Winemaker Notes
Alluring aromas of intense black plum, blue lingonberry, juniper, prunelle, and sloe berry rise from the glass, finishing with layered notes of black pepper, leather, and dark plum. On the palate, the wine opens with bold flavors of black pepper and teriyaki beef jerky, complemented by angelica root, charred maple smoke, and sweet brandy. It follows through with an impressive intensity of rich tannins, accented by pepper, warm brown spices, and a long, smoky finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend 0f 91% Syrah and 9% Roussanne, the 2021 Syrah Bien Nacido Estate reveals a deep purple hue as well as darker berries, iron, peppery herbs, and hints of bacon fat. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, wonderfully textured, and balanced, it's another no-brainer release under this label.
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Tasting Panel
A luscious, vibrant red with white-peppered plum. Regal and captivating, it's abundant with boysenberry preserves and dramatic notes of dark chocolate that melt atop the suede texture of the palate.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a bold Syrah, loaded with baked black plum, blackberry, star anise and a wave of barrel spices on the nose. Firm tannins frame the intensely ripe palate, where baked blueberry and baking spices float atop persistent acidity.
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 lesser-known but elite AVA within the larger Santa Barbara district, the Santa Maria Valley AVA runs precisely west to east starting near the coast. The valley funnels cool, Pacific Ocean air to the vineyards more inland, allowing grapes a longer hang time to ripen evenly and achieve their full potential by harvest time. Combined with minimal rainfall, consistent warm sunshine, and well-drained soils, it is an ideal environment for grape growing.
Many of the wineries here are small and highly respected, having established a reputation in the 1970s and 80s for producing excellent Central Coast wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. More recently, Syrah has also proven quite successful in the region. Many vineyards are owned by growers who sell their grapes to other wineries, so it is common to see the same vineyard name on bottlings from different wineries. Bien Nacido Vineyard is perhaps the best-known and most prestigious.