Syrah
2015
Why Matchbook? As a farm kid growing up in the late 1950´s and early 1960´s John Giguiere was a confirmed pyromaniac starting various things on fire such as his father´s wheat field. At one point, fearing total ruin from his kids burning him out of the house and farm, his father took them to the city jail for an hour stay to impress upon his brother and him the futility of their fascination with fire. John and his brother answered at a later date by graduating from random fires to the...
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The 2015 vintage is the first Estate Bottling for the Matchbook Syrah, it was crafted entirely from Matchbook estate vineyards. Sustainable farming is an integral part of how they choose to manage their vineyards; they employ drip irrigation and adhere to strict scheduling which not only conserves water but also results in increased grape flavour and colour intensity. Between the rows you’ll find annual clover and grasses planted. These cover crops add organic matter to the soil and nitrogen to feed the grapevines. They improve soil health and consistency, attract beneficial insects and even eliminate harmful ones. At Matchbook, they plant a mix of legumes, barley and brassica to give the soil a balanced diet of nutrients.
The grapes were gently crushed just 20 minutes after being harvested and then fermented in small temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks. We used a combination of specially selected yeast and native yeast to enhance color and flavor extraction without harsh tannins. We pumped the tanks over twice a day until nearly dry, then pressed and aged the wine in a combination of Côte du Rhône French and American oak barrels for 20 months. Only the best barrel lots were chosen for this complex and layered Estate Bottled Syrah.
A typical Dunnigan Hills Syrah full of earthy, dusty, dried cranberry aromas and richly layered flavors of plum and spice, white pepper and blueberry. The broad flavors linger in the finish. This is an age-worthy Syrah with a decent grip of tannins that balance the plush, silky flavors in the palate. Pair this with beef short ribs, game dishes or grilled lamb chops.
This generous, expansive wine tastes rich and concentrated from the first whiff of ripe plums, baking spices and cedar to the lingering, spiced plum finish. It is full bodied, layered and mouthcoating.
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Savory aromas of burnt sage and black pepper along with beef, anise and carbon flavors make this an adventurous wine. It's medium bodied, not overly ripe or rich and has a tight mouthfeel due to moderate tannins and lively acidity.
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Broad, succulent, concentrated.
Great packaging. A well-designed burnt label is perfectly suited to this Matchbook Syrah, which adds 8% Cabernet Sauvignon to broaden its flavour profile. It is flush with blackberry, black raspberry, vanilla, smoked plum and sarsaparilla alongside rich mocha, sunbaked earth and savoury layers. The palate is supple with generous sweet briary fruit, chocolaty/mocha and peppery spices. Expect very good concentration and length.
Pair: Roasted meats, hard cheeses, spicy sausage and almost anything you can grill.
This non-oaky wine is a livelier-than-usual offering, its bright acidity tempering ripe cherry, plum and black pepper flavors for a sense of balance that's often lacking in California Syrah. It's worth seeking out and is versatile with food.
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