Domaine de la Terre Rouge Syrah Sierra Foothills Ascent 2003

Dark inky ruby in color with aromas of like smoked spices among a forest of dark fruits. Once on the palate this syrah comes to life with undertones of cocoa, cracked pepper, and the flavors of dark fruits swelling across the tongue. The finish lightly lingers with hints of black currant and light flinty minerals.

This wine to be a dream for those who subscribe to the belief that food and wine are intended to be together as star crossed lovers fulfilling their destiny upon one’s tongue. This wine will pair wonderfully with a roasted duck and a cranberry-herb glaze and a side of sweet potatoes read more...prepared with red pepper and nutmeg; bringing many of the subtle nuances of this wine to life.

This is a really big and bold syrah, lightly fined and unfiltered with the ability to hold well for many years to come.    (hide)

January 2009

Ascent Syrah represents the pinnacle of Syrah production at TERRE ROUGE. Eight of our very best barrels of Syrah are selected from our cellar each vintage to make a meager 400/6 packs of this luxury cuvee. 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 read more...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 Freres - from four different forests) and lightly egg-white fined prior to being bottled unfiltered. A sublime treat!    (hide)

· Proprieter/winemaker, Bill Easton, makes wine under two labels: Easton and Domaine de la Terre Rouge · Domaine de la Terre Rouge focuses on Rhone varietals only from the Sierra Foothills · Parker calls Terre Rouge "The most promising Rhone Ranger performer in the Sierra Foothills/Shenandoah Valley"

November 2008

This is a Gold Medal Wine Club Diamond Series selection.

94-Points, Connoisseurs' Guide ─ "Given the success of past Ascent bottlings, we are not surprised by the depth and concentration displayed by this brooding, big-shouldered young wine...it deserves a place in the cellars of all dyed-in-wool fans of California Syrah".

90-Points, Wine Advocate, Robert Parker ─ “The deepest, richest, and most intense offering in this portfolio is the 2003 Syrah Ascent. A saturated blue/black hue is followed by scents of creosote, blueberries, blackberries, charcoal, read more...smoke, and new oak. This dense, powerful, muscular Syrah (less than 200 cases produced) should evolve for a decade or more.”



Ascent Syrah represents the pinnacle of Syrah production at the Domaine de la Terre Rouge Winery. Only eight of the winery’s very best barrels of Syrah are selected from the cellar each vintage to make a meager 400/6 packs of this luxury cuvée. The 2003 Domaine de la Terre Rouge Syrah Ascent Sierra Foothills is a deeply concentrated wine with dense layers of aromatic complexity portraying a mixture of incredibly spicy fruit. In the mouth concentrated and hearty Syrah flavors, smoky wood tones, exotic spices, mineral tones, and fine tannins are present from the start throughout the long and fine finish. Great overall structure and aging potential. This superb Syrah is an exceptional addition to Diamond Series cellar collection to share and to savor. 100% Syrah. Enjoy now until 2015.    (hide)

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April 2009

Rating: 79/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator on 01/01/06

Rating: 90/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 166 on Aug-06