RC Reserve Syrah

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

96% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah

Vineyards

Chateau, Gate

Alcohol %

14.8

Barrel Regimen

16 months - French and American Oak, 30% New

Bottled

2009

Vintage Notes

Light springs rains were followed by warm summer days and no extreme climate variables – ideal conditions that allowed the fruit to ripen steadily and evenly throughout the 2009 vintage. This allowed us to be very selective during the harvest process, choosing fruit that displayed intense aromatics, flavor complexity and intriguing spice nuances.

Tasting Notes

Impressively rich without being overbearing, our 2009 Reserve Syrah proves highly aromatic with generous flavors of dark berries, chocolate and spices woven between fine threads of vanilla. Seamlessly balanced and well structured, this wine's complexity and expressive nature reflects the stellar vintage - a true gem.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

95% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah

Vineyards

Gate, S3

Alcohol %

14.2

Barrel Regimen

20 months - Oak Barrel Aging, 15% New American and 20% New French

Bottled

2012

Vintage Notes

Over the last few years, we’ve refined our winemaking methods, using smaller boxes for picking, a new destemmer that is gentler on the fruit, thereby causing less oxidation, and we’re applying greater scrutiny during the fermentation process by evaluating individual blocks of fruit daily to determine which will benefit from pump overs. These improvements greatly enhanced the quality of the 2012 vintage, which is sure to go down in the books as one of the best vintages of the decade. The Syrah we harvested was very ripe and concentrated, showing great extraction and tremendous flavor complexity.

Tasting Notes

This intensely aromatic, full-bodied Syrah unleashes a torrent of flavors and fragrances. From scents of blackberries, vanilla, and spices to grilled meats, tobacco leaves, violets, lavender and sandalwood, the voluminous palate delivers layered complex flavors of wild berries, figs, lavender, toffee and caramel. Balanced acidity and silky tannins that coat the palate create a powerful structure and superb integration of these lush flavors show further on the finish.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

99% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah

Vineyards

Gate, S3

Alcohol %

14.5

Barrel Regimen

18 months - 50% French Oak, 50% American Oak; 35% New Oak

Bottled

2013

Vintage Notes

Over the last few years, we’ve refined our winemaking methods, using smaller boxes for picking, a new destemmer that is gentler on the fruit, and we apply greater scrutiny during the fermentation process by evaluating individual blocks of fruit daily to determine which will benefit from pump overs. Also, this vintage, we implemented by-the-hour pay for our pickers rather than by-the-ton, as an additional quality measure that encourages our vineyard staff to pick more slowly, be gentler with the fruit, and focus on selecting higher quality clusters as a means of pre-sorting. Because these methods greatly enhance the quality of the wine, it is our goal to continue this technique with all future vintages.

Tasting Notes

Highly aromatic with a lush, full-body, our 2013 RC Reserve Syrah offers a dramatic bouquet that blends aromas of raspberry, plum, tobacco leaves, and smoke. Balanced acidity and supple tannins support this well-structured wine where increasing volume on the palate and notes of blueberries, blackberries, violets, and white chocolate create layers of complexity enlivened by a sting of black pepper on the finish.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

99% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah

Vineyards

Chateau, Gate

Alcohol %

14.5

Barrel Regimen

18 Months - 50% French Oak, 50% American Oak, 35% New Oak

Bottled

2014

Vintage Notes

Roman Coppola, a Syrah aficionado fond of both the Australian heavyweights as well as the more pedigreed Syrah-based wines from the Northern Rhone, worked with the Inglenook winemaking team to create an estate Syrah that combined the nuance and texture of ‘old world’ Syrah with the powerful fruit of ‘new world’ Syrah. Although the Inglenook Estate is primarily planted to Cabernet, Rutherford’s temperate climate, alluvial soils and eastern exposure where the Syrah vines are planted offer envious conditions for producing a rich, opulent wine. The characteristics of this vintage show after spending time in a decanter.

Tasting Notes

Rich, opulent, and seamlessly structured, 2014 RC Syrah exemplifies the superlative nature of what can be realized from the Inglenook Estate in an outstanding vintage. From its opaque, inky color to a beautifully textured palate, the efforts to learn the intricacies of each vineyard block and what they are capable of, craft a structured wine while retaining freshness. An alluring nose of violets, red pepper, wild berries, and forest fruits is punctuated by more sensuous notes of leather, nutmeg, and chocolate. Intricate and intense, the lush, juicy fruit typical of this wine offers a briary, gamey characteristic. Round upon entry, the expressions are incredibly generous and persistent on the finish. Fine powdery tannins and oak are well blended, creating a masterful integration of flavors and aromatics.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

100% Syrah

Vineyards

Chateau, Gate

Alcohol %

14.5

Barrel Regimen

18 Months - 60% French Oak 40% American Oak 25% New Oak

Bottled

2016

Vintage Notes

A winter with average rainfall, following four years of drought, provided ample soil moisture to kick off the 2016 growing season. Early spring was warm, triggering rapid, healthy canopy growth. Average late-spring temperatures and limited rainfall reduced the risk of frost during mid-May bloom, ensuring average yields. June closed with a heat spell, slowing vine canopy growth at the ideal time. Inglenook’s Syrah harvest began under excellent conditions in the Gate blocks on August 31st and ended with the final Chateau blocks on September 12th.

