2008 Andrew Murray Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French) "Terra Bella Vineyard"

Winery: Andrew Murray

Vintage: 2008

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Terra Bella Vineyard"

Wine Category: Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French)

Grape blend: 100% Syrah

Region: Santa Ynez

State or country: CA

Price: $36

Cases produced: 240

KWG Score: 92 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (91)

Review date: February 10, 2012

Wine Review: This very dark purple colored Syrah from Andrew Murray is a bit in your face and over the top. It fooled many on the panel who thought it was from Australia. It has a screw cap and opens with a fragrant blackberry liquor bouquet with a hint of plum. On the palate, this wine is intense, rich and concentrated. The flavor profile is a very extracted blackberry with notes of integrated oak, plum, spice, and black pepper. The finish is very dry and its moderate tannins are slightly prolonged and a touch hot. The panel suggested bringing this wine up to the ski lodge and serving it with sharp cheddar cheese or creole shrimp scampi. Enjoy - KWGTP

Winemaker Notes: The Terra Bella Vineyard has become a favorite of mine. The Syrah from this vineyard grows on steep, limestone-rich hillsides and arrives at the winery very ripe yet balanced, yielding a deeply colored wine (darkest in the cellar) with distinctive aromas and flavors of blueberries and raspberries. We aged the wine in mostly new French Oak. We bottle the wine after a minimum of 18 months in French Oak barrels.

Organic status: not organic

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Andrew Murray 2008 Terra Bella Syrah.