Winemaker Notes
Co-planted and co-fermented with Viognier, this wine is an homage to the Northern Rhone Valley while remaining quintessentially Bien Nacido. Lavender, sage and flame seared meats dominate the aromatics while papaya and other tropical fruits began to show as the wine opens and breathes. Generous fruit character on the palate gives way to incredibly silky tannins that carry through the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The dense purple 2019 Syrah (99% Syrah and 1% Viognier) is a striking, cool-climate Syrah that boasts a gorgeous nose of ripe blackberries, huckleberries, peppery herbs, cedar, and spice. This carries to a medium-bodied Syrah with terrific overall balance, a round, layered texture, and that rare mix of ripe fruit and stunning purity and freshness. It reminds me of a modern Cornas with its incredible purity yet slightly wild, classic Syrah character.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Syrah Estate, which was co-fermented with a splash of Viognier, was made with about 35% whole clusters and matured in 35% new 600-liter demi-muids. It has a deep ruby-purple color and gregarious aromas of blue and black berry preserves, cracked pepper, chargrill and purple flowers. The full-bodied palate has a fine, chalky texture and fresh expression, with detailed aromatic nuances lingering on the finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Very dark fruit aromas range from roasted to slightly tart on the nose of this bottling, and there are hints of tar and cracked black pepper as well. Firm, somewhat gritty tannins frame the sip, where herbs, lilac and roasted black-fruit flavors align. Needs a tad more time. Drink 2023–2035.
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.”
A lesser-known but elite AVA within the larger Santa Barbara district, the Santa Maria Valley AVA runs precisely west to east starting near the coast. The valley funnels cool, Pacific Ocean air to the vineyards more inland, allowing grapes a longer hang time to ripen evenly and achieve their full potential by harvest time. Combined with minimal rainfall, consistent warm sunshine, and well-drained soils, it is an ideal environment for grape growing.
Many of the wineries here are small and highly respected, having established a reputation in the 1970s and 80s for producing excellent Central Coast wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. More recently, Syrah has also proven quite successful in the region. Many vineyards are owned by growers who sell their grapes to other wineries, so it is common to see the same vineyard name on bottlings from different wineries. Bien Nacido Vineyard is perhaps the best-known and most prestigious.