Winemaker Notes
Syrah adds richness and power, Mourvèdre adds earthy, old world, Counoise adds aromatics of watermelon and Cinsault adds a spice component. Largely estate plus purchased grapes & made with Reductive winemaking style. Aged in 50% neutral puncheons and 50% neutral and a few new barrels. Finish primary/secondary in barrel. Then blended. Never racked. Great with almost any food at the table.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2024 Red Estate M5 is everything you'd want from an entry-level Rhône blend. Bright, exuberant fruit from whole-berry fermentation really ramps up the charm offensive, while accents of lavender and dried herbs add complexity. Plush contours wrap it all together in style. There's real structure beneath the hood here, friendly character notwithstanding.
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Wine Enthusiast
This vintage's mix of 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 7% Counoise and 6% Cinsault lends a bit more herbaceous than usual, showing lots of thyme against the pomegranate and hibiscus aromas on the nose. The palate picks up oregano and anise alongside the tart plum core, all of which will work well with a wide range of cuisine.
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Wine Spectator
A youthful and quaffable red, with abundant floral and spice notes, plus bright, juicy, orange peel–laced raspberry and cherry flavors. A hint of black tea swirls in on the refined finish. 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.