Syrah tasting
An old world vs. new world showdown!
One bottle each of the 2021 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage and 2020 Love & Terroir Syrah
Treat yourself to two 90 point Syrahs that epitomize the heights the wines can achieve in their respective appellations. Both small production, made with whole-clusters and aged in neutral barrel. Experience a benchmark wine from one of the places that inspired our Love of the region, grapes and it’s Terroir.
90 Points Wine Spectator: 2021 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage
93 Points Wine Enthusiast 2020 Love & Terroir Syrah
2022 Love & Terroir “Jurassic Park Vineyard” Chenin Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley
A truly quaffable Chenin featuring key lime and ripe green apple balanced with honeysuckle and lip-smacking minerality. The wines are dry, elegantly textured and beautifully balanced. Terrific on their own and will really shine on the dinner table. Coming from a site on the eastern side of Santa Barbara County, un-grafted Chenin Blanc planted in 1978 and named after the fossil rich sandy soils it is planted in. The wines are fermented and neutral French Oak to preserve the fresh fruit character while giving the wines complexity and texture. 198 cases produced.
2020 Love & Terroir “Ballard Canyon” Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley
This is a stunner! Classic cool-climate Syrah with notes of wild raspberry, cured meat, bay leaf, and spice that culminate in a medium-bodied and concentrated style framed by juicy acidity, and a great finish. Wonderfully balanced with one foot in the Northern Rhône and one foot in California. A stellar vineyard on the southwestern corner of Santa Barbara’s Ballard Canyon. The long growing season resulted in excellent maturity of the clusters and for the 2020 vintage we were able to use 70% stems. The wines are fermented and aged in neutral French Oak. 130 cases produced.