Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Ballard Canyon Harrison Clarke Vineyard is a blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Mourvèdre; the 2016 will be entirely Mourvèdre, as Morman feels this variety is better adapted to the comparatively warm mesoclimate of Ballard Canyon. The wine offers up aromas of red and black berries, aromatic bark and sweet spices, followed by a full-bodied, supple palate amply endowed with rich, fine-grained tannins and a lovely deep core of fruit, concluding with a savory, stony finish. I'm looking forward to tasting the 2016 rendition.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Accounting for only ten percent of the greater Santa Ynez AVA, Ballard Canyon’s north-south orientation provides an ideal pattern of sunshine and martime fog for producing excellent Syrah. While Syrah is planted to half of the total AVA acreage, an additional third is dedicated to other Rhône varieties, red and white.