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Cristaldi Scores

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Wine

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Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2020

Bonaccorsi Wine Company

Larner Vineyard Syrah

This is a bright, red-fruited, tangy Syrah from Larner Vineyard—an expression that veers from the site’s typical profile but charms nonetheless. It offers up crunchy cherry and pomegranate fruit, layered with blood orange and a hint of tangerine zest. Featherweight tannins and subtle brown spice notes carry through the medium-length finish.

2020

Flat Creek Estate

Estate Syrah

This fragrant estate Syrah is a bold, muscular wine with broad-shouldered tannins and a nice balance of sweet spices, violets, and loamy earth. Medium-bodied, it unfolds with leather and tobacco nuances, complemented by tart, dusty, mineral-rich red fruit flavors. The finish is long and entertainingly spicy.

2020

Peter William

Syrah Lot B-42

From hillside vineyards, the Lot B-42 Syrah lifts out of the glass with blackberry fruit, dried rose petals, and white pepper, all enhanced by tobacco and beautifully long, rounded tannins that support the supple fruit. Fine oak adds a baking spice frame around this wonderfully juicy, dark-fruited Syrah—an elegant wine with just the right touch of hedonism.

2020

Tatum Cellars

Syrah

Here’s a full-bodied, succulent, and generous Syrah from Tatum Cellars and the Salt Lick Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country. This red presents lovely violets and red berry fruits, with subtle blue fruit undertones, slate, and a touch of salty minerality. Balanced by a long, juicy finish, that resolves its richness of palate fruit.

2020

Wanderlust Vineyard

Grenache-Syrah Blend

This wine showcases all the hallmarks of its two expressive grape varieties, with red berry fruit and violets on the nose. On the palate, it softens into a light- to medium-bodied expression, lacking some mid-palate depth and finishing a bit short. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy in the dark-toned, juicy fruit, soft tannins, and gentle acidity. Serve well chilled alongside hearty fare for best results.

2020

Wente Family Vineyards

Nth Degree Syrah

It’s hard not to love a wine like Wente’s upper-tier Syrah. The nose unfolds in waves—black pepper, black raspberry, fig, smoke, and game—all seamlessly layered. On the palate, this full-bodied red delivers generous richness, with flavors of dried blueberry, ripe plum, and wild raspberry. Yet amid all the meaty depth and dark fruit, a surprising streak of minerality provides lift and balance, adding refinement to the wine’s bold, expressive character. -JR

2021

Chris Caruso Wines

Kimsey Vineyard Syrah

A lovely expression of Syrah, this wine offers elegant layers of black cherry, blackberry, and plum, lifted by rose petal and rhubarb aromatics. Cherry pit and crushed violet notes emerge on the medium-bodied palate, framed by velvety tannins laced with floral nuance. Dark salted chocolate rises on the juicy, lingering finish, adding depth and savor to this polished and expressive red.

2021

Dovecote

Thompson Vineyard 'Noumenon' Syrah

From the Thompson Vineyard in the Alisos Canyon AVA comes this unfiltered 2021 Syrah—just 72 cases made. It’s a vivid, layered, and beautifully perfumed expression of the variety, laced with rose petal and violet pastille aromatics that leap from the glass. The palate offers deep mid-palate concentration, with ironstone minerality at its core, accented by spearmint, wild sage, and savory spice. Firm, taut tannins carry a mineral edge, perfectly balanced by saline-acid tension that extends through the long, focused finish.

2021

Jaffurs Wine Cellars

Upslope Syrah

This vineyard selection Syrah—crafted from the winery’s favorite lots—is a commanding expression of the grape, with the volume unapologetically turned up to 11. Full-bodied and deeply concentrated, it leads with inky blackberry and blueberry fruit wrapped in muscular tannins that grip with purpose and stay the course. There’s structure and tension, but also lift—thanks to a line of saline-laced acidity that brings freshness and clarity. Complex layers of black sage, candied violets, rose petal, and rose stem add floral dimension, while a dusting of white pepper completes the finish.

2021

JMC Cellars

LVVC Red Blend

The LVVC (Livermore Valley Vintners Collective) is a collaboration of six Livermore winemakers who come together each year to craft a unique blend, with each contributing their own interpretation using wines from their cellars. In this expression, Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Syrah, Merlot, and Malbec to create a rich, harmonious red. The nose is peppery and floral, with savory blackcurrant aromas, while the palate delivers bold flavor with impressive balance—powerful, polished, and delicious. -JR

2021

Lindquist Family Wines

Bien Nacido Vineyard Z Block "The Original Hillside" Syrah

From Bien Nacido Vineyard’s iconic Z Block—known as “The Original Hillside”—this Syrah marries elegance with tremendous power. The mid-palate reveals concentrated, juicy dark cherry and plum fruit, layered with notes of cocoa powder, strawberry-rhubarb compote, and candied violets. Fine-grained tannins, carrying a refined bergamot tea quality, are supported by saline-driven acidity that provides lift and tension. The finish is long, spicy, and savory, underpinned by a deep mineral core.

