2003 Copain Syrah Cailloux Coccinelle

(from fruit purchased from Christophe Baron, owner of Cayuse Vineyards) Deep saturated ruby. Complex, musky aromas of black fruits, flint, tobacco and fresh herbs. Quite suave on entry, then musky and flinty in the middle, with strong dark berry flavors. Distinctly Old World in style: Guthrie vinified 75% whole clusters because he loves the aromatic complexity that the stems bring. Very bright, juicy wine, finishing with excellent aromatic lift.

The 2003 Syrah Cailloux-Coccinelle, from the Walla Walla sector in Oregon, not Washington, was fermented with 70% whole clusters. It offers up notes of tapenade intermixed with blackberries, cassis, licorice, camphor, and pepper. This dense, tannic 2003 will undoubtedly merit a higher rating with another 2-3 years of bottle age. It should prove to be relatively long-lived by New World Syrah standards ... 10-15 years. (Release date Summer 2005) Tel. (707) 541-7474; Fax (707) 541-7575