The 'SRH' designation on the Lafond label signals Winemaker Bruce McGuire's intent to blend a selection of vineyards located in the Santa Rita Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area).
Syrah plantings in this region have a pronouced white pepper and lavendar aromatic profile. Rita Hills Syrah is mostly slightly more restrained and nuanced. This wine is well structured from the natural acidity resulting from the AVA's cool climate. It represents a selection from seventeen vineyard lots and multiple Syrah clones. The wine was aged for nine months in 60 gallon French and Hungarian oak barrels, and then bottled. It is noted for its abundant dark berry aromatics, white pepper spice notes, and firm tannins.
One of our favorite wines for pairing with hearty fare and grilled foods, this wine is also fun to match with cheese such as Taleggio.
The SRH designation on the Lafond label signals Winemaker Bruce McGuire's intent to blend a selection of vineyards located in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Santa Rita Hills is a cold climate region where grapes benefit from a very long growing season. This wine represents Bruce's selection from seventeen vineyard lots and multiple Syrah clones. The wine shows the beginnings of a big bodied Syrah needing time to integrate in the bottle to show off concentrated fruit and intense flavors. This Syrah shows the cool-climate character found in Syrah grown in the Santa Rita Hills. Flavors are marked by forward dark berry, violets, and terrific white pepper spice intensity. A great wine for pairing with hearty fare and grilled foods, this wine is also fun to match with cheese such as Taleggio. This Syrah won Double Gold at the 2010 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and took Silver at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition.
