Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2014 Syrah ÜBER is a blend of fruit from all the sources Margerum works with. Plush, deep and generous, with all of the freshness and vivacity that are such house signatures, the 2014 is impressive. A host of graphite, crushed rock, sage and lavender notes are woven throughout a core of dark red and purplish hued stone fruits. The ÜBER is made with a pretty unique approach in that grapes from each parcel are added to a single tank as the fruit arrives and ferments together.
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Jeb Dunnuck
In a similar style, with lots of juicy red, black and blue fruits, the 2014 UBER Syrah comes from equal portions of the Black Oak, Colson Canyon, Purisima and John Sebastiano Vineyards. It has plenty of classic Syrah pepperiness, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannin and a good finish. It should be at its finest from 2019-2026.
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Wine Spectator
Offers style and structure, with floral blueberry and raspberry aromas and complex, focused flavors of white pepper and mineral, framed by well-tailored tannins. Drink now through 2027. 396 cases made.
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.