Winemaker Notes
Notes of bright red fruits with floral nuances, complemented by hints of licorice, pepper, and spice. Sourced from five Syrah clones and three Grenache clones, the grapes were hand-harvested and cluster sorted, with Syrah receiving additional berry sorting for precision. Following a two-day cold soak to extract color and phenolic complexity, each lot was fermented individually with native yeast. Caps were manually punched down twice daily, with skin contact ranging from seven to eighteen days based on the lot. The wine completed spontaneous native malolactic fermentation in barrel, enhancing texture and integration. Aged for sixteen months in 100% neutral French oak barrels of 60, 70, and 80 gallons.
Blend: 50% Syrah, 38% Grenache, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Counoise
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
This wine always overdelivers, and this vintage's blend of 50% Syrah, 38% Grenache, 7% Mourvèdre and 5% Counoise continues the tradition. Aromas of baked berry, cinnamon, mace and wood on the nose land with lively energy on the palate. The brisk plum and cinnamon flavors are undercut by clay, dust and fine tannins. A very versatile wine for the table.
Editors' Choice -
Jeb Dunnuck
I always love this cuvée from Beckmen, and the 2021 Cuvee Le Bec shines for its juicy, up-front, delicious style. A blend of 50% Syrah, 38% Grenache, and the rest Mourvèdre and Counoise, it offers lots of plump blackberry fruit, some peppery herbs, violet nuances, medium body, and a juicy, clean, lengthy finish. An outstanding wine, it will stand toe to toe with the finest Côtes du Rhône out there.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.