ASHTON VINEYARD 2003 SYRAH WINS GOLD MEDAL AT SONOMA COUNTY HARVEST FAIR

Ashton Vineyard is a small family estate located on the eastern slope of Sonoma Mountain in the famous area of Glen Ellen, California where cool evening air moderates the warm summer days in Sonoma Valley. The volcanic soil adds character, depth and complexity to the terroir producing this voluptuous Syrah.

2003 had a long and leisurely growing season with perfect conditions for bloom and set, as well as the even maturation that is so important to the development of flavors in Syrah.

Our 2003 Syrah is a handcrafted artisan wine. The grapes were picked by hand, hand sorted and barrel aged for 39 months. The wine is deep, rich and concentrated with richly layered fruit flavors, abundant mid-palate sensations and a lingering taste.

Committed to sustainable growing practices, no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used in the vineyard, producing healthy grapes that maintain their aromatic and organic components.

Only 199 cases were made.

2003 Ashton Syrah Winemaking Data

Pick Date:                                    October 29, 2003
Tons Picked                                    5.8815 tons
Brix at crush                                    26.6
T.A. at crush                                    6.8
SO2 at crush                                    none
Picked by hand
Hand sorted                                    condition very good
Destemmed but not crushed
Fermented in open topped fermentors
Pumped over once per day until 20 Brix
Punched by hand until dry – three times per day
Days on skins:                                    11
Yeast used                                    Wild Yeast and Syrah (Cotes du Rhone isolate)
Gentle Press
Protocol to barrels                  Settled in tank for 2 days, no SO2 added, barreled down
Barrels filled:                                    16
Gallons per ton                                    158
Barrels used:                                    10 neutral + 38% new
                                                      1 Stavin inserts, French M+ toast
                                                      1 Saint Martene M+ toast
                                                      1 Quintessence Center of France M+ toast
                                                      1 Quintessence Center of France HT
                                                      2 Kelvin American Oak HT
Aged in Barrel                                    39 months – topped every three weeks. SO2 monitored.
Bottled                                                       Feb. 26, 2007
Cases bottled for Ashton:                  199
SO2 at bottling                                    22 ppm
Alcohol at bottling                  15.7%
pH at bottling                                    3.92
T.A. at bottling                                    5.42

2003 was the first vintage off this vineyard.

Limited quantities available. Order now.

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