R3 (2004 Syrah Blend)

2004 R³
Our first non-varietal blend is 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Malbec. Smokey, tarry and exotic spices in the nose. This rich, full-bodied wine is brimming with flavors of dark fruits and hints of savory, roasted meats.

Harvest Date: Syrah: September 5; Cabernet: October 9,12; Malbec: October 8
Harvest Brix: 26, 25.2, 24.1
Vineyard Source: DeBro, Red Head Ranch
Yield: < 3 tons/acre
Alcohol: 15%

Winemaking
Hand harvested grapes. Each varietal was fermented separately in stainless steel tanks with aerative pump-overs performed twice a day for extraction and aeration of the must. The three were blended as finished wines after completion of the malolactic fermentation. Aged for 18 months in one to three year old French and American oak barrels.
Bottled unfiltered on July 10 and September 18, 2006.

Production
286 cases of 750 ml.

Tasting Notes
A bouquet with nuances of smoke and tar, characteristic of Syrah, mixed with exotic spices such as clove and cardamom. Flavors of damson plums with notes of peppered and savory roasted meats. A fine balance of acid, alcohol and tannin makes this full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine approachable and intriguing.

The 2004 RHR R³ won a Gold medal in the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a Silver medal in the 2007 Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition.