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Te Papa Alley Family Vineyard Syrah Los Carneros 2019  - ACME Fine Wines
$50 750mL
SOLD OUT
  •  
  • CountryUnited States
  • RegionSonoma County
  • VineyardAlley Family Vineyard
  • Alcohol14%
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Te Papa Alley Family Vineyard Syrah Los Carneros 2019

  • Vintage2019
  • VarietySyrah
  • AppellationCarneros
  • WinemakerMatt Sands

We are extremely excited to introduce you to the newest, small, family-owned wine project to grace our portfolio here at ACME. Te Papa Syrah is the total package- a stunning wine from a beautiful couple with a compelling story all wrapped up in a gorgeous bottle to boot! And, about that wine: this is a smooth, sexy Syrah brimming with structure, elegance, and bright red fruit characteristics. Winemaker Matt Sands is a native Kiwi, and his wife Amanda hails from the great state of Michigan. Their mutual wanderlust was the catalyst for them to cross paths while working as ski instructors in Lake Tahoe, worlds away from home. After the ski season, they decamped to New Zealand and settled on Waiheke Island, where they were determined to find a job where they could work side-by-side. They landed at a pizza café located on a vineyard, of all places. When they weren't tossing dough, they found themselves utterly passionate about working amongst the vines. And while Matt still makes a darn good pizza, he eventually decided to try his hand at winemaking. Smart bet, Matt. And after seven years in New Zealand, the couple decided to move to Napa to continue their wine journey and start a family. Matt's career has truly blossomed since arriving stateside. He began working harvests for none other than Screaming Eagle and Bryant and has set himself apart as a winemaker with his uncanny understanding of the unique microclimates of the Napa Valley. 

Today, Matt is the assistant winemaker at Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate, where he has made multiple 100-point wines in close collaboration with none other than icons Philippe Melka and Michel Rolland. The full name of the wine, "Te Papa Tongarewa", comes from M?ori and translates literally to "container of treasures". It is, fittingly, also the name of the National Museum of New Zealand. And the glass bottle is simply a vessel that contains a wine we think you'll treasure too. The Alley Family Vineyard is located just 5 miles from the San Pablo Bay, on the cool Sonoma side of the Los Carneros AVA. Matt was impressed to learn that the family had seven different clones of Syrah planted on just this one site. The 2019 growing season was near-perfect in Northern California, with plentiful spring rains followed by a warm summer lacking significant heat spikes. And a relatively mild fall allowed for optimal hangtime in the Syrah grapes resulting in a complexity of flavor development. The grapes were hand-picked in early October, and native yeasts kicked off a partial whole cluster fermentation in neutral puncheons. The wine was then laid to rest for 19 months in 30 % new French oak barrels. The Te Papa Syrah coyly coaxes the nose with aromas of red rose petals, fresh ripe raspberries, and holiday spices. Soft supple tannins frame a delicious, juicy acidity on the palate. You'll certainly want to add the Te Papa Syrah to your "container of treasures," which is what we at ACME call our "wine cellar."

  •  
  • CountryUnited States
  • RegionSonoma County
  • VineyardAlley Family Vineyard
  • Alcohol14%
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