Santa Barbara County – Page 4

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Vintage

Wine

Color

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2022

Verdad Wines

Two Wolves Cabernet Sauvignon

From the organically farmed Two Wolves Vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers expressive aromas of cassis, tobacco, and cedarwood. On the medium-bodied palate, savory notes of black olive and liquorice emerge, framed by crisp, finely structured tannins. Juicy blackberry and cherry fruit underscore the finish, adding lift and freshness.

Red

2022

Vignerons

Chardonnay

This Chardonnay opens with bold aromas of Meyer lemon and sweet, toasty oak that mellow beautifully on the palate. Layers of lemon oil, apricot, ripe yellow apple, and pear create a rich fruit salad character, all framed by zesty acid tension. The finish evokes the indulgent pleasure of a decaadent, powdered sugar-dusted lemon bar.

White

2022

Vignerons

Pinot Noir

This is a silky, easy-drinking Pinot Noir brimming with bright red fruit and lifted spice. Velvety in texture, it glides across the palate with notes of espresso bean, clove, and a subtle hint of coriander cream lingering through the finish.

Red

2023

Au Bon Climat

Bien Nacido White Blend Hildegard

Bold notes of yellow apple, quince, and apricot lead the charge in this expressive white, lifted by white flowers and honeysuckle aromatics. Medium-bodied, with crunchy apple-driven acidity and a core of crushed salty Marcona almonds, the palate delivers impressive length. Subtle layers of fresh ginger, lemon peel, and chalky minerality emerge on the finish, framed by just a whisper of toasty oak.

White

2023

Au Bon Climat

Los Alamos Vineyard Chardonnay

Totally captivating from the first sniff to the last sip, this Chardonnay opens with a burst of bright oyster shell minerality, layered with lemon zest and yellow apple that evolve into quince and ginger on the palate. Apple skin tannins lend texture and tension to this electric, acid-driven wine. Rich tangerine oil is beautifully balanced by Sta. Rita Hills’ signature lemon-lime brightness and sea spray salinity. A masterful wine—bracing yet rich, structured yet giving. Subtle hints of honeydew and honeycomb emerge on an almost everlasting finish. This should continue to develop wonderfully over the next decade, making it one to savor now or cellar with confidence.

White

2023

Brander Vineyard

Estate Sauvignon Blanc au Naturel

A zesty, zippy, and zingy Sauvignon Blanc bursting with green apple, pear, and sea grass character, accented by jasmine floral notes. A mouth-puckering squeeze of lemon-lime acidity keeps it light and lively, dancing across the palate.

White

2023

Cambria Estate Winery

Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bright-toned and red-fruited, this wine offers expressive cedarwood notes mingling with dried Mediterranean herbs, all building on the medium-bodied palate with fine-grained tannins. There’s good mid-palate density, but overall the wine remains light, bright, and juicy.

Red

2023

Cambria Estate Winery

Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay

From Katherine’s Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley—owned by Katherine Jackson—this is a bold, rich, and toasty Chardonnay bursting with yellow peach, pineapple, ripe apricot, and vanilla crème brûlée, all drizzled in a creamy caramel sauce. For all its decadence, the wine remains surprisingly bright on the palate, with a warming spice richness at the core and a lengthy, juicy, slightly salty finish. You could never go wrong pairing this with one of Julia Child’s classic roast chicken dishes.

White

2023

Crown Point

Estate White Wine

This is a bright, spicy, and aromatic bottling of Sauvignon Blanc, with complex and inviting notes of white flowers and crushed almonds. Crunchy acid tension and a chalky minerality carry through the palate into a lengthy finish.

White

2023

Demetria Estate

Estate White Rhone Blend Cuvée Papou

A blend of 39% Grenache Blanc, 33% Roussanne, and 28% Marsanne, this wine is explosively aromatic with soaring notes of honeysuckle, agave nectar, and a hint of parmesan rind. The medium- to full-bodied palate is silky and satiny, layered with honeydew melon drizzled in wildflower honey. Chamomile and zesty citrus extend the finish.

