2009 Hyde De Villaine 'Californio' Syrah

Hyde De Villaine

USA / Napa Valley / Hyde De Villaine

VINTAGE NOTES
Entering the third year of a drought, the 2009 winter was dry at Hyde Vineyard until unexpected rains in early spring. Bud break was later than usual avoiding any risk of frost damage; persistently mild weather created a long, slow ripening vintage leading to wines of balance and deft concentration.
WINEMAKER NOTES
The fruit is grown on the Hyde Vineyard at the eastern edge of the Los Carneros sub-region of Napa. The plot has a south by southeast exposure and features soils of shallow loam over clay pan, with ancient alluvial fans beneath. The wine is matured for 22 months in French oak barrels (30% new) and is bottled unfined & unfiltered.
The 2009 Californio Syrah exhibits floral, spicy notes in unison with black fruit accents. Delicate and precise on the palate, concentrated flavors of layered black fruit, sweet spice and minerality provide complexity. The minerality combined with freshness extends the wine for a long finish. Rewarding now, it will improve for at least another decade.

December, 2012

Antonio Galloni

Vinous Media

94 points

A more overt wine, the 2009 Syrah Californio Hyde Vineyard is pure silk on the palate. Stylistically, the 2009 lies between the 2007 and 2008. Deep, resonant layers of dark red fruit, cinnamon, white pepper and freshly cut flowers meld together beautifully in the glass. An explosion of fruit reappears to frame the finish.

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About Hyde De Villaine

Hyde de Villaine is a joint venture between Larry Hyde and Aubert de Villaine. Aubert is one of Burgundy's most recognised individuals, as co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and director of his own wine company, A. & P. de Villaine. Larry comes from one of oldest farming families around Napa and brings to the partnership more than 30 years’ experience in California . Together with winemaker Stéphane Vivier they apply the traditions of the Côte d'Or to the fruit of the Napa, thus producing wines of regional character with the minerality that is so dear to the Burgundian palate.

About

Stéphane Vivier joined HdV in 2002, bringing with him skills in vineyard management and winemaking from around the world. Born and raised in France, Stéphane’s skills were cultivated in the vineyards and cellars of Pommard, Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet and then expanded through his work in New Zealand and Sonoma Coast.