Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
So deep, saturated and complex. Hearty, robust black fruit and black pepper are wrapped in a velvety, moderately tannic texture that carries them through the finish. Very pure and focused.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Peppery black and blue fruits, violets, bay leaf, and some gamey notes all emerge from the 2022 Syrah Tous Les Jours, a 100% Syrah that has medium-bodied richness, a round, supple, juicy mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous Syrah as well as a smoking value.
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Vinous
The 2022 Syrah Tous Les Jours is a fabulous entry-level offering from Andrew Murray. A blast of dark cherry, plum, mocha, scorched earth, licorice, spice and espresso are all dialed up. It's an unreal value. “This gets a lot of really good stuff," Murray adds. No kidding. That's patently obvious. Considering fruit costs, at its retail price, the margins on this wine are close to zero. Production of 8500 cases means there’s plenty to go around.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is one of the better Syrah deals on the planet. Cool-climate aromas of white pepper, herb and tar give edge to the richer berry and cherry elements on the nose. The palate dances across the tongue with vibrant acidity and flavors of cracked pepper, thyme and dark pomegranate.
Editors' Choice
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.”
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.