Westside Paso Robles is home to PharaohMoans Winery and the Templeton Gap's cooling breezes caress the tiny three-acre vineyard where the grapes for their Syrah are grown. Just a year ago, Robert Parker declared: ". . . there is no question that a decade from now . . . the limestone hillsides west of Paso Robles will be as well-known as the glamorous vineyards of Napa Valley." [Duke's note: He may be wrong about it taking a decade.]

John Schwartz, owner of Amuse Bouche Winery (with Heidi Barrett), and Bryan Ogden, famed restaurateur and winner of the 2003 James Beard Award, teamed up with French winemaker-gone-Californian Stephan Asseo, owner of L'Aventure Winery in Paso Robles, to make this superb wine. Parker praised Asseo for, "producing creative and adventurous wines that possess singular personalities as well loads of potential for both near-term drinking and long-term aging." Their mutual goal is to create the best Syrah in the Paso Robles appellation and they are going all-out to bring us a truly remarkable wine.

The name PharaohMoans is an intriguing play on words with "pheromones," which are the hormonal influences behind the sensory patterns one enjoys when consuming fine wine. Wine was discovered in Egypt nearly 6,000 years ago, around the time when Hieroglyphs were first used in 3500 BC. The Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1822 and unlocked the written secrets of culture of this ancient civilization. As you can see, John chose the Rosetta Stone as the model for the label. The Egyptian Pharaohs had a great zest for life and the finest things that it had to offer. The wine is a tribute to the culture that made wine and developed many farming techniques still used in the vineyards.

PharaohMoans 2006 Syrah is 96% Syrah with splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache blended in to add complexity. It is an opaque, deep purple wine that captures the Northern Rhone-style with irresistible aromas of black licorice, truffles, white pepper and smoked meats. There is a seductive explosion of plums, exotic spices, chocolate and ripe figs on the palate. This is a wine of power and elegance. There is an incredible balance between acidity and alcohol, well structured tannins and very bright fruit. It will more than live up to the 90+ ratings achieved by the 2005 vintage.

We are making it available to you in a "Pyramid-Pack" - 6 bottles in an ingenious pyramid-shaped box. (Pictured) The cost for your share of this cult classic is $750.00. We are also offering single bottles at $125.00 each. This is a "futures" offering with 100% deposit due with the order. The wine will be delivered in the Spring of 2008.

Note: Prices are good while our supplies last and we reserve the right to change them at any time without notice.