Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah

Nursed this bottle over four hours to see how it developed. Flavors are mostly black cherry and red plum fruit leather. Some black pepper character as well. Seed tannins are dominant. The overall impression is age it longer, or decant it for longer than four hours.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days and brought the business all three days. The 2021 Syrah SLH pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, soaring black and blue fruits (can smell from 4’ away!): blackberries and blueberries, lavender pastilles, black olive brine, lardons, a touch of black pepper and rounded out by some warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and flush with tart black and blue fruits. Fresh and full of character, this Sandlands Syrah will enjoy a long life. Really fresh, vibrant and enjoyable now but, to my palate, I think this will be even more enjoyable after 2026 and drink well through 2036. #gbr #punchedourtickettotampa

Quite good.

Ripe blue fruit, peach pit, licorice whip, violet, pepper and herbs. Cooling, fresh. Some nice flesh and depth here, find the balance really keen.

Decanted about an hour before serving; drank over two days with very little evolution. A babe. This was classic Syrah, reminiscent of the Northern Rhône with a bouquet of blue fruits, spiced meats, flowers and minerals. To say this is fresh simply isn’t enough. The purity is absolutely bonkers. I wish I had another bottle to lay down for a decade or more.

Its so young and so dense. Rich ripe fruit with bracing acidity and a present tannic structure. All in a package of only 12.6%. This needs years still, but it’s scarce that unfortunately this was my only one.

Chalky purple young tannic and a touch green. Wonderful to have phenolically ripe slh fruit and 12.6. Like cornas in Cali.

The fruit for this wine come from the Soberanes vineyard which was planted in 2006 but already highly regarded. The vineyard is cared for by the Pisoni and Fanscioni families. Brought to Tasting Group and presented double-blind. The wine pours a deep purple color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is slightly smokey with purple flowers, blue and black fruit, and wood. On the palate, blue fruits, olive brine and black pepper. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. The finish is long, dusty and earthy. Only one person called Central Coast Syrah with other guesses ranging from Northern Rhone to Cabernet Sauvignon to Malbec. While I found this to be really enjoyable, I think some time in the cellar will allow this to come together. Only 4 barrels produced.

This is probably the best bottle of his red I've had yet. No compelling ripeness but much better balance. Mostly, it didn't seem shrill with tart fruits.

In the words of Stanley Ipkiss.....smmmmmmmmokin'!