Winemaker Notes
Sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard’s X and Z blocks (Santa Maria Valley AVA). Z block was first introduced to Sashi by Adam Tolmach of Ojai Vineyard and was planted in 1992 over limestone soils with a southwest-facing exposition. X block was planted in 1973, originally as own-rooted Riesling), but was grafted to Estrella River clone Syrah in 1986.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Elegant and floral, the medium ruby-purple colored 2020 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard has alluring, layered scents of blackcurrant, blueberry, menthol, bitter chocolate and violet, gaining nuance with each return to the glass. Full-bodied yet light on its feet, it has a deep core of crunchy black fruit, abundant, powdery tannins, fireworks of fresh acidity and a very long finish replete with floral and herbal tones. This was vinified using around 30% whole clusters and comes from the Z and X blocks of Bien Nacido Vineyard.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Charred bacon, crushed peppercorns, tart red-fruit and raw meat aromas are decorated with ample wood spice on the nose of this bottling. The palate's tannins are tense and grippy, ensuring a long life to come, with flavors of black-plum skin, thyme oil and eucalyptus leaf working in harmony. Drink now through 2039.
-
Wine Spectator
Elegant and svelte, with low-key raspberry, garrigue and tobacco flavors that build a backbone toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2030.
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.