Syrah
Napa Valley

Clos Pegase Napa Valley Syrah

Wine Stats


Vintage: 2008
Variety: 100% Syrah
Vineyard: 71% Mitsuko's Vineyard (Carneros)
29% Dunaweal Vineyard (Calistoga)
Soil: haire clay-loam (Mitsuko's Vineyard)
sandy clay-loam (Dunaweal Vineyard)
Harvest Date: October 17- (Mitsuko's Vineyard)
October 1- (Dunaweal Vineyard)
Aging: 16 months in 20% new French oak
Alcohol: 14.9%
T.A.: 6.4 g/L
pH: 3.61
Residual Sugar: 0.05 g/L
Bottled: April 2010
Cases: 504
Optimal Drinking: 2011-2015


Tasting Notes

Our Estate Grown Syrah is composed of both the Dunaweal Vineyard in the warm Calistoga region and Mitsuko's Vineyard in cool Carneros. Dunaweal Vineyard gives us the fat, ripe and juicy Syrah notes with a luscious palate; Mitsuko's Vineyard gives us cool climate Syrah with spice and fragrance, density and elegance.

Primary fruit aromas of fresh black cherries and boysenberries are enhanced by notes of spicy oak, violets and a slight hint of lavender. The palate is fleshy and juicy with substantial core of fruit framed by a round and creamy texture and long finish.

Vineyard & Vintage Notes

A third consecutive winter of low rainfall started the 2008 season. Budbreak was slightly later than average, with Syrah not showing signs of green growth until the first week of April, rather than the more typical March. The interval was short before the commencement of the flowering and fruit set period in late May, punctuated by a heat spell in the high 90s and brisk winds. The warmth certainly encouraged this critical stage, and all varieties completed fruit set in less than ten days after bloom, giving great consistency to the individual berry development. Summer in 2008 was undoubtedly hot, with multiple heat spikes over 100 degrees. Fires were also prevalent throughout California, with most of June and July seeing haze throughout Napa from fires in nearby Mendocino and Lake Counties. The harvest commenced with a bang after a heat wave in late August/early September though the weather then moderated to a long and mild fall.

Winemaking Notes

After crushing and primary fermentation, our Syrah was pressed to barrels to complete the malolactic fermentation. Each vineyard component was racked once post-malolactic fermentation and returned to barrels to complete elevage was in 60-gallon Burgundy-style barrels with monthly topping to replenish the 'Angels Share' lost to evaporation in our caves. The final blend was racked to tank in March 2010 before bottling in April.

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