Winemaker Notes
Pair with an assortment of cheeses or charcuterie, or go all in with a slow-smoked pork shoulder.
Blend: 100% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A dreamy, creamy-textured wine with a soft touch and comfy, ripe, relaxed berry and spice flavors. Black plums, baked blueberries, pine needles and grilled herbs on the palate. Tannins are soft and resolved.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Syrah Estate was sourced from a wide array of clonal material planted on sandy soils and fermented with 50% whole clusters. Red and blue fruits with peppery accents and herbal overtones introduce a sleek, spherical palate lined with mouthwatering acidity and grounded by a savory, meaty core. It concludes with a long, spice-laden finish framed with chalky tannins and retronasal floral notes.
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Wine Spectator
A fresh, distinctive and crowd-pleasing style, with guava, tangerine zest and pink peppercorn accents framing the finely chiseled, leather- and mineral-accented core of fresh raspberry and mulberry. Ends with nimble tannins and plenty of peppery and sencha notes. Drinkable and food-friendly.
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.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.