FLAGSHIP WINE: Terre Rouge's Ascent Syrah

IN HIS OWN WORDS:
"Ascent Syrah is our flagship wine because is offers great complexity and long term aging capacity. It represents the apex of of wine production from the Sierra Foothills region. First bottled in the 1999 vintage, it has consistently received stellar reviews from all major wine publications. It has fared well in world Syrah competitions, and was chosen as the top North American Red Wine in 2005 by Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine."
       Bill Easton, Winemaker & Winegrower
       DOMAINE DE LA TERRE ROUGE, Ltd.
       TERRE ROUGE and EASTON Wines
       Fiddletown, California  (Amador County)

WINEMAKER NOTES:

Ascent Syrah represents the pinnacle of Syrah production at TERRE ROUGE. Twelve of our very best barrels of Syrah are selected from our cellar each vintage to make a meager 600/6 packs of this luxury cuvée. All of the grapes are grown in selected Syrah sites scattered throughout the Sierra Nevada in granite and volcanic-based soils. This is a deeply concentrated wine with dense layers of aromatic complexity. Loads of deeply concentrated and incredibly spicy fruit aromas fill your glass. In the mouth you’ll find thick concentrated and riotous meaty Syrah flavors, smoky wood tones, exotic spices, mineral tones, and fine tannins. Great structure and aging potential. The grapes macerated for two weeks in an open-top fermenter with punch-downs two to three times a day. The wine was aged for 23 months in French oak barrels (100% new François Frères - from four different forests) and lightly egg-white fined prior to being bottled unfiltered. A sublime treat!

2006 was a special year. It was a cool early season, with a heat spike in late July, and a cooler August. Harvest was about normal time for our Syrah vineyards and the finished wines have a plush, elegant, and silky texture. It will still benefit from several years in the bottle.

14.5 % alcohol by vol.; 3.85 pH; 6.3 gm./liter total acidity - 600/6 packs bottled

Release date: November 2010

Suggested Retail: $85 a bottle

Buy it at http://terrerougewines.com/store.html
Three Vintages Available:   2004: $95.   2005: $85   2006: $85

Ascent Syrah Reviews 

“You could look on both sides of the Atlantic and in Australia as well and not find a deeper, richer,more complete Syrah for the money. Sure, you could pay $300 for the top wines from those places,but, if $80 is more in line with your interests, this dramatic, age worthy wine should go to the top of your list.”

   -Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines - Charles E. Olken

2007 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

·         “92 points” - the Wine Spectator, January 31 - February 28, 2010   Firm and spicy, with a mix of white pepper, sage, mineral, and beefy berry fruit that’s taut, full-bodied, savory and layered, ending with a long, complex finish. Drink now through 2016. - James Laube

·         "92+ points" - Parker's Wine Advocate, August 2010

·         "95 points" - the Wine Enthusiast, May 2010

·         “93 points” - the Rhône Report, November 2010

2006 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

·         “92 points” - the Wine Spectator, February 28, 2009

·      "92 points" - First Place - the California Grapevine, Sept./Oct. 2009, "Very Highly Recommended"

·         "94 points" - CELLAR SELECTION - Top- Rated - the Wine Enthusiast, July 2009

·         Top 100 Cellar Selections for 2009 - Number 57 - the Wine Enthusiast, December 2009

·         “89 points” - One Star in Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, July 2009

·         “88 points”- Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009

2005 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

·         “92 points” - the Wine Spectator, March 31, 2008

·         “90 points”- Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, June/July 2008

·         "92 points" - First Place - the California Grapevine, June/July 2008, "Very Highly Recommended"

·         “91 points” - Two Stars in Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, July 2008

·         "90 points" - Parker's Wine Advocate, June 30, 2008

·         "93 points" - the Wine Enthusiast, May 2008

2004 ascent syrah sierra foothills:

·         “91 points” - the Wine Spectator, January 31, 2008-February 29, 2008

·         “89 points”- Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2007

·         "91 points" - First Place - the California Grapevine, June/July 2007, "Very Highly Recommended"

·         “92 points” - Two Stars in Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, July 2007

·         "90 points" - Parker's Wine Advocate, August 28, 2007

·         "92 points" - the Wine Enthusiast, June 2007