Winemaker Notes
Syrah from a cold climate fascinates as it maintains lifted and perfumed aromatics that subsequently usher in tremendous fruit intensity. Fermentation is carried out as whole clusters to further elevate those high tones of blue flowers and white peppers and to corset the fruit by resultant savory tannins.
Those tannins provide a tea-like architecture which offers tremendous length and a savory herb character to harmonize with virtually any dish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Slightly lighter in the glass than other Syrahs, this bottling is immensely savory, showing cracked pepper, crushed rocks, dried blackberry and black plum on a well-focused nose. It’s very fresh on the palate, with snappy black raspberry and a dusting of white pepper, with warming hints of baking spice into the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made by Greg Brewer, the 2018 Syrah from Ex Post Facto was entirely whole-cluster fermented and aged in very old barrels. It has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and pure scents of cassis, cedar, graphite and bay leaves with touches of milk chocolate and violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied with Goldilocks ripeness and gently savory undertones, finely grained and fresh with a long finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The Ex Post Facto story provides a looking into the heart of the grape and its source. Vintner Greg Brewer committed to the wine's totality. When I approached the 2018 Ex Post Facto Syrah, I had an idea that this wine probably has no rules, except what it wanted to be. TASTING NOTES: This opaque, concentrated wine, comes forth with omnipresent ripe red and black fruit aromas and flavors. Enjoy this wine at a slow evolving dinner with fragrantly-spiced, braised meat, and fresh veggies reflecting the colors of the rainbow. This wine is intense and focused. (Tasted: May 1, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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.”
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.