the wine, a more potent and more delicious vintage to be sure.
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 delightful Syrah is a bold delight with original flavors, deep aromatics and a ultra-fine mouth feel. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and interesting mission report below
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark and inky Burgundy in color with a heart of darkest garnet and concentrated color out to the edges of the glass. On swirling, this wine shows a tight and fast-settling surface. When the wine settles, it leaves behind tight clusters of some of the finest legs I have ever seen on a wine
Smell – Dark and lush, with layers of smoky black cherry, blackberry, plum, earth, oak and spice. These sit atop softer hints of cedar, dried meats and soft licorice
Feel – Light and wet up front, then soft across the mid-palate. After a few moments, fine medium-grained tannins show up, drying the cheeks and lips as the mouth is coated with the rich flavors of the wine
Taste – Delicious and rich, but not heavy-handed, this wine leads with black fruit, smoky mixed berry, lush dark mixed berry and smoky oak. These are followed by hints of spice and subtly-salty licorice
Finish – Begins with big flavors which seem to linger for a long interval before they begin to fade gradually. The wine begins dark and smoky-fruity, then tails off with more earth and a very subtle hint of salty European licorice
Conclusion – We loved the 2004 vintage of this wine and we LOVE this stellar iteration! It is such a pleasure to be able to taste successive vintages of a particular wine. Doing so gives one insight into the evolution of a winemaker, a vineyard, and even how the weather can affect a wine. The 2005 vintage was a late-starter in the vineyard, with bud break occurring later than usual. The year was also far cooler and more wet than in recent memory, giving the season a more Rhone-like quality. The result is a wine that has more character, a better overall feel, and more exciting flavors and aromas. If you tasted the 2004, you will undoubtedly become even more enamored by the 2005.
Mission Report:
The call came in the middle of the night.
“Go for red,” I answered groggily.
“Do you recognize my voice?”
I perked up almost immediately. It was Teech, a great asset and local college professor. Teech is a respected professor of Wine Industry Marketing at the Sonoma State University, and a great friend to the company.
Without saying her name, I replied, “I do. Go.”
“If I can guarantee your anonymity, will you come and guest lecture to my students?”
“I would be honored. Transmit the date and details, and I’ll be there. Depending on my mission on that day, I may have to come in disguise. That’ll help me keep my cover.”
She agreed and we signed off. A few minutes later, my smartphone chimed. Coordinates and full details were revealed to me on the small screen. I confirmed the date.
The weeks passed and I eventually found myself in front of a class of college students. I was there as a ‘wine industry marketing insider’, and I gave a talk on ‘alternative sales channels’. Actually, it was more like an informal dialog, with a short presentation and a longer Q&A session. It was good fun and almost all of the students actually stayed awake.
One student, in particular, had the tougher questions for me. I did my best to answer him, but as the questions became tougher, I realized that he was testing me. Was he trying to punch holes in my cover? I wondered. I kept my cool and decided to subtly press back.
It was obvious, to us both, what was happening here, so I made it a point to encourage other students to ask questions.
The presentation now over, the young man approached me. He reached into his jacket pocket. I tensed, ready to spring. He withdrew his hand – to reveal a business card. the card read, ‘Rodney Strong Vineyard’ and contained his name, [REDACTED], and title, [REDACTED].
I took the card and then accepted his outstretched hand. He said in a whisper, “Agent Red, I’m codename King. I’m your newest asset. I’ll be acting as your mole at Rodney Strong. I’ll reach out when I can secure a fantastic RS wine.”
I don’t know how he knew my true identity – and it didn’t much matter; And so a valuable new asset was developed. And, now you know how I came to procure today’s delicious Syrah for you!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of Rodney Strong Vineyards (look for the the brick-colored, X-shaped building) can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Rodney Strong Vineyards
About This Wine:
Very rich, with juicy black fruits, earth, smoke and spicy oak character, this expression of the syrah grape from this special region will impress you now, and will reward aging over the next 2 to 4 years.
