The 2008 Cline Sonoma County Syrah is 100% Syrah sourced mainly from Cline’s family owned and sustainable farmed vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA along with grapes that are also sustainably farmed from 2 vineyards located on the Sonoma side of the Carneros AVA in Northern California. The Syrah is aged on French oak barrels for 10 months (35% new oak barrels, the remainder used barrels). The alcohol content is 14%.
The color is a lush shade of purple with pale pink, almost clear highlights. The nose is cedar, bacon fat, smoke, strawberry and a slightly medicinal odor. Soft and smooth on the palate, raspberry jam and blueberry upfront followed by cold mocha coffee. The mid-palate adds a smokey, salty bacon flavor along with licorice. The tannins are very soft and acidity is subdued, the finish is blueberry and coffee and is “ok”.
So, here we have a sustainable farmed, mostly Estate grown Sonoma County grapes, from an excellent producer, that you should be able to find for under ten bucks. Not a hugely complex or layered wine, but there is an interesting mix of exotic flavors to keep you interested. This is a wine that you would want to pick a recipe to match with the Cline Sonoma County Syrah’s mix of tastes and would also go down well by itself on a cool fall night.
