the wine...

The stylistic goal of angelica cellars is to produce outstanding wines with honest varietal characteristics that proudly express their place of origin.

Sourcing grapes from the esteemed (and sustainably farmed) White Hawk Vineyard in the Los Alamos Valley in Santa Barbara, California makes our job easy. The cool climate less than a marathon’s run from the Pacific creates a perfect home for even-ripening grapes with higher natural acidity. The infernally porous sandy soils push the roots of the vineyard to dig down deep for their water and, consequently, pull up incredible minerality and complexity in flavor.

Low yields, a minimal cold-soak, native fermentation, and maturation in neutral French oak encourage the wine to be what it was meant to be with little intervention.

the 2007    RELEASE DATE:  November 1, 2009     ORDER HERE

A vintage like 2007 is an exciting example of how the Central Coast of California can deliver a perfect growing season for Syrah. Popping the individual grapes at the winery during harvest brought to mind high expectations for the finished wine two years later.  As has been the case for us (knock on wood) each year so far, our expectations were exceeded with every barrel tasting and fully surpassed as soon as we pulled the cork on our first bottle of angelica cellars 2007 Syrah.

This wine has all the dimensions and complexities of our 2005 but with a few more layers of intrigue.  Imagine a cross of two iconic personalities:  John Wayne and Grace Kelly.  An exhilirating combination, no?  Well, this Syrah is bold, pure and intense, but also flirts with sultryness and elegance. We couldn’t be more pleased as we continue our pledge to craft singular, Central Coast wines that exhibit richness and balance, and recall certain vintages of Northern Rhone appellations.

tasting note
"Deep crimson tears coat the glass with every swirl. Aromatics of crushed black fruit, creme de cassis, and subtle white pepper reach up out of the glass. The attack holds notions of Grandma's Blackberry Preserves and smoke and gently gives way to a rich and complete mid-palate redolent of fresh pomegranate and Godiva chocolates. This full-bodied red manages to keep all of its components elegantly in balance and, with aeration, proudly shows off the vineyard's tell-tale minerality. Drink now through 2014. Only 50 cases produced." [epc 10/09]

ageing
Certainly intense right now, this wine is delicious directly after pulling the cork; it evolves beautifully  once  you allow it to open up in a decanter for a while.  Actually, we recommend that you decant the wine for aeration if you pop the cork anytime before the end of 2012.  This wine will only get better with proper cellaring.  If you prefer more old-world style wines, try to hold off a couple of years for the minerality and pepper to really start to strut their stuff. 

pairing
This red is quite versatile as far as bold wines go because of its underlying acidity. Ideal pairings might include steak and game off the grill, braised meats, or even pizza. Stinky cheese and charcuterie are always fun, too.

...bottom line though, make sure to enjoy it with good friends.