Double Gold Medal
- 2009 SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2009 NY Finger Lakes Wine Competition
There is nothing we like better than finding a small producer making killer wine at a great price. We first encountered Crane Brothers when we offered their Napa Cabernet, a stunning value. An even better value is their Syrah, which is also estate grown on their family ranch in Napa’s Oak Knoll District, using organic and sustainable farming methods. In this somewhat warmer district, Syrah is able to ripen fully offering huge fruit flavor, along with softer tannin, while still having cool nights to preserve acidity.
The 2005 Crane Brothers Napa Valley Syrah is dark ruby in color, with Syrah’s trademark inky core. The nose is surprisingly red-fruit driven, with strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate, along with a damp earth character. A nose this fresh and lively is a bit unusual for Syrah, but is definitely welcome. The palate shows Syrah’s true character, with black cherry, leather, blackberry, eucalyptus and chocolate on the finish. This is rich and mouth-filling, yet without being heavy, which makes it a perfect foil for game or mushroom dishes. Syrah seems perpetually poised to become everyone’s favorite “new” red grape, but as long as it remains a little under the radar, it represents a great source of powerful, full bodied red wine at a bargain price. You simply don’t get wine with this level of intensity and focus for just $25 very often. Stock up while you can!
Grape Sourcing: Crane Ranch Vineyard, Oak Knoll Appellation
Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah
Winemaking: Hand harvested in cool morning hours Fermented in small temperature controlled tanks Hand sorted and cold soaked for 48 hours
Harvest Date: October 23rd & 27th
Cooperage: 16 months of aging in French Oak barrels (40% new oak)
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 325 Cases
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
97 Points
Aromas of blackberries, graphite, and crushed rock, along with cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and a medley of dry herbs and spice.
A substantial mouthfeel, full-bodied structure, firm tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit. Well-balanced acidity collaborate harmoniously to accentuate the intricate flavors of berry compote, spices, and oak nuances reminiscent of mocha.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
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