White

2023

Dragonette

Bentrock Vineyard Pinot Noir

For a compelling case study in site expression, taste this Bentrock Vineyard Pinot Noir alongside Dragonette’s Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir. You’ll immediately feel like a hopeful Master of Wine or Master Sommelier—the wines are structurally distinct yet flavorfully aligned. These are Dragonette’s top Pinots of the vintage, both bursting with red cherry fruit and exquisitely defined brown baking spices—think the finest Indian spice blends, perfectly dialed-in medium-roast espresso, and a curl of dried blood orange peel hanging from the rim of a Manhattan. Add in smoky incense and crushed slatestone minerality, and the aromatics alone are worth the study. On the palate, however, the wines diverge. Bentrock is gracious, giving, supple, and seductive. Radian is darker-toned, brooding, reserved—full of secrets. Bentrock tells you everything you ever wanted to know. Radian is coy, plays hard to get, and knows it’s the best-dressed Pinot in the room. It’s coiled, like a lifelong jogger planning to live forever. Bentrock, on the other hand, is Jim Belushi at the start of his SNL career—youthful, charming, and full of potential—and will finish somewhere between John Mulaney’s honesty and the sharp-witted Tina Fey’s antics.

Red

2023

Dragonette

Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

This 2023 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir from Dragonette is a power-packed, juicy, and supple red, bursting with alluring aromatics of brown spices—think coriander, cumin, star anise, and a hint of curry—layered with dried rose petal, incense, and ground espresso bean. On the medium-bodied palate, tart, juicy red cherry and raspberry fruit are supported by salty, toasty, smoky minerality that carries through a long, lingering finish. It’s so appealing, you’ll be hard-pressed to put the glass down.

Red

2023

Dragonette

Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir

For a textbook lesson in terroir-driven contrast, pour Dragonette’s Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir side by side with their Bentrock bottling. You’ll find yourself stepping into the shoes of a Master of Wine candidate or an aspiring Master Sommelier—the structural differences are unmistakable, even as the core flavors remain strikingly aligned. These are Dragonette’s flagship Pinots from the vintage, each bursting with crystalline red cherry fruit and meticulously defined brown spice—like top-shelf Indian spices, finely ground espresso beans, a dried blood orange peel garnishing a Manhattan, and a wisp of smoky incense over slatestone minerality. But it’s the palate where their personalities split. Bentrock is open-hearted, plush, and inviting. Radian is moodier, more reserved—brimming with hidden depth. Bentrock chats freely, telling you its whole story in the first sip. Radian keeps you guessing, its elegance cool and tightly wound, dressed to impress and in no rush to reveal its full self. Radian is a long-distance runner, lean and disciplined, with stamina for days. Bentrock is Jim Belushi entering his SNL era—charismatic, a little wild, and on the cusp of greatness.

Red

2023

Dragonette

Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir

Only 300 cases of Dragonette’s 2023 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir were produced—and what a wine it is. Crunchy cranberry and cherry fruit meld with ground espresso and a burst of dark Pacific Ocean sea salt. The beautifully sculpted tannins bring a sense of polish and ease, offering a smooth, approachable expression. Yet underneath, there’s serious structure built for aging. But let’s be honest—you’re probably going to drink it all between now and next weekend.

Red

2023

Dragonette

Sauvignon Blanc Grassini Family Vineyard

Dragonette continues to produce some of California’s most compelling Sauvignon Blancs and this Grassini Family Vineyard, situated inland enough so that a north-south mountain range blocks the Pacific coastal breezes, preventing them from cooling the canyons where this grows and as such the wine is generous in its creamy orchard fruit character, stunning lemon-lime oil purity and unbeleiveable mid-palate depth, like diving into the depths of a salty, briny, ocean, coming up with a handful of oysters. It has that kind of sea-like minerality with lemon blossom and lime zest and porached pear and apple fruit with subtle apple skin tannins. It’s a helluva Sauvingn Blanc. Meaty and laser focused.

White

2023

Dragonette

Sauvignon Blanc Grimm's Bluff Vineyard

Bracing and intense, this wine opens with a flash of saffron oil that’s quickly washed clean by a remarkable lime-scented rainstorm—cooling the old slate sidewalks of your neighborhood, enlivening the palate with scents and flavors of a wet pear or apple orchard, and settling in for the day on the mid-palate, carrying a cloud-like density—weighty yet airy—an enigma in and of itself. That acid tension is no illusion. It’s crystalline, bright, and perfectly balanced by a chalk-like minerality. It’s almost too complex to wrap your head around—so don’t. Just drink it. And by god, pair it with oysters or calamari.

White

2023

Dragonette

Sauvignon Blanc Vogelzang Vineyard

I’ve biked past this vineyard countless times, and to this day I marvel at the complexity of the wine that emerges from these vines. Surrounded by neighboring vineyards, Vegelzang’s vines are planted on undulating slopes, surrounded by a patchwork of trees, shrubs, and rock formations, and the site exudes a quiet energy—and all of it seems to pour into the glass. The 2023 vintage is something special: pure apple and apricot notes lead the way, joined by crunchy pear and bright sea grass—the kind that grows wild on oceanfront sand dunes. A deeply penetrating salinity evokes salted candied lemon peel, nuanced by lime blossom and crushed Marcona almonds. This is Sauvignon Blanc Paradiso. And whether or not you think you love Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll love this wine. You can’t help it.

