Winemaker Notes
Dense purple-violet and deep black velvet. Aroma: Dark spices complimented with wafts of cola, blackberry, blueberry, and rose pedal. Secondary notes of rosemary, peppercorn, and thyme come to the fore. Subtle brioche toast in the background complement the spicy savage wild gamey fruit. Palate: Refined but young with fine stone tannins – rounded, lively, and dense. Flavors of dense red fruit, dark chocolate with high notes of raspberry and sarsaparilla. Undertones of fresh leather, green olive pit, combines in an intricate weave of savory and spice.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2017 Syrah Über is another highlight in this range. For the Über, Doug Margerum takes fruit from Black Oak, Shokrian, Vera's and the Estate and blends them in a single tank, but because the harvest times are quite different, the grapes are added to fermenting must over a period of weeks. The resulting wine is intensely aromatic and nuanced. The inclusion of 25% whole clusters adds further shades of complexity to the a core of dark cherry and plum fruit. Gracious and full of personality, the Über Syrah is one of the most distinctive wines in Santa Barbara.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A barrel sample, the 2017 Syrah Über is medium to deep ruby-purple with a vibrant nose of fried herbs, dried violet and bacon fat with olive, baked blackberries, black plum and warm black cherries plus loads of peppered charcuterie notions. Medium to full-bodied, it's packed with bright fruits and meaty notions, with ripe tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long. Yum! Rating: 90 - 92
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Wine Spectator
The brooding core is blanketed in a rich and polished texture, featuring expressive blueberry and raspberry flavors, laced with licorice and peppered meat notes. Drink now through 2030.
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Wine & Spirits
Big-shouldered and dark fruited, this is a blend of fruit from Margerum’s top vineyards. It goes through an ambient-yeast ferment that lends the plummy fruit some smoky, spicy complexity, with a peppery finish for Sichuan beef.
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.