Santa Barbara County

A little more obscure than some of our other vineyard designated syrahs, the fruit for this wine came from Melville’s Los Alamos, California estate. In 2005, the wine was made from two sites, one contributing acidity and intensity, the other richness and flamboyance. The combination made for a spectacular wine of great balance. Of the three syrahs offered in this newsletter, this one is certainly the crowd pleaser. It will be perfect with that holiday standing rib roast. Yum!

Blend: 100% Syrah | Alcohol: 14.5% | Vinification: 20% New French Oak | Barrel Aging: 14 Months | Total Production: 95 cases

Press Reviews

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

“Opaque purple. Deep, youthfully brooding aromas of blackcurrant, licorice and black cardamom, with a note of cracked pepper gaining strength with air. Chewy and dense, offering powerful dark fruit flavors and a kiss of bitter cherry pit. This is pretty uncompromising right now but its balance and depth of fruit suggest that it will come out of this sullen stage in fine form.” – JR 91+ Points

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“The 2005 Syrah Verna’s is a dense ruby/purple color is followed by a bouquet of mocha, white chocolate, blackberries, blueberries, and a hint of flowers. This is a full-bodied, fruit-driven, supple-textured wine with loads of character and personality. It is another candidate for a decade or more of ageability. ” -RP 92-93 Points