History – The noble grape of France’s Rhone valley has found new roots in Sonoma County’s beautiful Alexander Valley. Our shallow, stony soils that drain exceptionally well, along with warm to hot days and cool nights provide conditions here that must remind syrah of its original home in places like Hermitage and Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
In the Vineyards – The 2005 vintage began with a rather late bud break during an unseasonably cool and wet spring. Record May rains luckily came before bloom for syrah, and an average to cool summer further contributed to a harvest about three weeks later than normal. Fortunately, harvest conditions were rain free with ideal temperatures for all varieties, and we finished bringing in our syrah by the 11th of October.
About The Winery:
Rodney Strong is one of Sonoma County’s most dramatic wineries. Visitors are invited to our hospitality center offering a sampling of the award winning wines of Rodney Strong. Enjoy wine tasting with balcony views, taking a tour of the winery’s working centers, attending special events, or just relaxing with a picnic and glass of wine on our lush lawn set among the beautiful vineyards of the Russian River Valley.
“Rodney Strong Vineyards was founded on the recognition of Sonoma County’s potential for excellence. Through decades of grapegrowing and winemaking, we continue to fulfill the promise of the fine land. Our approach is for the grapes from each vineyard and growing region to express their intrinsic character in the special wines we craft. Gentle handling, careful use of barrel and stainless steel fermentation and proper oak aging are guided and monitored to enhance the natural characteristics of our fruit.”
“Today the winery owns and farms many exceptional vineyards in Sonoma County’s prime grapegrowing appellations where our critically acclaimed Estate, Vineyard Designated and Reserve wines are grown.” – Rick Sayre, Winemaker.
About The Winemaker:
Rick Sayre – Vice President, Director of Winemaking – Rick Sayre began his winemaking career in 1970 at the age of 19 as assistant winemaker and cellar master at Simi Winery in Sonoma County. He joined Rodney Strong Vineyards in 1979 and since has been responsible for winemaking for the Winery’s Sonoma County, Estate, and Reserve wines.
As a practitioner of handcrafted wines, Rick is involved in all aspects of winemaking from vineyard management through final blending. In 1991, his hands-on approach paid off as Wine & Spirits Magazine named him “Chardonnay Winemaker of the Year”. Again, in 1999 Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences named him “Winemaker of the Year”.
Rick’s education in winemaking began in the 1970s under the direction of the world-renowned winemaster, Andre Tchelistcheff. It is to Tchelistcheff that he attributes his passion for the art and his desire to master the craft. Always a perfectionist with an eye for detail, Rick continues to apply these traits to making the fine wine of Rodney Strong Vineyards. “It’s so important to be aware of everything,” he says. “Andre taught me that a winemaker must live with his wine, from walking the vineyards, to the careful craft of guiding the wine into bottle. Even the smallest details can have an effect.”
Rick has expanded his winemaking expertise with several trips to France, where he studied the interplay of oak and wine. His voracious appetite for knowledge in winemaking from around the world also inspired journeys to Australia, New Zealand and Spain.
After visiting many of the French cooperage houses, he decided to bring their barrel toasting techniques back to the States and became the first winemaker in California to install an in-house cooperage, specializing in toasting of American oak barrels. In recent years, Rick has worked closely with World Cooperage, a renown American cooperage company, in an effort to perfect the American oak barrel for winemaking.
Since his arrival at Rodney Strong Vineyards, Rick has been instrumental in bringing worldwide notoriety to the Winery’s Estate wines. Alexander’s Crown Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Chalk Hill Vineyard Chardonnay have set standards of Sonoma County winemaking, and have become favorites to consumers all over the United States.
Rick lives in Windsor with his wife, Peggy. Avid gardeners, the two are often spotted at the local farmer’s market selling their fruits and vegetables. Rick enjoys cooking delicious comfort food to accompany his wines. He also finds solace in casting a line now and again for any of a variety of fish. And, while he enjoys a handful of other sporting activities, he admits bruises and broken bones are for days past.
Technical Analysis:
Winemaker: Rick Sayre
Alcohol: 14.4%
Residual Sugar: 0.05%
TA: 0.57gm/100ml
pH: 3.90
Appellation: Alexander Valley
Blend: 97% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot
Cellar & Fermentation: 24 months in oak barrels; 64% American, 36% French
