2020 Lindquist Family Central Coast Syrah
This wine is 75% Syrah, 11% Mourvedre, 7% Grenache, 5% Tempranillo and 2% Graciano, all from grapes grown in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. The Syrah comes primarily from the Sawyer Lindquist and Reeves Vineyards in the Edna Valley, Bien Nacido and Rancho Sisquoc Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley and the Ibarra-Young Vineyard in the Los Olivos District.
2020 was a warmer than normal vintage, yielding wines that are more forward, juicy and supple than usual. Very high on the delicious now scale!
The grapes for this wine were harvested between September 26th and October 14th, about 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. All of the lots were fermented separately, with the Syrah lots utilizing an average of about 10% whole clusters. The wine was aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, 5% new oak, the rest neutral barrels.
The majority of the lots were blended in July 2021, with the final blending done in November. It was bottled in early December 2021.
This is the 39th consecutive Central Coast Syrah that I’ve made (1982 was the first!), and it certainly is one of the best. Syrah has found a home here in the cooler climate zones of the South Central Coast. This wine shows classic black pepper and spice, with fresh, balanced acidity and clean moderate tannins. It is bottled under Stelvin for easy access and immediate enjoyment!
Cheers, Bob Lindquist
February 2022
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