"DuMOL's 2007 Russian River Syrah comes from the same vineyard blend as its powerful 2006 predecessor, yet the wines are quite different-- a testament to vintage variation. The grapes were hand harvested, and hand-sorted in the vineyard and winery. Native yeast fermentations and native malolactic fermentations occurred in barrel. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 14th, 2009. The mild 2007 late harvest period is evident in the brightness, elegance and purity of this wine; it clearly has coastal roots. The layers of fruit and texture gradually revealed themselves in barrel, as the wine absorbed the hillside tannins and coastal acidity. Saralee's steep Trenton Station hillside vineyard gives the wine those brooding camphor aromas and dense berry fruits. They fermented these blocks with some whole clusters to elevate the gamey side of the varietal and balance the broad tannins. The Hoppe-Kelly vineyard offers plush, opulent rich blackberry fruit with great sweetness and depth. For the first time, some barrels from the ‘eddie’s patch’ block of this special vineyard add an extra dimension of floral aroma and velvety softness to the blend. Great purity of blueberry fruit and coastal freshness come in the shape of Gregori Vineyard, long a source of our ‘jack robert’s run’ bottling. The blend is completed by the gorgeous purity of Dry Stack vineyard, a component that is arguably the most complete of the set with its aromatic purity, supple fruitiness and deep soft finish; a critical ingredient from one of DuMOL's favorite growers. This is likely their brightest, most elegant and supple Syrah yet, which makes it a great candidate for current drinking and offers natural compatibility with a great range of dishes. It’s a Pinot-lovers Syrah for sure. Open a bottle upon release (decant for an hour if possible) or enjoy over the next five years." -Winery