Presqu'ile Santa Barbara Syrah 2020
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Winemaker Notes
The Santa Barbara County Syrah is hand-sorted, vinified with 35% whole clusters, and aged on its lees for 17 months in barrel. The wine is fresh, lively, and loaded with flavors of blackberries, dried herbs, bacon fat and lavender.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I was able to taste two Syrahs. The 2020 Syrah Santa Barbara County has lots of peppery stems and floral aromatics as well as both red and black fruits, medium body, notes of violets, iron, and leather, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It reminds me of an old-school Saint-Joseph and will keep for a decade.
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.