Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 92% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 3% Viognier aged 22 months in 60% new French oak, the 2017 No 6 is another killer bottle of wine from Jim Binns, offering incredible richness and depth while staying light, elegant, and graceful. Stunning notes of smoked meat, cassis, black pepper, violets, bouquet garni (bay leaf, thyme), and honeysuckle all soar from the glass. These carry to a rich, powerful, perfectly balanced Syrah with awesome tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It builds beautifully with time in the glass and, despite its upfront appeal, my money is on this evolving for upwards of two decades. There are roughly 800 cases produced.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 92% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 3% Viognier, using 40% whole cluster, the Andremily 2017 No. 6 is sourced from White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke, Watch Hill and Alta Mesa Vineyards. To be bottled mid-August 2019, it will spend around 22 months in French oak barriques, 60% new. Deep garnet-purple, the nose is already singing at this nascent stage, giving up loads of bright blackberries, crushed red and black plums and mulberries scents with Indian spices, cardamom, Sichuan pepper and dusty soil plus a waft of wild thyme. Full-bodied and firm, with a refreshing line cutting through the densely packed black fruit layers, it has wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and a long finish.
Barrel Sample: 96-98
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.