White

2023

Dusty Nabor

Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay

Sourced from the famed Bentrock Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA—perched right next to Radian on the literal edge of the AVA boundary—this Chardonnay from Dusty Nabor is almost comical in name alone, because the wine itself is anything but. Bentrock is, in fact, the dusty neighbor to Radian, where powdery white diatomaceous soils are relentlessly blasted by Pacific winds. The result? A Chardonnay so salty and lemon-charged you’d be forgiven for thinking it hailed from Chablis—or even a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. But no matter where your mind places it, this wine is unmistakably Sta. Rita Hills. Its lemon-lime and white flower intensity only deepens on a razor-sharp, acid-driven palate, finishing with a wet slate minerality so stark and pulsating, it’s like staring into the depths of the Milky Way.

White

2023

Epiphany Cellars

Rodney's Grenache Blanc

A fragrant and juicy Grenache Blanc that radiates charm and refreshment. Tangy lime citrus acidity frames layers of white florals and ripe orchard fruit, creating a supple yet energetic palate. So lemon-lime bright, it practically insists on being paired with a dozen oysters—briny, cold, and freshly shucked.

White

2023

Fess Parker Winery

Ashley's Pinot Noir

A single-vineyard release, Ashley is named for Fess Parker’s daughter and sourced from a hillside site just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, where sandy, low-vigor soils yield fruit of exceptional purity and concentration. This Pinot Noir opens with rich black cherry aromas infused with clove, incense, and espresso bean. On the palate, ripe, sweet, and fleshy cherry fruit brings supple weight and satiny density to the mid-palate. Powdery tannins build gracefully into a medium- to full-bodied finish, where a panoply of brown spices, wild herbs, and pressed flowers adds depth and dimension.

Red

2023

Firestone Vineyard

Estate Merlot

Everything you’ve come to expect in a well-made Merlot: plush, dark plum fruit layered with warm baking spices and fragrant cedarwood, with a deep, almost mahogany-like richness. Full-bodied and juicy on the palate, it’s underpinned by unusually firm, crisp tannins—adding unexpected structure and personality. The wine’s depth is matched by a lifted finish scented with violets and dried herbs

Red

2023

FOXEN

Ernesto Wickenden Chenin Blanc Old Vines

From Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, this old‑vine Chenin Blanc offers an intriguing nose of fragrant, freshly cut green herbs and tangy lime zest. On the light- to medium-bodied palate, white peach and apricot notes emerge, coaxed forward by crushed Marcona almonds, crunchy sea salt, and a firm mid-palate minerality—think crushed chalk. The finish deepens into richer layers of lemon and tangerine oil.

White

2023

Future Perfect Wine

Grassini Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc SAUVI B “Breakfast Wine”

From Grassini Family Vineyards, the ‘SAUVI B’ Sauvignon Blanc playfully bills itself as “Breakfast Wine”—not because it tastes like a breakfast sandwich (it doesn’t), but because its brisk 12.8% alcohol and lip-smacking acidity could rival your morning espresso. While not actually recommended for sipping at sunrise, it’s a perfect companion for oysters, crisp salads, and yes, even a side of fries at lunch. Zesty and lemon-bright, it layers in crushed almond nuances, white peach, and delicate white flowers, all carried through a long, refreshing finish.

White

2023

Future Perfect Wine

Portico Hills Vineyard Grenache

From the Portico Hills Vineyard in Los Alamos, this vibrant Pinot Noir from Sunny Doench Stricker is both pretty and purposeful. Bright red berry fruit mingles with warm baking spices, while the palate is vivid and refreshingly acid-driven. A saline-scented tension runs through the core, lending focus and energy. Fine, apple-skin tannins build toward a dry, mineral-laced finish. This is unquestionably a wine to enjoy over a meal.

Red

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.

Red

2023

JONATA

El Alma de JONATA

This wine is intensely expressive, with notes of new leather, white pepper, black cherry, and espresso bean. On the palate, crushed cocoa nib tannins frame a full-bodied richness, while espresso bean oil lingers through the long, layered finish. Nuances of black sage and black sea salt add complexity and depth to a finish that goes on and on.

