Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from sites in the Edna Valley and Santa Maria, the 2015 Good Fences checks in as 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, half destemmed, that spent 22 months in 50% new French oak. This rich, meaty, concentrated Grenache sports a deeper ruby color as well as terrific notes of dark fruits, mossy river rocks, tapenade, and ground pepper. It’s a big, rich, slightly chunky, yet delicious bruiser of a wine to drink over the coming 5-6 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Rich aromas of caramel, cappuccino and butterscotch are drizzled atop the smoked black-cherry fruit on the nose of this blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Red-cherry compote, smoked fig and coffee-crusted roast pork flavors prove lush and inviting.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.