2021

Piedrasassi

Bien Nacido Syrah

The 2021 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah from winemaker Sashi Moorman is notably less savory than the Rim Rock Vineyard bottling, but no less dynamic. Bright and expressive, it bursts with crunchy red fruit, violet florals, and rose stem, all wrapped in taut, apple-skin tannins. A vivid streak of zesty, zippy acidity propels the wine forward, framing a long, mineral-driven finish laced with white pepper and crushed stone.

2021

Piedrasassi

Rim Rock Vineyard Syrah

From the brilliant Sashi Moorman comes this riveting Syrah from Rim Rock Vineyard—a wine that soars aromatically with wild rose, rhubarb, crushed violets, dried thyme, and oven-roasted black olives. On the palate, it delivers a striking sense of liquid rock intensity and kinetic energy. Rich loamy earth and chalky mineral notes underscore its muscular frame, while the structure remains focused and finely detailed. This is an utterly dazzling Syrah.

2021

Samsara

Zotovich Vineyard Syrah

This Syrah from Zotovich Vineyard was fermented with native yeasts and 100% whole clusters, followed by extended barrel aging—a method that amplifies its aromatic complexity and savory nuance. Intensely perfumed, the nose is a symphony of violets, rose petals, and ripe blueberry dusted with white pepper. Layers of white truffle, green olive, and charcuterie emerge as the wine opens in the glass. Full-bodied and deeply textured, the palate is energized by saline-acid tension, with crushed blackberry, wet slate, and dried thyme all unfolding through a long, savory finish. A flicker of flamed grapefruit peel adds a final aromatic flourish. This is a Syrah that commands attention—complex, captivating, and inviting.

2022

Billsboro Winery

Syrah

94% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon from Sawmill Creek Vineyards. Red-fruited and delicately spiced, this light- to medium-bodied wine offers lifted aromatics of cinnamon, violets, and rose petals. On the palate, cherry and cherry pit notes are framed by firm apple skin tannins and a zesty, lingering finish. Aged for 9 months in neutral French and Hungarian oak with full malolactic fermentation.

2022

Del Rio Vineyard Estate

Estate Grown Sryah

The 2022 Del Rio Estate Syrah is bold and dark-fruited, with violet aromas and cherry-laced intensity. It shows impressive concentration, supported by a bulwark of velvety tannins that frame all that juicy fruit. Expressive and powerful, yet elegant, it finishes with tremendous length as the violet notes turn candied and are dusted with fragrant Indian spices. A long and deeply satisfying Syrah.

2022

Dovecote

Thompson Vineyard "Mantle"

This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre comes from Thompson Vineyard, planted in the late 1980s and long renowned for Syrah. Situated on the slopes of Alisos Canyon in the Los Alamos Valley, the own-rooted vines grow in sandy loam soils under cooler conditions. The vibrant floral lift of the Syrah mingles with the juicy red berry fruitiness of the Grenache, while the Mourvèdre contributes brown spice and a firm tannic backbone. There’s a wonderful meatiness to this Rhône blend, along with rich coffee bean aromatics, tangerine peel, and a touch of cocoa powder, all framed by blood orange acidity that keeps everything lively and fresh. The long finish reveals subtle cigar box and loamy earth accents. Just 87 cases produced. Bottled unfiltered. A wine club-only wine.

2022

Dovecote

Thompson Vineyard "Redtail"

This blend of 47% Mourvèdre, 24% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah, and 6% Grenache hails from Thompson Vineyard, planted in the late 1980s on the slopes of Alisos Canyon in the Los Alamos Valley, where own-rooted vines grow in sandy loam soils under cooler conditions. I first discovered these wines while tasting through a bevy of producers for my recent report on Santa Barbara County, and they are true standouts. The bouquet alone is remarkably enticing—dark cherries, Luxardo cherry, a dusting of white pepper, and a meaty, golden-honeyed barbecue note. The medium-bodied palate is gorgeously layered, with a core of juicy, crunchy cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate fruit complemented by cocoa-powder tannins. Super fine in structure, it’s framed by grippy, mouthwatering, zesty acidity. At 13.6% alcohol, the wine is precise, energetic, and elegant. Only 114 cases were produced—just over four barrels—bottled unfiltered. A wine club–only release, so be smart and get on the list.

