Crane Brothers
2005 "Napa Valley" Syrah
Estate Vineyard, Oak Knoll District

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

Tasting Notes  PDF

About The Winery...

Crane Brothers Napa Valley Wines are all estate grown, single vineyard, and very small production from the family owned Crane Ranch Vineyard.  Third generation Napa Valley natives Michael and Robert Crane and winemaker Al Perry have made great wines together since the 2001 vintage.  Located in The Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley, the 9 acre, organically and sustainably farmed Crane Ranch Vineyard is planted on bench land and hillside, above the valley floor.  The unique microclimate of warm sunny days and cool breezy evenings, along with custom hand farming, allow their Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grapes to develop intense flavor, color, and aroma. Their richly flavored, full bodied wines are hand crafted and aged only in French oak barrels.  Production is limited to less than 400 cases annually of each of their four wines: Syrah, Merlot, Hillside Block Cabernet Sauvignon and Crane Brothers Brodatious.

Learn more at www.cranebrotherswine.com

<< previous  |  next >>