2002 Radio-Coteau Syrah Timbervine

The Timbervine vineyard is a hillside site planted on fractured sandstone soils west of Forestville. This vineyard was first utilized by the Renard estate. The gorgeous 2002 Syrah Timbervine is close to full maturity. Offering a huge, northern Rhone-like perfume of peppery roasted meats, herbs, cassis, and blackberries along with superb fruit, wonderful richness, good underlying acidity, and a voluptuous, heady mouthfeel, this irresistible Syrah should last for another 3-4 years. This was the first opportunity I have had to taste a comprehensive line-up from new kid on the block, Eric Sussman. Sussman appears to be on a fast track to success with his hand-crafted, vineyard-based Pinot Noirs, Syrahs, and Zinfandels. All of the following wines are fermented with native yeasts, aged on their lees in French oak with no racking, and are bottled without fining or filtration. The vineyard sources are all cool climate sites west of Highway 101 in western Sonoma County. I suspect most of Radio-Coteau’s wines are sold via a mailing list, so readers are urged to sign up. Tel. (707) 887-8335; Fax (801) 340-6041

Full ruby-red. Subtly complex, Northern Rhone aromas of black raspberry, violet face powder, smoked meat, bacon fat, brown spices and gunflint. Lively and penetrating, with sharply delineated flavors of black raspberry, violet, gingerbread and black pepper. This offers lovely breadth but also a firm shape and plenty of verve. Finishes long and subtle, with very fine tannins.