2022

Fess Parker Winery

Rodney's Vinyeard Syrah

Part of the winery’s single vineyard and small lot program, this estate site—planted in 1989 and named in memory of Fess Parker’s late son-in-law—is primarily dedicated to Rhône varieties. The Syrah here is particularly expressive, leaping from the glass with vivid aromas of black cherry, spiced charcuterie, violets, and cracked black pepper. On the palate, the wine is bold and dense, with elliptical, muscular tannins that support the aromatic profile as flavors, delivering remarkable concentration and grip. The finish is bone dry and tense, with lasting complexity and structure.

2022

Heath Vineyards

Absolution Red Blend

A heady mix of red and black fruit unfolds with rich cedarwood spice, building through cocoa powder tannins and crunchy red fruit accented by warm Indian spices on the mid-palate, carrying through to the full-bodied finish. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2022

Lost Draw Wines

Alta Loma Vineyard, Syrah

Fermented in oak foudre and aged for 20 months in 20% new, 40% second-use, and 40% neutral French oak barrels, this Syrah comes from Alta Loma Vineyard in the Texas High Plains. It’s a full-bodied, dense, and powerful expression with meaty richness, black truffle, and loamy earth notes wrapped in a molasses-like depth. The bold, expressive palate reveals juicy dark berry fruit layered with cocoa powder and lifted by zesty blood orange acidity, all framed by robust, finely structured tannins.

2022

Page Mill Winery

GPS

The GPS red blend gets its name from a double meaning—both a nod to place and a California spin on traditional Rhône blends (with Grenache and Syrah joined by Petite Sirah to form Page Mill’s flagship red). The youthful nose of this 2022 vintage brims with raspberry, cinnamon, violets, plums, and pepper, while the palate delivers flavors of black raspberry and black cherry. Powerful yet smooth, the wine is beautifully balanced by a vibrant, energetic lift that keeps it fresh and compelling. -JR

2022

Paradise Springs Winery

Donnachadh Vineyard Syrah

Just four barrels were produced of this Donnachadh Vineyard Syrah from Alban and Estrella clones, aged 10 months in French oak. The nose is deeply enticing—rich with spicy charcuterie, violets, and black cherry fruit. On the medium-bodied palate, firm, mineral-laced tannins and zesty saline acidity deliver mouthwatering tension. Layers of blackberry coulis, cherry pit, vanilla, and ironstone minerality unfurl across a long, tightly coiled finish. Still youthful and structured, this wine promises a decade or more of compelling evolution.

2022

Quady North

Mae's Vineyard Syrah

From Mae’s Vineyard—named for Margaux Mae, the owner’s daughter—this is a gorgeous Syrah, bursting with pure red cherry and blueberry fruit, interlaced with rose petal, violet, and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is all satin and silk, energized by tangy blood orange acidity and layered with hints of clove, mountain herbs, and wet stone minerality on a long, saline-acid finish. Simply spectacular.

2022

Rancho Sisquoc Winery

Estate Syrah

The winery is part of the historic Mexican land grant once owned by the James Flood family of San Francisco, located along the Sisquoc River in northern Santa Barbara County, east of Santa Maria. This Syrah is fresh and expressive, with bold notes of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, and dark chocolate, lifted by floral accents of violets and a touch of white pepper. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it delivers juicy, farmer’s market-style fruit with subtle baking spice nuances. Superfine tannins lend structure and poise, framing a long, balanced finish.

2022

Somar

Estate Grown Syrah

The 2022 Syrah from Somar is a vivid, red-fruited expression with blue fruit nuances woven throughout, framed by velvety tannins and supple fruit layered with baking spices, a hint of vanilla, and crushed rock minerality with espresso bean and violet nuances. All too easy to drink.

2022

Wine for the People

Alta Loma Vineyard, Syrah

This Syrah from the Alta Loma Vineyard in Terry County offers enticing candied red berry fruits, currant jelly, and pastille notes on the nose. Medium-bodied, it features crunchy acidity and ripe, soaring tannins that provide structure. The wine resolves with sweet baking spices and savory clove.

2023

Holus Bolus

Presqu'ile Vineyard Syrah

From Amy Christine MW and Peter Hunken comes this downright thrilling Syrah—an utterly complete wine that captures the soul of the variety. High-toned violet aromatics evoke the spirit of the Northern Rhône, while savory elements of white pepper, black truffle, and charcuterie speak to Syrah’s wilder side. On the palate, it’s driven by zesty, saline-acid tension—imagine a squeeze of blood orange over herb-laced sea salt—balanced by sinewy tannins that bring a muscular architecture to the wine. Agave nectar and dried sage add nuance to the long, spicy finish.Super bright and zesty, complex and layered.

