Keep Wines Syrah 2018, Kahn Vineyard, Mayacamas Mt. Range, Napa, CA

This Napa Syrah has a pleasant intensity with notes of ripe dark berries, dried herbs, and a powerful finish.

COUNTRY: United State of America (USA)

STATE: CA

APPELLATION (AVA): Napa Valley

REGION: California

VINEYARD: Kahn Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2018

GRAPES: Syrah

SOIL: Volcanic soil on slope, clay soils on valley floor

PRACTICE: Certified organic,

VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested, 100% whole cluster fermentation in stainless steel, gentle pumpover, pressed to barrel, aged 18 months in neutral oak, 18 months in bottle. Unfined, unfiltered, no added sulfur.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Medium purple

BODY: Medium to Full (7-8)

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Charcoal, black ink, currant, ripe dark berries

FLAVOR: Blue violet, game hen, dried herbs, powerful finish

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 13.75%

SERVICE AND SUGGESTION: Pair with tandoori, dishes cooked with Asian five spice, dark meats, or other exotic spices.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: 
Winemakers Johanna Jensen and Jack Roberts create bright and mineral driven wines influenced by the old world with minimal manipulation and great age ability. In the vigneron tradition, they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling. Based out of Napa, they work with small, mostly certified organic vineyards from all over Northern California and have a passion for lesser-known grape varieties.

ABOUT THE VINEYARDS: Kahn Vineyard
This hillside vineyard located at the southernmost tip of the Mayacamas range which divides Napa and Sonoma Valley contains a combination of volcanic and valley floor soils giving it tremendous complexity.
“It was previously a turkey farm before it was planted to vines 18 years ago. Johanna was originally introduced to this vineyard and its owner Bob Kahn by George Vare (who owned Vare Vineyard, now known as Bengier Vineyard, and farmed by Steve Matthiasson). Its cooler climate and high altitude are perfect for wines with great acidity and lower-than-normal alcohol levels. Keep farms this 2-acre, certified organic Syrah vineyard themselves; only spray once/year in early summer and irrigate once or twice depending on vintage conditions.”

ABOUT THE LABEL:
The crest on the bottle is of Beverston Castle, an 11th century Norman stronghold in Gloucestershire, England where Jack’s father was born and raised. All that remains of Beverston today is what you see -the moat and the tall ‘keep’, (from the middle english kype, or barrel) which was the defenders' last resort in a siege. It was also where they stored their most precious possessions, especially their wine.