2007 Quivet Cellars Las Madres Vineyard Syrah

Quivet Cellars is a new enterprise that involves several business partners and the much-admired winemaker Mike Smith, who previously helped produce wines at such distinguished wineries as Schrader Cellars, Outpost, Maybach Family and Rivers Marie. He trained with Thomas Brown and also has his own label, Myriad Cellars. Quivet makes premium, single-vineyard wines in small quantities generally available only through its mailing list. The name of the company is a reference to Quivet Neck, a seafaring region on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Quivet Cellars sources grapes from such prime vineyards as Beckstoffer Las Piedras and Las Madres Vineyards. The estate makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc. Wine Advocate has rated many Quivet wines in the mid to high 90s.

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.