2015 SANTA BARBARA 50% SYRAH / 50% GRENACHE

Santa Barbara County
SG-Label

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We use sulfites in our wines sparingly. It’s traditionally added to avoid having wine turn into vinegar, and in small quantities sulfites seem to preserve perfume and freshness, while larger amounts make wines more brittle, hard and rubbery. We were intrigued by a delicious sulfite free wine that a former employee (Sashi Moorman) made, and thought it would be a fun challenge to try making one ourselves. Our first effort was in 2011 when we made a lively syrah with a particularly easygoing texture—which we attributed to the lack of added sulfites. So, since 2012, we’ve made a syrah/grenache blend done without sulfites and loved the results. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!

This year our printer printed the wrong back label for this wine and so it says that it does contain sulfites, so you’ll just have to believe me that we added none. You’ll be able to tell from its early drinkability and silky texture.

The experiment we began in 2011 continues with this offering of 2014 Syrah 50% Grenache 50% from the new John Sebastiano Vineyard located on the eastern edge of the cool Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County. Please see my notes (Click Here)

Blend: 50% Syrah & 50% Grenache | Alc: 13.0% | Vinification: Open top fermentation with 35% whole clusters | Barrel Aging: 11 Months in Neutral French Oak | Total Production: 224 Cases

Press Reviews

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“The 2015 Syrah-Grenache (No SO2) is one of the most distinctive wines in the range. Lavender, violet, mint and a host of blue/purplish stone fruits are front and center. Beams of tannin give the wine its shape and overall persistence. This is yet another delicious, juicy 2015 from Ojai and Adam Tolmach.” – AG 92 points