Recanati Petit Syrah Zinfandel Reserve ’05

This wine was created from a unique blend of Petit Syrah grapes with a touch of Zinfandel grapes. This is a flavorful, succulent wine, with a vibrant color and the luscious tastes of blackberry jam, fresh plums and walnuts. The Vineyard The Petit Syrah grapes in this wine were harvested in mid-September in a Lower Galilee vineyard. The region’s heavy red soil constituted an ideal growing bed for this variety. The Zinfandel grapes were harvested at the start of October in the Manara vineyards in the Upper Galilee. This vineyard, located 8 m above sea level, enjoys a cool climate and large day-night temperature differences between day and nights. It yielded classic, light and fruity Zinfandel grapes which serve as a perfect balance to the ripeness of Petit Syrah. Production Petit Syrah and Zinfandel grapes received in the winery at different times were separately fermented in vats and transferred to oak barrels for initial aging. A series of tasting sessions were held after several months to test the blending options between the two varieties. When the final composition was determined, the new blend was returned to the barrels for the completion of the aging process. Eight months of aging in American oak barrels refined the tannins and provided the wine with an additional dimension. Serving Suggestions This wine is very suitable served with sharp cheeses and flavor-intense meat dishes. It will certainly improve in the bottle for 5-7 years post-harvest.Packed six per case