Winemaker Notes
Blend: 91% Syrah, 5% Grenache & 4% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
There’s 335 cases of the beautiful 2013 Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains. Floral, perfumed, and complex with a lot of incense, violets, blueberry and pepper, it’s medium to full-bodied, light on its feel and ready to go. Despite the upfront nature, I suspect it will evolve nicely on its balance. The blend here is 91% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 4% Viognier; it saw 38% whole clusters and 11 months in French oak.
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Wine Enthusiast
Bradley Brown's appellation blend is a nice entry point to this exciting winery. This wine shows lavish smoked black currant and plum flavors, with aromatically lifting spices of anise and black pepper and a savory roast-beef element. The palate packs lots of pepper and relies on plump black cherry, boysenberry and a dark-chocolate syrup richness.
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Wine Spectator
A big and zesty red, with a solid structure and plenty of flavor. Notes of raspberry and dried cherry blend with smoked herb and cracked pepper beef. Tannins ease in on the finish. Drink now through 2023.
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 rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.