2008 Fess Parker Winery Rodney's Vineyard Syrah
Mission Codename: Pulling No Punches
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Return to our friends at Fess Parker Winery and retrieve the next vintge of their fantastic Rodney’s Vineyard Syrah.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Fess Parker Winery
Wine Subject: 2008 Rodney’s Vineyard Syrah
Winemaker: Blair Fox
Backgrounder:
France’s Rhone Valley stretches from Vienne in the north down to the Arles in the south may be best known for its intricate blends of red varietals as demonstrated by its legendary Chateauneuf-du-Pape,. It is in the spirit of these unique Terroir driven varietals that inspires today’s selection. Syrah, a native to the Rhone Valley find an excellent home in California’s Santa Ynez Valley just north of Santa Barbara.
The Santa Ynez Valley, in Santa Barbara county is influenced but not dominated by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean. A little elevation and well drained soil makes for an ideal environment for viticulture as demonstrated by the range of great wines from the region.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Beautifully dense and dark garnet in color with a dark but clear core that shows ruby reflections when tipped into to the light. Along the edges the color lightens only slightly and when swirled fat color stained legs hang on the lower edge of the glass.
Smell – Intense and rich with lots of dark and black fruit including black cherry, blackberry and spiced dark plum. These aromas blend with toasted and smoky oak, spice, pepper and dark earthy notes. A touch of cigar box and savory hints round out the nose.
Feel – Richly textured and dry, this full-bodied wine is generous on the palate with firm, expansive, mouth drying tannins. Spice, along with a healthy dose of acidity and textured minerality, frames the fruit and lingers into the finish.
Taste – Focused and rich dark fruit leads the way with black cherry, blackberry and dark plum blend with spicy pepper, dark mineral, savory flavors and licorice. Hot spice follows along with smoky and toasted oak. Throw in some bittersweet cocoa, cigar box and earth for added complexity
Finish – Extremely long with the dark and black fruit lingering on, only fading to give way to the spice, pepper flavors and textured minerality. As the spice continues, hints of the other complex flavors appear and invite another sip.
Conclusion – If you are a fan of big, rich and bold Syrah, then the 2008 Fess Parker Winery Rodney’s Vineyard Syrah is the wine for you. This wine is a pull no punches Syrah that delivers abundant black fruit and other classic Syrah aromas and flavors from start to finish. Be sure to give this wine time to open up if enjoying now or cellar for up to five to seven years. This wine is ideal for a big juicy steak grilled on theBBQ.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Fess Parker Winery in Santa Barbara’s famous Foxen Canyon can be seen in this satellite photo.