94 Points Gold Medal - 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition
Tasting Notes
Aromas of guava, strawberries, and fresh peaches. Citrusy flavors, slightly tart, light bodied with a lively, crisp finish.
About the Vineyard
Vineyard Notes
Existing as its own sub-appellation, Santa Margarita Vineyard has a distinctive terroir all to itself. These Syrah vines are grown in an amalgam of soil consisting of river-derived alluvium mixed with volcanic sand. On slopes between 9 and 15 percent, block 47 delivers grapes with rich flavors and intricate aromas.
Winemaker Notes
Growing Season
Production Notes
Thanks to a colder winter, a mild spring and only a few summertime heat spikes, the
2019 growing season felt like a return to the norm. The year’s relatively gentle growing season,
the later harvest, and seasonably mild weather provided longer hang time for the grapes on the
vine. Longer hang time, under these near perfect conditions, allowed grapes to evenly
develop rich color and more complex flavors.
Winemaking
Winemaker Notes
To avoid extracting herbaceous characters while also encouraging fruit intensity, the Syrah grapes were first destemmed and then pressed very lightly. A 24-hour cold settling cleaned the juice up nicely before yeast was added. Fermentation was kept between 48- and 54- degrees Fahrenheit using a Bayanus yeast strain which tolerates lower temperatures. The 27-day fermentation progressed very slowly, producing rich and fragrant aromatics.