2023

Marbeso

Robert Rae Ranch Syrah

Fermented with 100% whole clusters, this Estrella Clone Syrah from Robert Rae Ranch—just 9.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean—delivers all the hallmark aromatics you’d expect: violet, black cherry, and black olive. But what sets it apart is its electrifying structure. Medium-bodied, zippy, and perfumed, it showcases soaring tannins and lip-smacking acidity that gives the wine serious cut and tension. Bright, floral, and bracingly fresh, this Syrah begs to be served with a chill and paired with hearty fare—think rich pastas or wood-fired pizza.

2023

Slouch Hat Wines

Parade Rest Reserve GSM

This blend of 68% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 11% Mourvèdre delivers a pleasingly spicy, red-fruited wine that brims with the aromatic intensity of a just-baked blondie cookie. Ripe, juicy red fruit defines the silky palate expression, building to a lengthy, fruit- and spice-driven medium-bodied finish.

1 2

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2020

Producer

Name

This is a bright, red-fruited, tangy Syrah from Larner Vineyard—an expression that veers from the site’s typical profile but charms nonetheless. It offers up crunchy cherry and pomegranate fruit, layered with blood orange and a hint of tangerine zest. Featherweight tannins and subtle brown spice notes carry through the medium-length finish.

2020

Producer

Name

This fragrant estate Syrah is a bold, muscular wine with broad-shouldered tannins and a nice balance of sweet spices, violets, and loamy earth. Medium-bodied, it unfolds with leather and tobacco nuances, complemented by tart, dusty, mineral-rich red fruit flavors. The finish is long and entertainingly spicy.

2020

Producer

Name

From hillside vineyards, the Lot B-42 Syrah lifts out of the glass with blackberry fruit, dried rose petals, and white pepper, all enhanced by tobacco and beautifully long, rounded tannins that support the supple fruit. Fine oak adds a baking spice frame around this wonderfully juicy, dark-fruited Syrah—an elegant wine with just the right touch of hedonism.

2020

Producer

Name

Here’s a full-bodied, succulent, and generous Syrah from Tatum Cellars and the Salt Lick Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country. This red presents lovely violets and red berry fruits, with subtle blue fruit undertones, slate, and a touch of salty minerality. Balanced by a long, juicy finish, that resolves its richness of palate fruit.

2020

Producer

Name

This wine showcases all the hallmarks of its two expressive grape varieties, with red berry fruit and violets on the nose. On the palate, it softens into a light- to medium-bodied expression, lacking some mid-palate depth and finishing a bit short. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy in the dark-toned, juicy fruit, soft tannins, and gentle acidity. Serve well chilled alongside hearty fare for best results.

2020

Producer

Name

It’s hard not to love a wine like Wente’s upper-tier Syrah. The nose unfolds in waves—black pepper, black raspberry, fig, smoke, and game—all seamlessly layered. On the palate, this full-bodied red delivers generous richness, with flavors of dried blueberry, ripe plum, and wild raspberry. Yet amid all the meaty depth and dark fruit, a surprising streak of minerality provides lift and balance, adding refinement to the wine’s bold, expressive character. -JR

2021

Producer

Name

A lovely expression of Syrah, this wine offers elegant layers of black cherry, blackberry, and plum, lifted by rose petal and rhubarb aromatics. Cherry pit and crushed violet notes emerge on the medium-bodied palate, framed by velvety tannins laced with floral nuance. Dark salted chocolate rises on the juicy, lingering finish, adding depth and savor to this polished and expressive red.

2021

Producer

Name

From the Thompson Vineyard in the Alisos Canyon AVA comes this unfiltered 2021 Syrah—just 72 cases made. It’s a vivid, layered, and beautifully perfumed expression of the variety, laced with rose petal and violet pastille aromatics that leap from the glass. The palate offers deep mid-palate concentration, with ironstone minerality at its core, accented by spearmint, wild sage, and savory spice. Firm, taut tannins carry a mineral edge, perfectly balanced by saline-acid tension that extends through the long, focused finish.

