2007 Syrah

Two thousand eight was a very stressful vintage at this estate on top of Spring Mountain, said winemaker Sally Johnson. First, Pride lost nearly 30% of its fruit to frost. Heat during bloom resulted in irregular ripening. And then the estate ran out of water by the end of the summer. The team picked in a series of passes in order to lessen the effect of the heterogeneous ripening. In the end, says Johnson, "the 2008s are showy wines with fairly low acid levels and expressive fruit. They will be relatively soft, fleshy fruit bombs, but will they age?" In comparison, the 2007s are restrained, elegant wines with considerable aging potential. This was the biggest crop to date for this property, due in large part to the fact that there was no excessively hot weather during the ripening period and thus little in the way of dehydration and loss of volume. Incidentally, Johnson noted that the Vintner Select wines are intended to be "rounder, sweeter, more feminine" than the winery's reserves. The latter wines are the ultimate expression of mountain terroir and are meant to be aged. Also recommended: 2008 Chardonnay Napa Valley (85).