Winemaker Notes
This wine displays dark blue-black and red hues, with intoxicating aromas of wild red and blue brambleberries layered over notes of dried herbs, Santa Barbara garrigue, and roasted meats. On the palate, it reveals a complex interplay of wild red-berried fruit and spice, offering a mouth-coating and satisfying texture. The bright, lifted character of Grenache leads the way, followed by a rich finish accented with hints of dark red and blue fruits.
Blend: 39% Grenache 32% Syrah 15% Mourvèdre 7% Counoise 7% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
There’s a dark, intense, bold and, yet still elegant focus to this eight-vineyard blend of 39% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, 7% Cinsault and 7% Counoise. Aromas of boysenberry, blueberry, violet and lilac on the nose lead into a silky purple-flower display on the palate, where generous berry flavors are framed by tense tannins.
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Wine Spectator
Offering polished cherry and cinnamon flavors accented by garrigue and cracked pepper, this sleek red finishes with refined tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Cinsault.
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.
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.