Miraflores Winery

Miraflores Winery, completed in 2007, is the crown jewel of this 250 acre ranch south of Placerville in El Dorado County. Owners Victor and Cheryl Alvarez have planted a multitude of vineyard blocks over their undulating Sierra Foothills terrain, with elevations up to 2900 feet. 39 of the 250 acres are planted to vineyards. The rest of the land is occupied by sheep, chicken, ducks, cows, and other crops including lavender, olive trees, a fruit orchard, and a biodynamic vegetable garden. Well-known winemaker Marco Capelli, who made his name at Swanson Vineyards in Rutherford, and Saintsbury Winery in Carneros, oversees winemaking for the family here now, crafting Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This Syrah is bright, opaque ruby and viscous. The nose is attention-grabbing, with vanilla, mulberry, blueberry, black truffle, cocoa, and molasses. A full, luscious, opulently fruity entry gives way to rich oak notes. While the tannins are well-integrated, the oak flavours seem to stand out on their own. This full-bodied, powerful wine would benefit from several months in the cellar, or from aeration prior to serving, and would be delicious with rich meat dishes.

Reviewed January 16, 2008 by Catherine Fallis.