2019 Sierra Bonita Syrah
Wine Specs
Vintage
2019
Varietal
Syrah
Appellation
Willcox
Vineyard Designation
Sierra Bonita Vineyard
Harvest Date
August 30
Acid
TA: 6.1 g/L
pH
3.88
Aging
Aged 11 months in 33% 3-year-old French (Rousseau Cooperage) and 67% neutral oak barrels. Twice racked. Filtered, but unfined.
Alcohol %
13.9
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
In 2018, we began a partnership with the Smith family, owners of the Sierra Bonita Vineyard in Graham County. They had been pulled away from their wine business by other life forces and were looking to sell their fruit for the coming few years. We were happy to jump in and help them out while also getting to know yet another AZ vineyard. We’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen from this organically farmed vineyard so far, and this Syrah really
shows the influence of the cooler temperatures they see at this northernmost tip of the Willcox AVA. It’s is a little denser and more tannic than some of our other AZ Syrahs and the nose is way more intense, with bigger fruit and a little more spice than we usually see in Arizona Syrah. That combination of texture and aromatics easily makes this wine one
of our favorites of the vintage. Only three barrels produced.
Vineyard Notes
Willcox AVA – Graham County - 100% Syrah from Sierra Bonita Vineyard. Graham County, AZ. 4,400 ft. elevation. Harvested Aug. 30th - Sugar at harvest: 24.4 Brix.
Production Notes
Destemmed but not crushed to open-top, ¾-ton bins.
Inoculated with specially selected yeasts (D80, D254 & Ionys WF).
Hand punched 3-4 times daily.
Inoculated with Malolactic bacteria (Omega) around 5 Brix.
Pressed at dryness after 11 days average skin contact.
Settled 1 day before barreling.
Production
74 cases
Other Notes
Drink now or cellar 6+ years