Red

2023

JONATA

El Desafio de JONATA

This is a gorgeous expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Ballard Canyon but distinctly Jonata in its elegance, structure, and complexity, layered with savory tobacco leaf, sage powder, a touch of white pepper, and cassis—alongside the fresh, wild currant character of New England. On the palate, the wine is extraordinary, with firm, sinewy, chocolatey tannins that are muscular and broad-shouldered. These resolve into dark berry-driven tones, with more cassis and currant fruit layered over a deep, saline mineral tension. Expressive notes of dried rose petals unfurl through a finish that is long, long, long.

Red

2023

JONATA

Fenix

This is an incredibly dramatic wine, with pristine ripeness and beautifully delineated fruit—perfect plums, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. On the palate, these flavors unfold with gorgeous, plump, and supple tannins that carry a cocoa powder freshness and a streak of blood orange acidity. Crushed black sage adds lift and complexity. There’s a refreshing, focused quality throughout, like a beam of acid tension that frames and defines the entire wine.

Red

2023

JONATA

Flor

This is the bright Flower of Ballard Canyon, with expressive notes of honeycomb, white flowers, crushed almonds, sea salt, and sea grass, all framed by bracing, chalky minerality and scintillating acid tension. The mid-palate shows exceptional weight and density, and the finish is everlasting with lingering citrus oil and zest.

White

2023

JONATA

La Sangre de JONATA

This is the first release of this wine made entirely from own-rooted Syrah grown in pure beach sand. The complexity here is almost beyond comprehension—but you don’t need to understand it. You just need to drink it. The nose is bright and effusive, with black cherry and blackberry fruit, violet, honeysuckle, and jasmine. Bold, glorious tannins build across the full-bodied palate, delivering incredible density. It’s long, layered, and deeply expressive.

Red

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2022

Producer

Name

A classic, vivid, and multilayered expression of Pinot Noir from the legendary Bien Nacido Estate and its equally iconic vineyard. Gorgeous red berry fruit mingles with brown baking spice, unfolding across a lush, satiny palate with velvety tannins. Notes of espresso bean, blood orange, cocoa powder, and smoked paprika add depth and intrigue. Round, rich, and inviting, the wine is framed by mouthwatering, crunchy acidity that brings energy and lift to the long finish.

White

2022

Producer

Name

Alluring aromatics of ripe Bing cherry, coriander, and cumin mingle with elegant cedarwood accents. These notes carry onto the medium-bodied palate, layered with fragrant baking spice, coffee bean, and lovely fine-grained tannins that evoke the texture and perfume of Bergamot tea. The finish is long, spicy, and mouthwatering, driven by excellent tension and vibrant energy.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Regeneratively farmed and composed of fruit from both Carhartt Canyon and Carhartt Mesa vineyards, this Mourvèdre was blended and aged for 18 months in oak, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Wow—what an approachable, easy-drinking Mourvèdre, almost Pinot-like in its finesse and elegance. It leads with sweet and savory notes of ripe cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate, layered with espresso bean, dried strawberry, cherry coulis, and a hint of vanilla bean. Juicy, spicy, and mouthwatering on the palate, with satiny tannins and saline-acid tension, it finishes long and succulent, touched by sweet paprika.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Regeneratively farmed, aged for 18 months in oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, this is a generous and deeply appealing Petite Sirah. It opens with saturated notes of black cherry, plum, and blackberry, lifted by floral hints of violet and rose petal. Supple tannins bring a fine-grained texture, coating the palate with cocoa powder and resolving into a finish marked by ripe blue fruit, mineral tension, and spicy, mouthwatering acidity.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

This Cabernet Franc comes from two vineyards—Rossi Vineyard and Camp Four Vineyard—and includes 20% whole-cluster fermentation. Once fermentation was complete, the wine was pressed and aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. It’s a meaty, herbaceous, full-throttle Cabernet Franc with chunky tannins and chalky minerality. The palate has real grit. I’m convinced this would be the perfect pairing for the burger at Charter Oak in St. Helena—a smash burger with two patties, jalapeño relish, and white American cheese. That’s exactly where you want to go with this wine.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

