Winemaker Notes
Dark ruby red and black hued. Dark rich aromas that are intriguing. Spice, red fruits, plum with hints of oak. Palate is refined and elegant. Rich and concentrated with ample girth and lots of enjoyable complex fruits. Integrated tannins complete the framework. The density, texture and depth of this wine is a testament to the
quality of the vineyards.
Blend: 98% Syrah, 2% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This county-wide blend is made in a powerful style, offering rich aromas of black currant, blackberry, bacon and maple sugar. The palate is quite satisfying in that a lush way, showing blueberry and violet flavors in a strong yet accessible and balance manner.
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Wine & Spirits
Savory and lightly herbal, with dark berry flavors encircled by wisps of smoke, this is sleek yet exuberant, and should benefit from a short cellar stint.
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.