Topanga Vineyards - Topanga Syrah

Topanga Syrah

Click here for up to date shelf-talkers and point-of-sale materials:

Topanga Shelf-Talkers / POS

For technical data, labels and tasting notes, click any vintage below:

Vintage 2005 — released April, 2008
Vintage 2004 — released December, 2007
Vintage 2003 — released January, 2007
Vintage 2002— released July, 2003
Vintage 2001 — released July, 2002
Vintage 2000 — released April, 2001
Vintage 1999 — released February, 2001
Vintage 1998 — released June, 1999
Vintage 1997

Our first commercial release of a Syrah in 1997 was from grapes grown in Paso Robles and Edna Valley and yielded 200 cases. With the 1999 vintage, production was 330 cases, and in 2000 was 600 cases, both from fruit grown in French Camp and Edna Ranch.

Our 2001 Syrah was the first single vineyard wine produced by Topanga Vineyards. From 100% Edna Ranch fruit, this vintage bears a new taste, a new brand and a new label. We call it Topanga—our exciting new Syrah.

Topanga Syrah is representative of a cool climate Syrah emphasizing the spice and black pepper character that epitomizes the varietal.

Stephen Dooley, our winemaker, was winemaker for Edna Valley Vineyard at the same time Sandy worked for Chalone Wine Group. He also worked for Louis Martini Winery for several years and now has his own brand—Stephen Ross.

Larry Brooks, formerly of Acacia Winery and Chalone Wine Group is our other consultant on this project.

Our source of grapes for the 2001 Topanga Syrah is Edna Ranch Vineyard in the Edna Valley. Topanga Vineyards has contracted for a small parcel of fruit on a hillside vineyard comprised of very gravelly soil. Cool weather provides late ripening and extended hang-time. Production is limited to four tons per acre (about 300 cases).

Our goal is to produce a distinctly California-style of Rhone inspired Syrah in both flavor and texture. This means obtaining fruit that is ripe but not over-ripe, and allowing the oak to be a complement to the fruit rather than a dominant flavor. It has soft tanins, well-balanced acidity and spice in the finish, while white pepper and the perfume of violets dominate the aroma—with a rich mouth-filling finish.

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