“94 POINTS” –Wine & Spirits (April 2003)
TASTING NOTES
Our 2000 Syrah from Crossroads Vineyard offers an intense bouquet of blueberries, violets and vanilla, followed by gorgeously concentrated flavors of ripe black fruits with accents of dark chocolate. A luxurious, expansive texture unfolds into an elegant, supple finish. This wine is an authentic expression of its terroir and vintage.
WINEMAKER CHUCK CARLSON’S NOTES
"From the start, I intended for Crossroads Vineyard to yield our most opulent and exotic Syrahs. Its cool ‘valley floor’ microclimate and balanced soils are optimal for generating exceptional depth and concentration. On a more metaphysical note, if you just stand in the middle of this little vineyard—intimately tucked into the foothills and surrounded by oak-studded knolls—you get a premonition of its wines. This is one of those vineyards that just looks like it tastes. Its sandy loam soils are little richer than our estate Ambassador’s Vineyard, with less limestone aggregate. I chose to plant Crossroads Vineyard to 5C rootstock, which limits vigor. This rootstock also complements my choice of the Syrah Noir clone at this site. This clone is a perfect match for the soils and altitude of the vineyard, yielding a sensual palate, exceptional concentration and that special element of the exotic."
ABOUT CURTIS WINERY’S VINEYARD SERIES SYRAH PROGRAM
Winemaker Chuck Carlson, who has been making Rhône-style wines locally for 20 years, is passionate about Syrah and its ability to express the uniqueness and character of individual vineyards. His Vineyard Series Syrah program features limited-production bottlings from Ambassador’s Vineyard, Crossroads Vineyard and Vogelzang Vineyard. Each site is differentiated in elevation, soil type, trellising and clonal selection. The resulting wines capture the uniqueness, versatility and excellence of the Santa Ynez Valley as a premier appellation for world-class Syrahs.
