Montevina Terra d'Oro Amador County Syrah 2004

In Italian Terra d'Oro means "Land of Gold," and there is no doubt that Montevina's 2004 Terra d'Oro Amador County Syrah is the property's reserve Syrah and nothing short of liquid gold. Although wonderfully consistent from year to year, the 2004 Montevina Terra d'Oro Syrah is a special wine in its own right. It radiates all the voluptuous charm of Amador County: a lush scent and oodles of decadent fruit. Yet there is a European sensibility about this wine as well. Beneath a rush of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a velvety texture, and plenty of long woodland flavors lie crisp acidity and just enough tannin to permit this first rate Syrah to evolve in bottle for years to come. For optimum enjoyment, allow the full-flavored 2004 Montevina Terra d'Oro Syrah to breathe in a decanter or glass for at least thirty minutes before consuming. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012.

Although we heartily endorse the tradition of pairing Syrah with beef and lamb, the 2004 Montevina Terra d'Oro Amador County Syrah deserves a broader palette upon which to draw. Ultimately, you may decide to dust off that recipe you saved for a braised lamb shank or the perfect beef tenderloin to serve with this fine Syrah, but there are so many additional pairings to consider. Roasted duck or quail, grilled chicken with rosemary and garlic, Provencal pizzas, stuffed ravioli, and most pasta dishes, too, provide delicious accompaniments to the 2004 Montevina Terra d'Oro Syrah. Spinach and parmesan tarts, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, and freshly made risottos are a just a few other tasty morsels to consider with Montevina's Terra d'Oro Syrah. Brunswick stew, game, barbecued pork ribs, and other stick-to-your-ribs kind of meals will provide winning combinations with this wine, too. Enjoy!

Montevina is one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Amador County. Set amid the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, Montevina lies at the heart of California's "Gold Rush Country." However, today Montevina is best known for its liquid gold in the form of excellent Syrah, Zinfandel, and assorted Italian grape varieties. The Trinchero family has owned Montevina since 1988, but this winery's passion for growing outstanding fruit and producing many of California's finest Rhône and Italian style varietals dates back even further to the 1960's. And since 1986 Jeff Meyers, unquestionably the most experienced winemaker in the Sierra Foothills, has been the General Manager and guiding force behind Montevina's huge success. Possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of the region's viticulture along with a knack for fashioning distinctive Mediterranean varietals that possess elegance as well as fabulous flavor, Jeff is one of the first California winemakers to be enormously successful with these varieties. Montevina's Barbera, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Zinfandel, produced under the Terra d'Oro label, create a benchmark portfolio for these varieties that would be hard to find elsewhere. And unlike most of the wines from this estate's competitors, Montevina's wines are produced from old vines. Trinchero Family Estates and Environmental Leadership Montevina is an integral part of Trinchero Family Estates. Trinchero Family Estates (TFE) is a leader in the employment of sustainable methods of agriculture, re-cycling, and green land management. Trinchero Family Estates employs only sustainable, organic, and biodynamic practices in their estate vineyards, which include Montevina. They eschew the use of potentially harmful chemicals and work with the state of California and other vineyards to develop healthy, natural alternatives to harsh chemicals. No chemical pesticides or herbicides are used at TFE, and natural ground covers such as barley and clover prevail throughout all the estate vineyards. Furthermore, botanical oils and natural predators take the place of potentially hazardous chemicals. TFE also recycles 50 million gallons of water annually and recycles 20 tons of office paper, 850 tons of cardboard, and 100 tons of plastic each year. All proceeds from recycling revert to TFE's employees in the form of an employee-in-need fund. In addition, Trinchero has planted over 3,000 oak trees near their vineyards and created extensive greenbelts and lakes to improve the natural environment. Not surprisingly, Trinchero Family Estates has received California's Waste Reduction Awards Programs (W.R.A.P.) Award for seven consecutive years.