Syrah - The Last Bottle

Over the course of the last year and a half I have consumed half a case of the 2006 Phoenix Ranch Napa Valley Syrah.  Tuesday night was the latest and last and the best and brightest.  My supply is exhausted and there appears to be no more in the pipeline.

This is a wine that manages to make one think of northern Rhone syrahs while never hiding its California roots.  There was a lot of ripe fruit, but it never went into jam.  There were aromas of things other than grapes, particularly little hints of raw beef and dry earth that I love so much in Rhone wines.  Great acid, tannin and balance along with moderate alcohol all made for a delicious bottle of wine.  Of particular note was the amount of sediment in this this wine.  It was considerable and I used a fine mesh screen and funnel and it was necessary to rinse the screen between pouring to get the wine to pass through.  Not a problem I minded at all.

Dinner was some oven roasted chicken with herbs de Provence and potato coins roasted with fresh rosemary and garlic.  Great match - and there is the second half of the bottle for tonight.

2006 Phoenix Ranch Syrah.  13.9% alcohol and $30.