Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of 51% Syrah, 38% Grenache, 6 % Mourvedre and 5% Counoise by Stave Bockmen starts with aromas of smashed Berry, black tea, purple flowers and light cola spice on the nose. The palate is tense and grippy, with Cranberry fruit leather, dried hibiscus and brown-spice flavors aligning.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Always a good value, the 2019 Cuvee le Bec checks in as 51% Syrah, 38% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre, and 5% Counoise. It offers lots of up-front darker berry fruits as well as peppery herbs and earthy, meaty nuances to go with a medium-bodied, mouth-filling, chewy, satisfying style on the palate. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.
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.
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.