2011 Syrah Sonoma Coast
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Tasting notes
(made with 100% whole clusters and 12.9% alcohol; all neutral oak): Bright purple. High-pitched aromas of dark berries, cherry skin and violet, with a peppery nuance. Very syrah. Sappy and precise, offering taut black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a jolt of cracked pepper. Silky tannins give shape to the finish, which leaves spice and floral notes behind.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
A beauty that is bursting with vibrancy and energy, the 2011 Arnot-Roberts Syrah California is textbook cool-climate Syrah (from Nellessen, Clary Ranch, Alder Springs and Old Lakeville vineyards) that was fermented with 100% whole cluster, aged 11 months in neutral French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Possessing a semi-opaque ruby color as well as scrumptious aromas of red and black raspberry, smoked stems, bacon, pepper, and mineral, it is a medium-bodied, juicy, and racy on the palate. Lean, focused, and acid-driven, yet also with solid fruit, chewy tannin, and excellent length, it is beautifully done and keeps you coming back for another sip. Give bottles another year in the cellar, and enjoy over the following 4-6.