Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Para Maria delivers delicate, medium-bodied perfection all about the red hues. Ripe yet bright, the wine stays lifted and high toned on its journey through the mouth. Concentrated Petit Verdot density plays sneakily on the mid-palate before swooping back up to a crisp finish of wild berries and red apples. The gentle touch of early-harvested, whole-grape fermented Syrah carries the day, relying on balancing acidity rather than dry tannins on the finish. The crushed Syrah plays a secondary role in giving the wine a pleasurable lushness behind the fresh, crunchy red fruits.
Blend: 75% Syrah, 25% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Black plum and purple flower aromas meet with thyme and savory seaweed aromas on the nose of this blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Petit Verdot. The palate's roasted fruit core is layered in thyme and chaparral herbs on 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.”
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.