This wine sits comfortably in the stylistic pocket of the 2021 vintage but leans more fruit-forward on the palate, with supple, juicy fruit and expressive, robust tannins. Notes of cherry cola shine through, reflecting the warmth of the vintage, balanced by bright sage, spiced plum, and baking spices. The finish is long, and layered with dark cacao and plenty of structure.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The Estate is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented in large oak fermenters and some concrete, then pressed and aged for 20 months in 40% new French oak. The wine is medium- to full-bodied, with super ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit layered with integrated rose petal nuances and hints of rhubarb. All that perfumed character carries through to a lengthy finish. Crushed cacao nibs and saline-laced acidity add depth, while the finish is marked by impressive freshness and energy.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Fermentation is half native in concrete tanks, and the free-run juice is aged in one-third new French oak for up to 18 months. The wine is incredibly approachable, with beautifully ripe, juicy fruit that delivers pure pleasure. Elegant plum spice notes weave through, supported by plenty of fine-grained, supple tannins that carry the medium- to full-bodied weight. It doesn’t have the robust tannic structure of the 2021, but it offers the same dark, ripe fruit purity and signature elegance of the estate—along with excellent length. Just open and enjoy now or anytime over the next 10 years.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Though labeled simply as “Red Wine” on the back label, this is 95% Syrah with 5% Viognier, likely co-fermented in the tradition of the Northern Rhône. It’s also one of the most unabashedly savory reds you’ll find in the Santa Ynez Valley. Aromatics lean hard into black olive tapenade, black licorice, and dried cherry. The palate is firmly structured, with burly, drying tannins that shape the medium-bodied finish. A brooding and deeply earthy wine that will shine brightest alongside roasted meats or richly spiced fare.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

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.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

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.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

This Estate Grenache comes from Thompson Vineyard, planted in the late 1980s and situated on the slopes of Alisos Canyon in the Los Alamos Valley, where own-rooted vines grow in sandy loam soils under cooler conditions. According to the winery, this bottling was “sourced entirely from ‘Michael’s Block,’ a sélection massale of old wild vines situated on the eastern half of our estate vineyard in shaley loam soils with slightly cooler and less direct sun exposure.” What I can add is that it’s a profoundly layered wine, with beautifully fine, almost sandy tannins—like pure fine-grained beach sand—supporting a supple, medium- to full-bodied red that’s elegantly perfumed with sweet rose petals, cocoa powder, vanilla, and cedar. Ruby-red grapefruit notes emerge on the palate, adding an unbeatable freshness factor. The wine is absolutely riveting, with a deep core of dark berry fruit, traces of blue fruit compote, violets, lifted ground espresso, and exotic peach and apricot nuances, all bolstered by generous slate-stone minerality. I discovered these wines while tasting through a bevy of producers for my recent report on Santa Barbara County, and they are true standouts. But here’s the bad news: only 49 cases were produced—just under two barrels—and it’s available exclusively to wine club members. So do the right thing: get in with the Dovecote club. Grenache lovers do not want to miss this.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

All you really need to know about this Rita’s Crown Chardonnay is that one glass will never be enough. You’ll swirl, sniff, sip—and suddenly want to chase its magic for days. It holds the energy of a late afternoon thunderstorm, with a moody edge and an electrically zesty palate, like a raincloud squeezing out lemon juice, shifting to lemon oil, then unleashing waves of fresh and candied ginger. It splashes across the palate like rain on slick slate—slightly smoky from the first drops hitting warm stone. Irresistible, complex, and utterly compelling. You just can’t get enough of this structured, dynamic, and gorgeous Chardonnay. It lives on the far side of “delicious”—a word we haven’t invented yet, but one that would mean delicious multiplied by infinity.

White

2022

Producer

Name

Year to year, this wine goes in and out of the most vivid floral intensity imagineable and in 2022 it is back in spades, boasting darkly seductive voilets and rose petals notes, dark blood orange acidity, darker cranberry and black cherry notes, alluring incense and a deep woodsy underbrush character, liek the backside of a fallen bark on the forest floor, detail-driven into the tannins, which are supple and salty, giving length, tension, and energy to this entry level Syrah from Dragonette. What a killer wine.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Leaping from the glass are heady aromas of sweet and savory spice—cinnamon, clove, incense, and allspice—intertwined with black cherry fruit dusted in cinnamon and a zing of grapefruit zest. On the palate, sinewy tannins and electric, crunchy acidity create a tingling sensation at the front, while that rich spice character continues to flood the olfactory senses. It’s wildly aromatic and deeply spiced—a wine that practically demands two bottles: one for the glass, and one for cooking. It will enhance rich sauces and braised meats with wonderful spice character.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The El Ray Vineyard sits on the western edge of Santa Barbara County, perched on a hillside overlooking the historic La Purisima Mission lands. From this site comes a beautifully balanced Pinot Noir that delivers a quintessential expression of the region. Bright cherry fruit is infused with warm brown baking spices, supported by fine-grained yet robust tannins. Juicy, crunchy acidity with a saline edge underscores the wine’s structure, giving it lift, precision, and a mouthwatering finish.