$19.99 at Crush Wine & Spirits in Bryant, Arkansas (AR)
100% Syrah from the Farrah Vineyard. Aged 15 months in French oak.
On the palate are flavors of blackberry, anise, and spices with hints of vanilla and chocolate. Full bodied with a long finish.
Husband and wife, Steve and Lori Felten, are fifth generation grape growers in the Lodi region and continue the tradition of cultivating “Old Vine” Zinfandel vineyards that their ancestors planted in the early 1900’s.
The Farrah Vineyard is in the Mokelumne River AVA near Lodi. This Syrah vineyard was made famous with the first 90+ rated wine out of Lodi. The winery also makes wines with Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Albariño, and Grenache Blanc.
Winemaker, Barry Gnekow, has been involved with the winery since its inaugural vintage of Old Vine Zinfandel in 2000. He has extensive experience working for Hahn Estates, Smith & Hook, Cycles Gladiator, Mettler, Michael David, Calistoga Cellars, J. Lohr, and Educated Guess. He was also the founding winemaker for J. Lohr’s non-alcoholic label, Ariel. Today he serves as a consultant winemaker for Klinker Brick.
The winemaker is Joseph Smith from Belize. He joined Klinker Brick in 2008. He was an apprentice to Gnekow who he worked under at Hahn and Michael David.
The name of the winery comes from the klinker bricks that are highly sought after bricks that have been used for many of the historical buildings in Lodi. These bricks are distinctive from other bricks with their unique shape and dark color. They are heavier than regular bricks. “klinker” refers to the sound they make when banged together.
