Attack of the Clones! A Delicious Way to Experience Syrah
Geez oh man! All of a sudden it’s FALL in a BIG BIG way. It’s cold, damp, grey, and I’ve been forced out of my flip flops with alarming abruptness. Fall in the Walla Walla valley can only mean one thing of any consequence; it’s time to drink. Cocktails induce too much heartburn, beer is too cold, so that leaves us with wine, and for autumn, one of the very best bets is a good ol’ Syrah. Dripping with ripe fruit, spicyness, and warm, sunshin-y tones of late summer, Syrah is a natural pick once the temperature drops.
One of Chuck’s most adventurous Syrahs is actually a collection of four called the Helix Clonal Selection Collection. Inspired by Dolly the sheep, Chuck wanted to mess around with some fun science (joke). In actuality, I’ve never seen an experiment like this from any other wine producer. The CSC is a perfect birthday or hostess gift for the Syrah lover in your life, and it makes a great tasting party for you wine geeks out there. This 2007 collection of Phinney Hill Syrah is tasting smooth and ready, which is great news for the lucky few who have this limited edition item already in their cellars. We have very limited quantities left, so if you are interested in a Helix CSC collection, please call the winery directly to order before we sell out. Read more about the Helix CSC collection below!
Four Unique Syrahs
The Helix Clonal Selection Collection (CSC) is the result of a desire to share and educate through experience and adventure. It is comprised of four unique Syrah wines sourced from the Phinny Hill Vineyards owned and managed by Dick and Cheryl Beightol. Three are 100% each from separate Syrah clones and the fourth is an equal blend of the three clones. This presentation affords the knowledge and experience of the parts and the sum of the Helix 2007 Phinny Hill CSC Syrah.
What is a Clone?
In viticultural terms, it s a population of vines which are theoretically genetically identical, having been propagated vegetatively (i.e. from cane cuttings, not by seeds) which are descendants of a single mother plant in an effort to isolate a specific trait(s).
Clone 174
Origin: Drome, France. Low cluster weight and lower yield, medium sugar, good balance, cherry fruit flavors, often rated first in Hermitage tastings, overall A rating.
Clone 470
Origin: Tran ET Garonne, France. Lower fertility, low cluster weight with loose architecture (open clusters, which discourages fungal disease), higher sugar, full bodied, higher acidity, can be floral, good color, later ripening, often rated first in Hermitage tastings, overall A rating.
Clone Noir
Origin: France, origins are more ambiguous because several Syrah clones are referred to as Noir but this one is believed to be from Hermitage. Dark color (Black Syrah as the name implies), earthy, rustic, spice, more tannic, higher sugar, concentrated.
Discover the Helix Phinny Hill Syrah “CSC”
This unique syrah offering is a wonderful adventure into the world of wine. Enjoy the experience with friends as you explore and evaluate the clonal traits of these wines and discover their symbiotic relationship in the Helix Phinny Hill Syrah CSC.
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