2017 Chalone Estate Syrah, Chalone AVA
Winemaker Notes
Our 2017 Syrah is bold and complex - just as you’d want a Syrah to be. Leather, cinnamon, tobacco leaf
and dark fruits offer layers of intrigue for the senses.
Composition
100% Syrah
Wine Specs
Vintage
2017
Varietal
Syrah
Appellation
Chalone AVA
Acid
6.3 g/L
pH
3.6
Aging
15 months in French oak, 50% new
Residual Sugar
Dry
Alcohol %
14.1
Production Notes
The 2017 vintage yielded an average amount of rainfall overall, however approaching harvest we experienced
incredible heat spikes with temperatures above 110°F for more than two weeks. A sudden temperature
increase during this critical time makes for a swift harvest as sugar levels spike resulting in the entire
vineyard ripening simultaneously. All of these factors amounted to a very condensed harvest, similar to the
year prior.
Vineyard Notes
Our Syrah vineyards make up 18 acres on the Chalone estate. These acres are divided into three sections:
Tower, Strip and Macwood Vineyard, and the vines are grafted to three different Syrah clones for flavor
complexity. The Australian Shiraz clone brings the Old World character: earthy spice, black tar, white
pepper and deep fruit. The northern Rhône Syrah clone is bright and fruit-driven. The third clone’s
character is between the Rhône and Shiraz clones, making the blend reminiscent of both wine regions, yet
shaped by the terroir of Chalone.