Tasting Notes

The 2016 RC Reserve Syrah is dark ruby in color with a distinct violet hue. Aromatically, the wine is a heady weave of black licorice, kirsch, wild bay, violets, and sweet black fruits. On the palate, the wine emerges gradually, appearing rich, velvety, and perfectly seamless as it reveals lush flavors of black cherry and freshly baked spice cake with hints of black pepper and clove throughout the extended finish.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

100% Syrah

Vineyards

Chateau, Gate

Alcohol %

14.5

Barrel Regimen

18 Months - 100% French Oak 30% New Oak

Bottled

2017

Vintage Notes

Rainfall in winter and spring of 2017 was bountiful, totaling nearly 50 inches. These conditions allowed for a smooth transition into bloom and fruit set. Harvest for the organically-farmed fruit used to produce our 2017 RC Reserve Syrah began on September 1st and concluded within days.

Tasting Notes

Visually stunning with its vivid, dark-ruby color, the 2017 RC Reserve Syrah shows classic varietal aromas of ripe blueberry, black licorice, black olive and garrigue (wild thyme, rosemary, lavender). The wine is generous and dense on the palate and remains warm and seamless throughout the long, luxurious finish.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

100% Syrah

Vineyards

Chateau, Gate

Alcohol %

14.5

Barrel Regimen

18 Months - 100% French Oak 28% New Oak

Bottled

2018

Vintage Notes

The 2018 vintage produced a generous Syrah crop of excellent quality. Well-timed precipitation in the spring gave the growing season a good start. Bloom in late May and moderately warm temperatures set the stage for gradual ripening in our two blocks of Syrah. The dry farmed block in our Chateau vineyard was picked on September 3rd, followed by the Gate block two weeks later. Mild temperatures during the two weeks preceding harvest allowed for a gradual ripening of tannins and flavors, and delivery of pristine fruit.

Tasting Notes

Brilliant and violet-edged ruby in color, the 2018 RC Reserve Syrah shows fresh, vibrant aromas of plum, blueberry, tobacco, and forest floor. The wine is superbly balanced on the palate, with well-defined notes of fennel, cedar, and allspice, which emerge gradually. The texture is velvety, supported by extremely well-integrated French oak, and the long, aromatic finish resolves perfectly.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

99% Syrah 1% Petite Sirah

Vineyards

Chateau, Gate

Alcohol %

14.3

Barrel Regimen

18 Months - 100% French Oak, 35% New Oak

Bottled

2019

Vintage Notes

A wet winter just before the 2019 growing season fed our vineyards and a cool spring gave way to budbreak in the second week of April. That led to excellent conditions for an early bloom which occurred just after more rain in late May. The resulting 2019 crop was generously proportioned, and while July was cool, warmer temperatures and dry conditions in August and September promoted very gradual, even ripening. We harvested at optimum maturity on September 18th and 19th, creating a variety of small wine lots that were blended to create our2019 RC Reserve Syrah.

Tasting Notes

Purple-hued ruby in color, the 2019 RC Reserve Syrah is very expressive aromatically, showing red currant, Bing cherry, clove, and allspice. On the palate, while firmly structured, the wine remains vibrant and fresh, with good tension and a velvety texture. There are suggestions of red fruits, and hints of floral and savory notes that build aromatic complexity during the long, lush finish.

Appelation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blend

100% Syrah

Vineyards

Chateau, Gate

Alcohol %

14.5

Barrel Regimen

20 Months - 100% French Oak, 67% New Oak

Bottled

2020

Vintage Notes

Excellent canopy growth protected the fruit during the short stints of summer heat that led to 2020’s early veraison. All Syrah fruit was hand-harvested between September 6th and September 25th. Practicing organic farming since the 1980’s, Inglenook was one of the first Napa Valley vineyards to be certified organic in 1994. Experimentation is embedded in Inglenook’s DNA, and within this ongoing evaluation, considerations of climate change, vine age, vintage and other factors reiterate that an estate of Inglenook’s caliber and quality is forever a work-in-progress.

Tasting Notes

The 2020 RC Reserve Syrah is deep ruby color with a youthful violet edge. Aromas of deep black fruit, anise, and baking spice transition to the palate with mineral and floral notes and ripe, seamless tannins. Rich with family tradition, RC Syrah is a wine to be shared with loved ones. Enjoy around the fire in Inglenook’s Athenaeum or in a cozy corner of your own home.