Terroir is a French term that loosely translates to “a sense of place.” In wine, it refers to characteristics that come from the place the grapes were grown. I thought it would be interesting to examine terroir by tasting three wines from the same producer, of the same variety, but from different locations.

Rosenblum Syrah, England-Shaw Vineyard 2006 This small five-acre vineyard is in Solano County, 20 miles east of Napa. The vineyard was planted in the 1960s, and the poor soils make the vines struggle to produce fruit. This results in low yield, with only 1.5 tons per acre of intensely flavored grapes. The wine is soft, with bacon, chocolate, and lavender flavors.

Rosenblum Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2006 Warm days and cool nights provide long hang time, and alluvial soils give excellent drainage. The wine produced is deep purple with aromas of blackberries and plums. The lush palate is all blueberry, vanilla, and currant.

Rosenblum Syrah, Abba Vineyard 2006 This vineyard is right here in Lodi, planted 10 years ago by Phil Abba. As we all know, Lodi has hot summer days that cool off at night. This weather, combined with gravely loam soils, produces small, thick-skinned clusters that produce exotic, dark, lush wines. The wine has a rich mouth feel, with flavors of blackberry and chocolate coating the palate. The finish is long and lingering, demanding another sip. While all three wines are excellent, this Lodi wine is my hands-down favorite. It is yet another example of the quality Lodi is capable of.