2014 Keplinger Fuego y Mar Syrah Sonoma Coast

This wine has quickly become a favorite – stunning and opulent, yet fresh and serious. This Sonoma Coast vineyard is owned and passionately farmed by Ulises Valdez, a man with an incredible instinct in the vineyard. The vineyard is in Occidental, not far from the Pacific Ocean, with two distinct soils – old seafloor and Sobrante volcanic – hence the wine’s name. The Cote Rotie and Hermitage Syrah clones are planted on two volcanic hills. They are low-yielding and carefully tended. The red soils and cool, fog-shrouded and sun-bathed weather make for a dark, rich, dense Syrah. In 2014 the grapes were harvested on September 25th, and fermented in one small tank, spending 29 days on the skins. The free run was drained to a 500L puncheon and 228L burgundian barrel for elevage, with no racking, fining or filtration before bottling. The gorgeous nose is laden with blackberry, turpentine, black peppercorn, oil cured black olives, violets, candied orange peel, and star anise. The palate has a silky entry with super plush tannins coasting to a very long finish. 90 cases produced.