Copperplate 2020 Syrah

Copperplate 2020 Syrah Sonoma County, California

Curated from the best regions, vineyards and vintages, the Fine Wine Collection is meant to celebrate winemaking at its finest. This wine represents our commitment to excellence, to exploration and to you.

Copperplate 2020 Syrah Sonoma County, California

Vintage Navigating the 2020 vintage in the vineyards of Sonoma took patience and experience. Throughout the summer, high temperatures and a severe lack of rainfall reduced yields, creating small, highly concentrated grapes. This meant our Syrah ripened early, which favorably moved up harvest just in time to avoid the impact of intense heat spells and wildfires late in the season. In the end, these challenges created captivating wines with excellent flavor concentration.

Region Sonoma County’s picturesque landscape mirrors France’s Northern Rhône, where Syrah rules as king. This French grape thrives in Sonoma’s diverse soil types and climates, producing bold wines with signature peppery characteristics and dark fruit flavors. Historically Syrah has been overlooked in California and primarily used for blending as popularity favored Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. In the past 30 years, Sonoma County has realized the immense potential of single varietal Syrah, crafting delicious “cult” wines in small quantities.

Tasting notes It is hard to ignore the stunning, inky hue of this wine. This depth alludes to the layers of complexity to be discovered. On the nose, enticing aromas of bacon and black pepper serve as a spicy introduction to this complex wine.

The plush palate is sultry and serious, with flavors of ripe blackberry, plum and sweet balsamic reduction. Firm tannins provide the textural backbone to this wine’s structure, while acidity remains subtle for a smooth, jammy finish.

Aromas and flavors Black pepper, blackberry, plum, balsamic, bacon

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Acidity: Fruit:

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Pairing logic This Syrah’s rich flavor concentration, full body and smooth textures make it an excellent pairing companion.

Highlight these characteristics with juicy cuts of salted red meat. Play into black pepper and bacon notes by cooking meats slow in a smoker and season with peppery dry rubs or highlight fruit with balsamic-based glazes.

For vegetarian dishes, stick to hearty stews and casseroles that stand up to the wine’s bold flavors and structure.

Menu suggestions • Balsamic glaze roasted vegetables • Bacon-wrapped roasted figs • Grilled portobello with peppercorn sauce • Raspberry glazed pork chops • Char-grilled beef tenderloin with black pepper rub • Hickory smoked brisket

Serving instructions Temperature: Room temperature (60–65°F) Decanting time: 30 minutes Glassware: Bordeaux glass

Winemaking Darkness and density define this vintage. To emphasize this character, we only crush a small percentage of the grapes, allowing the others to remain whole before leaving the mixture to rest for five days to extract every ounce of color and flavor possible from the skins. This contact continues throughout fermentation as the decadence created by extreme weather begins to show before oak aging becomes the cherry on top of a potent and balanced wine.

Spotlight Cellar • Using whole clusters and crushed grapes accentuates fresh features and fruit flavors.

• Oak contact adds complexity and flavor while softening tannins.

Vineyard • Moderate drought-like conditions result in dark, dense wines.

• Low yields increase grape’s flavor concentration and complexity.

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