Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. For this week, my Wine Of The Week is the 2009 Zotovich Cellars Estate Syrah.
Winery
Zotovich Cellars is a small (they produce about 1,700 cases of wine annually) family operated winery producing 100% Santa Rita Hills Estate Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay & Viognier. The partners in the winery are the owner Steve Zotovich, and his nephew Ryan Zotovich who is the Winemaker.
I was introduced to Zotovich Cellars when we visited the Lompoc Wine Ghetto in April last year. We had the good fortune of Pete Zotovich pouring for us. The day we visited they were pouring this wine along with their Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir, and Reserve Pinot Noir. It was a close call, between this wine and their Reserve Pinot Noir, but I picked up this bottle of wine.
The Wine
One hundred percent of the grapes crushed into Zotovich wine are grown on their 35-acre Zotovich estate vineyard located off Route 246, between Melville and Foley. The Santa Rita Hills AVA is exposed to fog and coastal breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean. The hills run east to west, which allows cool ocean breezes from the Pacific to enter the hills and create a cool micro-climate. As such, this is considered to be a “cool-climate” Syrah. Cool climate Syrah smells, and tasted different that its warm weather counter-parts. They typically have higher levels of acidity and freshness.
While the wine was fermenting, it was punched down three times daily. Following primary fermentation, free run juice was extracted, barreled down and then the skins were gently pressed to extract the remaining wine. Thereafter, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation before being bottled.
My tasting note follows:
Violet color with roasted dark fruit, pepper, and hints of fig and espresso aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-full-bodied, and nicely balanced with great acidity, supple tannins, and baked plum, pepper, and black currant flavors. Medium -Long finish. – 91 pts
Rating: Highly recommended. This wine is a great example of a “cool climate” Syrah.
Pair with: This is a very food friendly wine in my book. Pair with lamb, sausages, chili con carne, venison, and hearty stews!
The Wine Geek Stuff:
- Alcohol: 14.9%
- Closure: Cork
- AVA: > California> Central Coast> Santa Rita Hills – Sta. Rita Hills
- Grape Varieties: 100% Syrah
- Cooperage: 18 months in French oak; 30% new
- Retail: $42
- Cases produced: 350
- Drink: Now-2017
- >>Find this wine<<
Wine purchased for review
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