Search Articles
Please Share
Sponsors
Search for Events
Wine of the Day via RSS
Connect
Recent Blog Articles
- Comments and Analysis on the 2012 Barrel Samples at Passport to Cabernet
- On Baseball & Bubbly: Mumm Napa & San Francisco Giants Co-Brand Wine
- Balance - In the Eye of the Beholder
- Tasted—5 Rhone Variety Wines from Clos Solene
- 7 Wine Events for this Weekend, April 26 - 28
- Harlan, Dalla Valle, Bond & Other Highlights of ’13 Taste of Oakville
- The Best White Wines at Sonoma in the City 2013
- 5 Fun Wine Events for this Weekend, April 19 - 21
- California Cabernet Aging Potential - It’s Not About the Years, it’s the Character
- Tips on Buying a Wine Fridge
- The Paso Robles AVA - Too Big to File
- Fine Powder on Mount Veeder
- An "Interview" with Roger Ebert on Wine Criticism
- Enjoy Two Benefit Wine Events on April 20
- Great Wine Events for This Weekend, March 22 - 24 2013
- Buy a Nose
- Site Upgrade
- California Crushed It in 2012
- Zin Pourin' and Food Porn at ZAP Epicuria
- Kelly Fleming Winery: World-Class Cabernet Sauvignon, Timeless Beauty
Recent Wines of the Day
- 2009 Cornerstone Cellars “The Cornerstone” Napa Valley
- 2009 Laetitia Pinot Noir Single Vineyard La Colline Arroyo Grande Valley
- 2010 Lange Twins Chardonnay Estate Grown Clarksburg AVA
- 2012 Borra Vineyards Artist Series Kerner Lodi AVA
- 2010 Wren Hop Pinot Noir “Fire Messenger” Sonoma Coast
- 2011 Lucia Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
- 2011 Roar Chardonnay Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
- 2010 Frostwatch Chardonnay Bennett Valley Sonoma County
- 2007 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District Napa Valley
- 2012 Voss Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
- 2012 Vina Robles Roseum Huerhuero Vineyard Paso Robles
- 2008 Hawk and Horse Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hills AVA, Lake County
- 2011 Vina Robles White4
- 2010 Quivira Refuge Sauvignon Blanc
- 2007 Ampelos Delta Grenache
- 2008 Inman Family Thorn Ridge Ranch Pinot Noir
- 2010 DeLoach Estate Pinot Noir
- 2009 V. Sattui Zinfandel Gilsson Vineyard Russian River Valley
- 2009 Trinchero Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Chicken Ranch Vineyard, Rutherford
- 2009 McCay Cellars “Jupiter” Zinfandel
Sponsors
Wine of the Day
2010 Alpha Omega Syrah Krupp Brothers Vineyard Napa Valley
- Syrah
- Written by Fred Swan
- Monday, 19 March 2012 06:07
Alpha Omega first opened the doors of their hip yet inviting Rutherford tasting room in 2006. Located on Hwy 29, just across the street from Grgich Hills, it’s become a very popular stop for both the wine and the ambience. One of the benefits of stopping in is the ability to pick up some of their limited releases which aren’t available online or at retail.
Alpha Omega is primarily focused on Bordeaux varietal wines, including bold reds, dry Sauvignon Blanc and a late harvest dessert wine made in the style of Sauternes with both Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The flagship wine is Alpha Omega Era, a Cabernet Sauvignon that includes small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The Alpha Omega winemaker is Jean Hoefliger. He is a native of Switzerland whose past posts include Chateau Lynch-Bages in Bordeax, Meerlust in South Africa and Newton Vineyard in Napa Valley. Michel Rolland serves as consulting winemaker. They favor native yeast fermentations in open top barrels and strive for bold yet complex wines with with silky, approachable tannins. The Alpha Omega Syrah is of that style
The grapes came from the Krupp Brothers Vineyard on Atlas Peak. It lies between Stagecoach Vineyard and Soda Canyon Road. Krupp Brothers Vineyard is the newest of the Krupps’ vineyards and features deep, lava rich soils. Don’t confuse it with Krupp Vineyard which is their oldest and coolest. That one is planted to early-ripening varieties such as Merlot and Tempranillo.
I provide all this background partially out of guilt. The wine I’m about to discuss is very good, and it’s sold out. It was a limited release, sent to club members and then sold at the tasting room while supplies lasted. That’s where I got my bottle. Alpha Omega plans to make the wine every year though. If the description sounds good, you can join the club to ensure access to the 2011 or hope there’s enough left for the tasting room.
The 2010 Alpha Omega Syrah is dark ruby-purple in the glass with come hither aromas of leather, blackberry, plum, black pepper and coffee. The wine is nearly full-bodied with very fine, lightly chalky tannins. There is enough acidity to balance both the tannins and the rich flavors of dark chocolate mousse, leathera and blackberry liqueur. The finish is long and juicy. This wine’s like a book you just can’t put down. Drink now through 2016. There’s no reason to decant. Highly Recommended.
2010 Alpha Omega Syrah Krupp Brothers Vineyard Napa Valley
Rating: Highly Recommended
Drink: Now through 2016
Release Date: November, 2011
Closure: Cork
Production: 350 cases
Retail Price: $68.00 (currently sold out)
Blend: 100% Syrah
Origin: Krupp Brothers Vineyard, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley
Fermentation: Natural yeast fermentation, 20% in barrel
Aging: 10 months in French oak, 70% new, 30% one-year old
Alcohol: 14.1%
The wine above was purchased for review.
Related Articles
Wine of the Day: 2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Syran Sonoma County
The Rhone Rangers are Coming and You Can Win Tickets
Watch #RRSF on Twitter
For the next week, #RRSF will be a happening hashtag. It's the official hashtag of the Rhone Rangers San Francisco Celebration of American Rhone Varietal Wines.
Follow NorCalWine on Twitter for breaking wine news, information on events and more. Become a fan and join the NorCal Wine community on Facebook. Also check out our comprehensive Northern California winery listings. They are very useful for planning a tasting trip or just getting in touch with a winery.
This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2012 NorCal Wine. All rights reserved.