Syrah and Grenache are the mainstay red wine grapes of the Rhône in southern France. The wines produced are frequently blends of several grape varieties with Syrah dominating in the northern Rhône and Grenache further south at Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The grapes for both this Syrah and the Grenache were grown at Dark Horse Vineyards on red volcanic soil, located in the hills south and east of Ukiah. Proprietors Paul and Heath Dolan are professional winemakers so it comes as no surprise that the vineyard is farmed to produce superior wine. We also appreciate this vineyard because it is farmed biodynamically; our enthusiasm is not because of Steiner's intricate potions but rather due to the extra care that organic and biodynamic farming requires to avoid problems that otherwise would involve heavy-handed remedies. The Grenache grapes were harvested on September 9th and the Syrah almost two weeks later on the 21st. After destemming, the must for each variety was transferred to an open-top fermentor for twice-daily punch-downs; after about 10 days, the musts were pressed and the juices racked to seasoned French oak barrels to finish both primary and malolactic fermentations, then aged 11 months.

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