Winemaker Notes
Syrah, the flagship varietal of Piedrasassi, is at its most compelling when grown in a cool climate; producing the most complex aromas and savory textures. This delicious Syrah from Santa Barbara County is a great expression of our philosophy; that wine— just like food, or music, or art—should have a certain kind of authenticity—it should come from someone and somewhere.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 PS Syrah opens with a smoldering, beautiful nose of charcoal embers, lavender, olive brine and faint hints of vanilla pod. The palate is rich and layered, landing in a decadently savory, animalistic finish—a fantastically overperforming regional wine.
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Vinous
The 2022 Syrah PS bright, punchy and full of character. This gorgeous cool-climate Syrah hits all the right notes. Hints of black pepper, lavender and clove play off a core of dark-toned fruit. Most of this fruit is from Hines, a young site in the Sta. Rita Hills. This is nicely done.
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.