Winemaker Notes
Deep, luscious blue, purple, and black fruit welcomes one into the smooth, supple, billowy mouthfeel. Classic Syrah notes of olives, olive tapenade, and “roast” meats compliment the fruit purity from the nose all the way through to the seamless, soft finish. Deep enough to pair with summertime grilling yet so smooth it gets yummier and crunchier – almost refreshing - drinking it with a chill. As the bottle opens up with air, red-fruit appears above the blue-black and a nice spicy framing of freshness begins to lift the palate.
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.