Syncline Winery : Our Wines
2007 Subduction Red Columbia Valley
Production: About 1750 cases
Tasting Notes
Long inspired by the wines of the Southern Rhone Valley, this is our an- swer to a Washington version of a Cotes-du-Rhone Villages wine. Ripe and hedonistic, this wine displays vivid ruby color with varying degrees of purple black. Aromatics lean towards cherries, pomegranate and black- berry with layers of exotic spices. Nuances of licorice, pepper, and pro- vincial herbs mingle with the fruit. Flavors closely mimic aromatics with a broad expansive texture. This isausages or country cheeses.
Harvest Notes
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Harvest Dates: Early September-late October
Varietals: 35%Syrah 21%Mourvedre 16%Grenache 15%Cinsault 13%Counoise
Vineyard: Varies
Year Planted: Varies
Vineyards
This wine is more an exploration of the Columbia Valley than a represen- tation of any one varietal or vineyard. The grapes all come from through- out the Columbia Valley from vineyards with which we have long term contracts. Syrah is sourced from our two vineyard designated sites, while the Grenache is sourced from the Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven and Co- lumbia Gorge. Mourvedre is planted to a remarkable hillside in the Horse Heaven Hills. Cinsault and Counoise are from Horse Heaven and Columbia Gorge. What is important for us lies in what each site contributes to the overall blend.
Fermentation and Aging
The fruit is hand harvested and transported to the winery in the early morning. The fruit is de-stemmed into fermenters with varying quantities of each varietal (Syrah with Grenache, Mourvedre with Syrah). This co- fermentation yields more integrated and different flavors than can be achieved through blending. Inoculated fermentation is in open top fer- menters with manual pigeage. Pressed at dryness and barreled in French oak barrels (5-10% new). Bottled in 11 months.