2004 Syrah
Stone Farm Vineyard,
Sonoma Valley
Alcohol 14.5%  |  pH 3.78  |  Total Acidity .60
485 Cases Produced

Wine Notes [PDF]

Tasting Notes | This rich, supple and complex Syrah is ripely flavored and full-bodied, with generous depth and length. Flavors are reminiscent of boysenberry jam, dark plum, toast, spicy oak and tobacco. Given the wine's tannic structure it should be at its best over the next two to four years. Drink with savory foods, including meat lasagna, roast rabbit or steak tartare.

Vineyard | Syrah and other hearty red varietals thrive in the rocky loam soil of Stone Farm Vineyard, where conditions encourage roots to grow deep and broad in search of water. Because the vines expend most of their energy on root growth, their vigor is controlled. This means smaller yields of grapes with intense flavors and aromas.

While this vintage was grown using sustainable farming methods, Stone Farm Vineyard has received its Biodynamic certification. The 2005 Stone Farm Cabernet Sauvignon will be our first certified-Biodynamic vintage of this wine.

Winemaking | Grapes from separate blocks were harvested and fermented in small closed-top fermentors. The lots were cold-soaked for five days and left on the skins for 16 days. The lots were aged in French oak for 14 months and bottled in May 2006.

Vintage | Warm weather jump-started the 2004 growing season, but cooler temperatures followed, promoting an extended spring bloom. Long bloom can affect the uniformity of red grapes, which in turn can cause clusters to ripen unevenly. In our vineyards, we green drop (remove grapes while they are still green) to balance the crop, promote uniformity and eliminate late ripening fruit at the end of veraison (when grape color changes). Summer was moderate without any heat waves, but by the end of July it was clear we could expect an early harvest. Unusually low humidity and high temperatures in late August and September sent grape sugar soaring before flavors had matured. But our growers were able to manage their vineyards so that by the end of September, we had harvested an outstanding vintage. With some of the best overall quality in years, the 2004 vintage produced grapes with ripe and well-developed flavors.

Benziger Farming Practices | At Benziger Family Winery, we are dedicated to winemaking that reveals the true character of the vineyard, the varietal and the vintage in certified-sustainable, -organically grown and -Biodynamic® wines defined by individuality and the passion of the people who make them. Through our commitment to natural farming and environmentally and socially responsible business practices, we strive for sustainability and the preservation of our Sonoma Mountain family winery for generations to come.

This wine is in transition to Biodynamic and was made with grapes grown by sustainable farming methods. (With the 2005 vintage, this wine will be certified Biodynamic.) Our sustainable philosophy promotes natural vineyard management, restoration of the land and biodiversity on the estate. We believe these practices result in wines that reflect the authentic flavors, aromas and character of the vineyard.