Welcome to our Featured Wine series! Each month Damian will profile a Doffo wine, giving you a little bit of back story about the winemaking process, what to expect when you taste it, and what kinds of foods to pair it with. We hope you enjoy and visit us soon to learn more about our handcrafted wines! Our Featured Wine of the Month for May is our 2013 Syrah.
Doffo Syrah holds a very special place in my heart. Ever since my father’s first vintage back in 2003, there has always been something special about this wine. I’ve always told people that our Syrah is my favorite wine to make. I enjoy this varietal, the aromatics, the structure, and the natural black pepper notes. It’s the perfect wine for my favorite dinner: pan-seared ribeye with garlic mashed potatoes. Perhaps this is part of the reason I like this wine so much?
Our Syrah program is unique compared to our other red wines. We employ 30% new heavy toasted American oak barrels. If it sounds like a high percentage, that’s because it is. No other wine our portfolio uses this ratio. Typically our programs call for 5-7% new heavy toasted barrels. However, with our Syrah, I feel that it’s one of the few wines that can stand up to that type of regimen.
We have to be careful not to over-extend the aging in order to keep the flavors just right. The result is an incredible aromatic profile with hints of smoke and bacon. On the palate, the flavors transition and deliver balanced oak tones that just beg to be served with a big meal.
Summer is almost here, so dust off the barbecue and grill up some meats! As I mentioned before, my favorite pairing for this wine is a good cut of steak. If red meat doesn’t do it for you, try some black pepper crusted seared ahi. This wine generally goes well with strong flavors, so spice things up with some blue cheese and hearty vegetables.
I would highly recommend letting this wine continue to develop in the cellar for 6-12 months. You can pick up a few bottles 0n the Doffo shop. Just remember to store it on its side in a dark, cool place: ideally a wine cellar or wine refrigerator. When serving, this wine does well at a slightly higher temperature than normal, 65 °F is optimal. This will really bring out the complex full-bodied flavors. Salute!