Winemaker Notes
The 2016 Lafond Vineyard Syrah is a plum color with crimson at the edges. A beautiful bouquet of boysenberry and lavender jumps out of the glass. Strong pepper notes are followed by blackberry and mild leather. Full-bodied with nice acidity, drink alongside braised pork, venison, and blue cheese.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Roasted blackberry and coffee aromas meet with plump lilac and other purple flowers on the nose of this bottling. The violet and purple-flower flavors are thick on the palate, where a bright and sharp acidity makes for a potent sip.
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Wine Spectator
This sleek red is compelling with fresh black raspberry flavors that show a whiff of smoky meat and cracked pepper. Drink now through 2026.
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 superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.