Pence Sebastiano Syrah 2016
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
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Winemaker Notes
Dark purple hue with rich and intense aromas of wild blue and black fruits, violets, lilacs, Kalamata olive, peppercorn anise, asphalt and liquid smoke. On the palate, this complexity becomes cohesive and driven with fresh dark brambly fruits, kirschy suppleness and very concentrated flavors. Long-lived and a must decant if drunk in the next 1–3 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Compellingly savory aromas of seared lamb chops, cracked peppercorns and smoked game pair with brisk red fruit. Crisp, tart fruits lead off the palate, then the layers of peppercorn, thyme and smoked meat sing on the dynamic, complex finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Syrah Sebastiano comes from the Sebastiano vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills—the highest-elevation Syrah within the appellation, on clay and limestone soils and ravaged by ocean winds. The wine was fermented entirely with whole clusters in concrete and aged for two years in neutral foudres. Medium to deep ruby-purple, it has a lovely nose of olive, chocolate, spiced blueberry preserves, black cherries and blackcurrants with garrigue and loads of dried blue flower and peppered meat nuances. The palate is medium to full-bodied, intense and savory with oodles of floral accents, framed by wonderfully grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long. A classic and elegantly crafted cool-climate Syrah. 594 cases produced.
For most of my adult life, I have been obsessed with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. For many years, I travelled to France, and more specifically to Burgundy, trying to understand the making of what I believe to be the world’s greatest wines. Over time, I became friends with the vignerons there, learned of their respect for terroir, and their dedication to its primacy. I had the opportunity to drink the wines over and over again, from the barrel and the bottle, and observe how they were farmed and vinified.
BRINGING BURGUNDY TO SANTA BARBARA
Though I fell in love with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as expressed in Burgundy, I have no expectation, nor would I wish to, to produce a Burgundian wine. We are in the United States, after all, and one should hope that the vines grown in these soils are different from those grown in Burgundy. I believe, though, that given a few more decades, or perhaps centuries, we can achieve the same kind of brilliance in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay here in the United States as has been achieved in Burgundy.
UNWAVERING STANDARDS FOR WINEMAKING AND FARMING
Towards this end, my team and I have established the highest aspirations for our vineyard and our wine program. It is a purposeful endeavor, in that everything was done very deliberately and without regard to cost to achieve the highest level of quality in our wines. Our philosophy is a non-interventionist, site-driven one. If our wines express typicity, it has much more to do with our terroir and viticulture than with anything we have done in the cellar.
We strive for honesty and elegance in our wines, reflecting the beautiful landscape where our grapes are grown, the richness of the clay soils feeding their roots, and the abundant sunshine that provides life’s energy. The colors, aromas, and flavors in each bottle are the pure manifestation of our vineyard and our efforts to support it.
It is my sincere wish, and that of our team, that our wines transport you to another place; that they are representative not only of their varieties and the terroir of our site, but also of the profound mystery Mother Nature has to offer.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.