Winemaker Notes
Blend:96% Syrah, 4% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Brought up in 52% new French oak, the 2016 Syrah Rodney's Vineyard (96% Syrah and 4% Viognier) isn't far off the style of the Santa Barbara County Syrah and has plenty of blackberry and caramelized black cherry fruits intermixed with toasted spice and scorched earth. It's another ripe, concentrated Syrah that shows the vintage’s straighter, more focused style.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep ruby-purple in the glass, the 2016 Syrah Rodney's Vineyard gives up sage and fried herbs with wild blackberries, notions of bitter chocolate and bacon fat, olive and blue flower perfume plus cassis aromas. Full-bodied, it fills the mouth with savory, dark ripe fruits framed by firm, chewy tannins and just enough freshness.
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Wine Enthusiast
Strong aromas of black plum and blackberry are hit with savory salt and pepper spices on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The palate's richness is cut by snappy boysenberry, a hint of anise and a finish of vanilla.
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Wine & Spirits
The Syrah vines at Rodney’s Vineyard, Fess Parker’s flagship site in the Santa Ynez Valley, are now 31 years old, and their fruit shows some of the dark complexity that old vines on a warm site can achieve. Scents of sarsaparilla, carob and olive adorn the succulent blackberry flavor, smoky and a touch leathery, with elegant blueberry-skin tannins.
Established in 1989, Fess Parker Winery is a multi-generational family owned and operated winery that has a rich heritage in Santa Barbara County. Fess Parker produces premium, small-lot, vineyard designated Burgundian varietals from the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley as well as Rhône varietals from their organically farmed, SIP Certified estate vineyard.
Outstanding fruit sources, including some of the finest vineyards in the county, coupled with skilled winemaking, led by Blair Fox, form the foundation for the winery’s success. Now three generations in, the Fess Parker Family is proud to carry on Fess’s legacy of wine heritage and hospitality in Santa Barbara.
Fess Parker Winery was proud to be named a Top 100 Winery in the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine in both 2022 and 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.”
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.