Harvest Date September 19 Barrel Aging 17 months French oak (47% new oak) Varietal Composition Syrah 99% Viognier 1% Final Analysis Alcohol by Volume 14.5% TA .70 PH 3.56 Total Production 839 cases Vineyard Overview 5.7 Acres Planted in 1997 Santa Ynez Valley Canopy Management Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) Clonal Selection Syrah Noir (opulent palate, exceptional concentration) Estrella River (aromatic black fruit with accents of spice) Rootstock 5C and 101-14 Soil Profile Clay loam with varying degrees of limestone aggregate

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TASTING NOTES

Our 2001 Syrah from Vogelzang Vineyard boasts a vivid, high-toned fruit profile that is attributable to the warm growing conditions of the eastern Santa Ynez Valley. The bouquet is sweet and floral, with black fruit tones and a suggestion of cinnamon spice. A rich, supple palate unfolds with bright flavors of cherry and plum, while fine tannins accompany a lively, lingering finish. This wine is an authentic expression of its terroir and vintage.

WINEMAKING NOTES

-Hand picked on September 19 after excellent, evenly paced growing season.
-Four-day cold soak prior to fermentation to lock in the wine’s color and capture the vineyard’s pure fruit profile.
-Inocoulated with D254 yeast, a strain isolated and propagated in the Rhône Valley, and employed specifically for enhancing mouthfeel and overall richness.
-Pressed directly to barrels from traditional basket press to ensure gentle extraction.
-Similar winemaking methods applied to all Curtis vineyard-designated Syrahs to contrast and amplify vineyard expression.

VINEYARD NOTES BY WINEMAKER CHUCK CARLSON

“Vogelzang Vineyard is located in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley, where warmer growing conditions prevail. I targeted this site for our Vineyard Series Syrah program because I knew that it would yield a distinctive counterpoint to our estate Ambassador’s and Crossroads vineyards. Shifting elevations and soil conditions at Vogelzang make this small site interesting, adding complexity to the fruit profile. This vineyard yields a bright red fruit profile, including red cherries with plum spice. This brightness is reflective of the vineyard’s warmer conditions.”

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.