In the tradition of our 1997 Clos Mimi Étiquette Rouge late-harvest Syrah, less than a half-ton of fruit was harvested at 36.6° the 24th of September from Bunny Slope Vineyard in 1999. While the intent was to produce our first Bunny Slope Vineyard Syrah in 1999, PG & E (hence one of the inspirations behind the "blue label") had bigger plans for Clos Mimi by disconnecting electricity service to the irrigation system for two weeks in the middle of September. What started as two tons of beautifully-thinned 26° fruit per acre of high density Estrella clone Syrah quickly puckered into the abyss of stickiness. After 21 days of skin contact, rigorous treading by foot in a very Portuguese fashion and coping with a pregnant wife beginning her third trimester for the first time, I pressed the wine into a brand new 100L Seguin Moreau "Center of France" baby barrel more for curiosity and convenience than anything else. Indigenous malolactic finished in barrel in July of 2000. Three springs and four rackings later, this Sauternes-style dessert wine possessed almost 13% alcohol and 155 g/L of residual sugar (compared to 15.6% alcohol and 15 g/L residual sugar in the 1997 "red label"). Ultimately, the wine spent 36 months in 100% new oak before bottling in the fall of 2002. A microscopic 25 cases of the 1999 Étiquette Bleue was hand-bottled without fining and without filtration in our first 375mL format exclusively.
The 2002 Cote a Cote is a blend of 60% estate Grenache and 40% estate Syrah. Abundant aromas of raspberries and kirsch jump from the glass of this deep ruby-colored 2002. In the mouth, this sexy, full-bodied red is dominated by Grenache with raspberry, kirsch, and licorice flavors powerfully presented. In spite of its lofty alcohol (16%), it seems incredibly fresh and cool-climate-like with a beautiful texture and terrific length. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. 93 Points RMP
The dense plum/purple-colored 2002 Syrah (100% Syrah) offers aromas of forest floor as well as abundant cassis. It is much more uni-dimensional than its siblings revealing good suppleness as well as an up-front, forward plumpness, an enticing texture, and a fleshy, endearing personality. Enjoy it over the next 5-7 years. 89 Points RMP
There are only 135 cases of the blockbuster 2003 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock. It boasts a dense purple color as well as an enormously endowed bouquet of creme de cassis, graphite, white flowers, and licorice, sweet tannin, a dense, full-bodied, intense palate, and plenty of glycerin as well as headiness. Drink it over the next decade. 93 Points RMP
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