Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage, Jim Binns’ 2014 Andremily No 3 is a blend of 89% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier that comes from three great sites in Santa Barbara County: Larner Vineyard, White Hawk and Alta Mesa (Mourvèdre). Tasted twice, this totally profound beauty offers up heavenly notes of crème de cassis, crushed violets, smoked meats, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, expansive, yet pure, elegant and lengthy style. It needs to be forgotten for 2-3 years, and will have 15 years or more of overall longevity.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Blended of 89% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier using 54% whole cluster and spending around 22 months in French oak (60% new), the 2014 No 3 has a deep purple-black color and nose of blueberry preserves, spiced black berries and cassis with hints of mocha, tilled soil and roasted nuts. Medium to full-bodied, the plush, velvety tannins nicely frame the generous fruit, with great freshness and a good long, spicy finish.
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.”
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.