2018 Bien Nacido Syrah

Appellation

Santa Maria Valley

Varietal

Syrah

Wine Enthusiast

Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous

Vineyard Sources

100% Bien Nacido Vineyard (block 11F) located in the Santa Maria Valley

Barrel Aging

Aged 20 months in 100% French oak, of which 42% is new

Cooperage

Francois Freres, Ermitage

Technical Data

Composition

100% Syrah (Estrella clone)

Alcohol %

14.5

Acidity

0.601 g/100mL

3.76

Harvest Brix

26.6

Harvest Date

10/23/18

Production

296 cases

Description

Bien Nacido is a cool-climate vineyard located midway up the Santa Maria Valley on the far north end of Santa Barbara County. Located just 16 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, maritime-influenced morning fog and cool afternoon breezes make for a slow ripening grape with longer hangtime on the vines. The result is this full-bodied Syrah with dark fruit flavors, dark chocolate, anise, vanilla, baking spices and espresso.

The Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah pairs beautifully with grilled lamb, braised beef or grilled eggplant.

Wine Critic Reviews

"One of the standouts in the lineup...Classic dark fruits, ground pepper, iodine, and meaty, chocolatey notes define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, mouth-filling texture, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. A hundred percent Syrah, it was 70% destemmed and spent 20 months in 42% new French oak. It will shine for a least a decade." ~ Jeb Dunnuck "Savory aromas of bay leaf, rosemary and seared lamb flesh meet with asphalt and elderberry on the nose of this bottling. Classic flavors of smoked meat, rosemary and olive are layered atop a core of dark berries on the palate." ~ Wine Enthusiast "...a dense, inky wine. Blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, menthol, cloves and incense all hit the palate. This deep, plush Syrah is extroverted to the core. The tannins need time to soften here." ~ Antonio Galloni's Vinous