2009 Estate Bottled Syrah

Russian River Valley

At Christopher Creek, we take special care in the management of our vineyards, and as always we hand-pick, hand-sort and hand-macerate our fruit to produce a distinct wine from our edge of the Russian River Valley; the very light 2009 vintage is no exception.

Produced in the classical French style from multiple clone grapes, grown at the winery site, our 2009 Estate Bottled Syrah displays juicy black plum, blackberry, vanilla, and rich bing cherry with tastes of milk chocolate, minerals and subtle smoky notes. On the palate, the texture is smooth and ample with a very long, complex finish created by the rich, yet soft tannins.

We recommend bottle aging this wine for at least a year before drinking to let the tannins soften and the fruit fully develop. Properly cellared, we expect this wine to age well for 6-to-10 years.

Try our Syrah with a barbecued, marinated tri-tip roast, game birds, lamb, beef stew or spicy foods (Mexican, chili, exotic Asian infusions). Syrah is a great food companion of chocolate.

View Wine Profile

Harvested September, 2009
Released spring 2011
3.1 tons/acre at 24.5° Brix
pH 3.79 at bottling
Aged 13 months in French and American oak barrels
358 cases produced

Awards

• Silver Medal— Tasters Guild International
  

2008 Vintage

• Gold Medal— San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
  

2007 Vintage

• Gold Medal—San Diego International Wine Competition, April 2010
• Silver Medal—New World International Wine Competition, April 2010
• Silver Medal—Riverside International Wine Competition, April 2009

2006 Vintage

• Silver Medal—Tasters Guild International, May 2008

2005 Vintage

• Best of Class—New World International Wine Competition (Jerry Mead) April 2007
• Silver Medal—Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, April 2007
• Silver Medal—Sonoma County Harvest Fair, September 2007

2004 Vintage

• Gold Medal—Tasters Guild International, May 2006
• Gold Medal—North of the Gate wine Competition SAVOR Wine Magazine, May 2006

2003 Vintage

• Gold Medal—Tasters Guild International, May 2005
• Silver Medal—Orange County Fair, June 2005
• Silver Medal—North of the Gate Wine Competition, April 2005
• Silver Medal—Riverside International Wine Competition, April 2005
• Silver Medal—Grand Harvest Awards, March 2005
• Silver Medal—Jerry Mead's New World Wine Competition, February 2005
• Silver Medal—San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, February 2005
• Exceptional Rating—Dan Berger's Vintage Experience, February 10, 2005

2002 Vintage

• Gold Medal—Pacific Rim International Wine Competition (top 5% of all wines entered), April 2004
• Silver Medal—Orange County Fair, June 2004
• Silver Medal—Long Beach Grand Cru, August 2004

2001 Vintage

• Silver Medal—Sonoma County Harvest Fair, September 2003
• Silver Medal—Riverside International Wine Competition, April 2003
• Silver Medal—Tasters Guild International, May 2003
• Silver Medal—Florida State Fair, February 2004

2000 Vintage

• Silver Medal—Sonoma County Harvest Fair, September 2002
• 4 Stars—Press Democrat

1999 Vintage

• Best of Class and Gold Medal—Sonoma County Harvest Fair, September 2001
• Gold Medal—Tasters Guild International, April 2000
• Silver Medal—Riverside International Wine Competition, May 2001
• Silver Medal—San Francisco International Wine Competition, June 2001
• "93" Rating—Australia and California Shootout, August 2001

1998 Vintage

• Gold Medal—Tasters Guild International, April 2000
• Silver Medal—Sonoma County Harvest Fair, October 2000
• 4½ Stars (out of 5)—Wine of the Week, The Press Democrat (Tasting Room) July 5, 2000