Winemaker Notes
Blend: 63% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, 1% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 EABA is based on 63% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, and the rest Viognier and saw a slightly longer élevage, spending 31 months in 60% new oak. Exotic red and black fruits, ground pepper, violets, bouquet garni, sandalwood, and some gamey, meaty notes all emerge on the nose, and this beauty is full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel and incredible length. It's another incredible wine from this talented winemaker that deserves 3-4 years in the cellar and will shine over the following 15.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 EABA is a blend of 63% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache and 1% Viognier sourced from several Santa Barbara County sites and the Slide Hill estate vineyard in Edna Valley. It was fermented with 65% whole clusters and saw a 31-month élevage in 60% new French barrique. The nose is immensely inky and opaque, driven by lavish dark berry compote aromas supported by dark chocolate, amaro and subtle meaty accents. The palate is extraordinarily saturated and staining, containing immense body and plushness. The finish is quite taut and inward, framed with a welcome amount of fine-grained tannins to support the otherwise massive fruit density. While this developed additional aromatic complexity in the glass, its appeal is primarily tethered to its boisterous power and is best enjoyed on the early side.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.