Winemaker Notes
Blend: 92% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
There are two Syrah releases. The 2016 Syrah (which includes 9% Petite Sirah) reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as a ripe, sexy, opulent style in its black raspberry, blackberry, olive, and bacon fat-laced aromas and flavors. It's ripe, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, with terrific purity of fruit. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Boysenberry-compote, roasted pork, dried beef, lavender and white-pepper aromas show on the nose of this estate bottling, which includes 15% Petite Sirah. Roasted meat and berry flavours are lifted by salt and pepper spice on the palate, with coffee and caramel emerging toward the finish.
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.”
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.