2010 Lazy Creek Vineyards Rose of Syrah
Mission Codename: Artisanal Beginnings
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: In time for Summertime sipping, return to Ferrari-Carano Winery and retrieve their Lazy Creek Vineyards Rose.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Lazy Creek Vineyards (Ferrari-Carano)
Wine Subject: 2010 Alexander Valley Rose of Syrah
Winemaker: Christy Griffith-Ackerman
Backgrounder: The Anderson Valley AVA in Mendocino County runs long the Anderson River, which flows northwest from near Boonville towards Navarro. The west side of the Anderson River rises to a region known as the Mendocino ridge, a higher elevation aspect than much of the inland wine growing regions in Mendocino County. It is one of California’s coolest wine growing regions with the climate most influenced by proximity coast. The region is also well known for having a diverse alluvial soil structure that supports a wide variety of grapes, especially Syrah. Rose, when made from Syrah, can exhibit a lovely fruit character and complexity that is not found in other varietals.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark pink hues, with perfectly even coloration from core to the edge of the glass. Spin the wine and it catches the light, glinting with light pink sparkles. As the wine settles, tall columns of wine-stained tears fall slowly down to the wine, below.
Smell – Bursting with aromas of strawberry, yellow raspberry and fine citrus fruit that jump out of the glass to greet you. As the wine warms, even slightly, it releases additional aromas of fresh pink rose petals, white peach and a hint of watermelon.
Feel – Very soft and round on the attack, then a very gradual dryness spreads from the edges of the palate, radiating inward. Eventually, the lips and cheeks are left with a very pleasant dryness.
Taste – Bright strawberry, raspberry and sweet lemon-lime are the first flavors present on the palate. Toward the rear of the tongue, watermelon, tart cherry, peach, rose and acacia spread inward, travelling just ahead of the spreading dryness.
Finish – Ultra long and dynamic, with the initial fruits fading as a second round of flavors move slowly, leading the soft dryness that follows closely behind.
Conclusion – Another stunning accomplishment from Don and Rhonda Carano, owners of Ferrari-Carano Winery. Their 2010 Lazy Creek Rose of Syrah is a fun, delicious, refreshing wine with plenty of character, flavor and intrigue. Really aromatic, sweet and lush on the nose, our tasting panel found itself sniffing this wine for a long time before ever taking a first delicious sip. Flavors are the right balance of sweet and slightly tart, and the dynamic quality of the finish is really intriguing. After sipping, the wine reveals a second round of flavors that seems to surf your tongue, just ahead of a gradually spreading dryness. At just $15 a bottle, this wine is also an exceptional value, easily beating out wines of a higher price. Highly recommended!
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Christy Griffith-Ackerman
WINE EDUCATION: B.S. in Food Science, Enology from California State University Fresno
CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Assistant Winemaker at Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg, Associate Winemaker at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery and current Winemaker at Lazy Creek Vineyards.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: I work with a diverse range of vineyards so I like to let the uniqueness of each come through in my winemaking, with little intervention
WINEMAKER QUOTE: “Wines are like people, some just take a bit longer to show their colors”
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 2006 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Ferrari-Carano
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Welcome back, Christy. I am so excited by today’s wine, your 2010 Lazy Creek Vineyards Rose of Syrah today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
CHRISTY GRIFFITH-ACKERMAN: Hey, Red. Great to be back with you, today!
RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
CHRISTY: Not a specific experience but an overall appreciation for, nature and science. Many things in nature; colors, textures, and aromas influence my winemaking and it all happens with science.
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
CHRISTY: I would say the wines of Burgundy and Rob Davis, Winemaker at Jordan Vineyards and Winery
RED: Who do you make wine for?
CHRISTY: For the person who celebrates that food and wine are meant to be enjoyed together in our everyday life.
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
CHRISTY: This refreshing, crisp, dry Rose of Syrah is a pretty pink hue with nice floral, berry aromas and flavors of strawberry and raspberry.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
CHRISTY: The Rose of Syrah pairs well with mild cheeses, crabcakes, and my favorite – oysters.
RED: In your opinion, what makes the Anderson Valley such a special place for Syrah?
CHRISTY: Anderson Valley is unique in that we have morning and evening fog that rolls in and cools the vineyards down quite quickly. We retain nice acid profiles in the grapes which is particularly good for a rose wine.
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
CHRISTY: Currently, the 2010 Pinot Noirs are going to bottle and we are assembling the 2011 blends.
RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
CHRISTY: I believe everyone should enjoy wine with food. I love to see someone taste a wine and then taste that same wine with food and really see the subtle complexities come out.
RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
CHRISTY: Please visit our estate and tasting room in the Anderson Valley when we re-open in the spring and you can always purchase our wines on our website.
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Lazy Creek Vineyards winery can be seen in this satellite photo.