Winemaker Notes
This year’s Santa Barbara county Syrah is truly representative of the Santa Barbara county appellation. This blend brings together the best that Santa Barbara County’s diverse microclimates have to offer. The grapes come from five different vineyards: Zaca Mesa, Nolan, Laird, Thompson and Tensley. These different vineyards come together to produce a wine that is velvety and structured. Look for notes of blackberry and pepper to be balanced by bright, fresh notes of raspberries and juicy plums. This wine has a solid structure and long finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the 2021 barrel samples, the 2021 Syrah Santa Barbara County has a big, juicy, up-front, and full-bodied style carrying ample darker, almost blue fruits, lots of peppery herb nuances, sweet tannins, and a great finish. It’s a ripe, sexy wine in the making that will drink well right out of the gate.
Barrel Sample: 91-94 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple, the 2021 Syrah Santa Barbara County has lush cassis and blueberry aromas with touches of tar and citrus. The medium-bodied palate is chalky, fresh and perfumed with a long, floral finish. This is incredibly drinkable! Best After 2022
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Wine Spectator
Robust and generous, with blackberry, dried fig, smoked pepper and crushed rock accents that take on structure and tension toward muscular tannins.
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.