Winemaker Notes
Expressive and complex, the 2022 Cuvée le Bec shows a deep garnet color with layered aromas of pepper, clove, allspice, and loads of dark red fruits. The mouth is round on entry and through the mid-palate, with fine tannins and vibrant acidity that keep the wine bright and lifted. Dark red fruits and spice glide across the palate through a long finish, where the flavors turn redder—freshly picked cherry, pomegranate, and raspberry linger beautifully. A standout vintage, the 2022 CLB will evolve gracefully for a decade or more.
Blend: 52% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, 3% Counoise
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Cuvée Le Bec is the 25th vintage of this bottling. It's a fantastic entry-level Rhône blend. Dark, sumptuous fruit, savory minerality, tobacco and a floral air join together in a layered, harmonious profile. Structured enough to age, yet irresistibly delicious today the 2022 is a standout in this range.
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Wine Enthusiast
This lighter bodied Rhône blend is always a refreshing crowd pleaser, perfect for a wide range of fare. Aromas of purple flower, smoked meat and thyme show on the nose, while the palate's mix of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise shows plum and pepper flavors.
Editors' Choice -
Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 52% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, and 3% Counoise, the 2022 Cuvée Le Bec was 90% destemmed with 10% whole clusters and brought up in stainless steel tanks. Darker berries, peppery herbs, and some Southern Rhône-like spice all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, has terrific purity of fruit, and a charming, delicious style. California's answer to a great Côtes du Rhône.
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.