Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A finished barrel sample, the 2018 Syrah Santa Barbara County has a deep purple-black color and gregarious nose of gravel dust, cherry coulis, warm blueberries and loads of red fruit sparks with slowly opening nuances of cocoa, prosciutto and loads of exotic spices. It's full-bodied, dense and powerful, flooding the mouth with lush, ripe fruits and with a frame of firm, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing very long. This is a beast!
Range: 91-93 -
Wine Spectator
Refined and expressive, with vibrant raspberry and blueberry flavors, laced with notes of garrigue, beef and cracked pepper, taking on structure toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2026.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Recently bottled, the 2018 Syrah Santa Barbara County comes from designated fruit sources as well as declassified single vineyard juice. It was 75% destemmed and brought up in neutral oak. It offers a terrific bouquet of blackberries, leafy herbs, game, and peppery herbs. Beautifully balanced, elegant, and with good acidity, it's a terrific value to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.
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.