2021

Producer

Name

This vineyard selection Syrah—crafted from the winery’s favorite lots—is a commanding expression of the grape, with the volume unapologetically turned up to 11. Full-bodied and deeply concentrated, it leads with inky blackberry and blueberry fruit wrapped in muscular tannins that grip with purpose and stay the course. There’s structure and tension, but also lift—thanks to a line of saline-laced acidity that brings freshness and clarity. Complex layers of black sage, candied violets, rose petal, and rose stem add floral dimension, while a dusting of white pepper completes the finish.

2021

Producer

Name

The LVVC (Livermore Valley Vintners Collective) is a collaboration of six Livermore winemakers who come together each year to craft a unique blend, with each contributing their own interpretation using wines from their cellars. In this expression, Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Syrah, Merlot, and Malbec to create a rich, harmonious red. The nose is peppery and floral, with savory blackcurrant aromas, while the palate delivers bold flavor with impressive balance—powerful, polished, and delicious. -JR

2021

Producer

Name

From Bien Nacido Vineyard’s iconic Z Block—known as “The Original Hillside”—this Syrah marries elegance with tremendous power. The mid-palate reveals concentrated, juicy dark cherry and plum fruit, layered with notes of cocoa powder, strawberry-rhubarb compote, and candied violets. Fine-grained tannins, carrying a refined bergamot tea quality, are supported by saline-driven acidity that provides lift and tension. The finish is long, spicy, and savory, underpinned by a deep mineral core.

2021

Producer

Name

The 2021 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah from winemaker Sashi Moorman is notably less savory than the Rim Rock Vineyard bottling, but no less dynamic. Bright and expressive, it bursts with crunchy red fruit, violet florals, and rose stem, all wrapped in taut, apple-skin tannins. A vivid streak of zesty, zippy acidity propels the wine forward, framing a long, mineral-driven finish laced with white pepper and crushed stone.

2021

Producer

Name

From the brilliant Sashi Moorman comes this riveting Syrah from Rim Rock Vineyard—a wine that soars aromatically with wild rose, rhubarb, crushed violets, dried thyme, and oven-roasted black olives. On the palate, it delivers a striking sense of liquid rock intensity and kinetic energy. Rich loamy earth and chalky mineral notes underscore its muscular frame, while the structure remains focused and finely detailed. This is an utterly dazzling Syrah.

2021

Producer

Name

This Syrah from Zotovich Vineyard was fermented with native yeasts and 100% whole clusters, followed by extended barrel aging—a method that amplifies its aromatic complexity and savory nuance. Intensely perfumed, the nose is a symphony of violets, rose petals, and ripe blueberry dusted with white pepper. Layers of white truffle, green olive, and charcuterie emerge as the wine opens in the glass. Full-bodied and deeply textured, the palate is energized by saline-acid tension, with crushed blackberry, wet slate, and dried thyme all unfolding through a long, savory finish. A flicker of flamed grapefruit peel adds a final aromatic flourish. This is a Syrah that commands attention—complex, captivating, and inviting.

2022

Producer

Name

94% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon from Sawmill Creek Vineyards. Red-fruited and delicately spiced, this light- to medium-bodied wine offers lifted aromatics of cinnamon, violets, and rose petals. On the palate, cherry and cherry pit notes are framed by firm apple skin tannins and a zesty, lingering finish. Aged for 9 months in neutral French and Hungarian oak with full malolactic fermentation.

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 Del Rio Estate Syrah is bold and dark-fruited, with violet aromas and cherry-laced intensity. It shows impressive concentration, supported by a bulwark of velvety tannins that frame all that juicy fruit. Expressive and powerful, yet elegant, it finishes with tremendous length as the violet notes turn candied and are dusted with fragrant Indian spices. A long and deeply satisfying Syrah.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2022

2022 Dovecote Thompson Vineyard “Mantle”

Still Wine

$$$

2022

2022 Dovecote Thompson Vineyard “Redtail”

Still Wine

$$$

2022

2022 Fess Parker Winery Rodney’s Vinyeard Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Heath Vineyards Absolution Red Blend

-

$$$

2022

2022 Lost Draw Wines Alta Loma Vineyard, Syrah

-

$$

2022

2022 Page Mill Winery GPS

Still Wine

$

2022

2022 Paradise Springs Winery Donnachadh Vineyard Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Quady North Mae’s Vineyard Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Rancho Sisquoc Winery Estate Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Somar Estate Grown Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Wine for the People Alta Loma Vineyard, Syrah

Still

$$

2023

2023 Holus Bolus Presqu’ile Vineyard Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Marbeso Robert Rae Ranch Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Slouch Hat Wines Parade Rest Reserve GSM

Still Wine

N/A

2024

2024 K Estate Rose of Syrah

-

$

NV

NV Brennan Vineyards Winemaker’s Choice / Red Blend

-

$$

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