This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Piedrasassi
PS Santa Barbara County Syrah 2018
The 2018 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) PS is juicy, bold and flat-out delicious. A burst of sweet blue/purplish fruit opens first, followed by a range of floral and savory notes that add complexity. A touch of whole cluster perfume comes through, with hints of lavender, sage, mint and black pepper that develop in the glass. Readers who want to explore the Piedrasassi range will find so much to like here. Best of all, the 2018 is a screaming value. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Liquid Farm
SBC Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2018
The 2018 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) is an absolutely gorgeous appellation-level wine. The purity of the flavors alone is just stunning. Sweet red cherry, mint and blood orange take on shades of translucence. Light on its feet and yet beautifully layered, the 2018 has so much going on. It is an elegant and alluring wine from the first taste. Vineyard sites are Radian, Spear, La Rinconada and Sanford & Benedict. Don’t miss it. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Cambria Estate Winery
Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay 2018
The 2018 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is a gentle, open-knit wine. Soft contours and the tropical accents typical of Santa Maria give the 2018 a very pretty sense of immediacy. Airy and gracious, with terrific precision, the Katherine's Chardonnay is classy through and through. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Tensley
Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2018
A wine of immense pedigree and stature, the 2018 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard captures the essence of Joey Tensley's style. Soaring aromatics, dense fruit and beams of tannin shape a Syrah of intense richness and savory depth. The Colson Canyon Syrah is a wine of tremendous dimension that gets better and better with time in the glass. Cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, iron and bright red fruit build into the palate-staining finish. All I can say is: Wow!! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
The Ojai Vineyard
Puerta Del Mar Chardonnay 2018
The 2018 Chardonnay Puerta Del Mar is bright and finely sculpted. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint, and a range of saline-infused overtones all grace the 2018. Weightless and yet full of flavor, the 2018 is positively stellar. It is yet another fabulous white in this range of new releases from Ojai and a terrific example of the far western edge of Santa Barbara County that is outside of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Santa Barbara County Syrah 2018
The 2018 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) is superb. Rich, deep and fleshy, this striking, absolutely delicious Syrah has so much to offer. Blueberry, violet, lavender, chocolate, spice, licorice and black pepper capture the essence of cool-climate Syrah. The 2018 is an irresistible appellation-level wine that punches well above its weight. What a knock-out! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Sandhi Wines
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018
The 2018 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is a glorious wine. A burst of sweet red/purplish fruit makes a strong opening statement that reverberates off layers of savory and floral intensity. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, the 2018 packs a serious punch. Readers who want to get a sense of the year would do well to start here. This striking appellation-level Pinot is one of the overachievers of the year. Then again, vineyard sites are Domaine de La Côte and Sanford & Benedict, which was not bottled separately, but used for wine. The 30% whole clusters are perfectly judged. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Next of Kyn
Cumulus Vineyard No. 10 Syrah Blend 2016
The 2016 Next of Kyn is a rich, heady wine. Implosive and deep, the 2016 comes across as a wine that is still finding its balance in bottle. Time in the glass brings out swaths of dark fruit, grilled herbs, espresso and licorice. Readers need to be patient with the 2016, as it is going through an awkward stage today. In 2016, the blend is 46% Syrah, 19% Grenache, 18.3% Petite Sirah, 15.3% Mourvèdre and 1.4% Petit Manseng. The wine saw 34 months in oak, with 75% new oak. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Crown Point
Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-throttle wine. Powerful and ample in the glass, the 2016 is loaded with blackberry jam, chocolate, new leather, spice and new French oak. This is a decidedly ripe, flamboyant style, especially within the context of Happy Canyon. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2018 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) is gorgeous. A rush of sweet floral and red berry notes makes a strong opening statement. Rose petal, red berry, blood orange and mint are all laced together in a Pinot of exquisite harmony and total finesse. I would give it another year or two in bottle to fully come together. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago