2023 Lindquist Family Christy & Wise "Sonnie's" Syrah
This wine is 100% Syrah from the Christy & Wise vineyard near the city of Lompoc in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. This is the first Syrah that I’ve made from this extremely cool climate site. Th vines are head trained little bush vines, growing in well drained sandy soil. The “Sonnie’s” designation, named after my mother, is reserved for my favorite Syrah that comes from a vineyard other than Bien Nacido.
2023 was a cooler than normal vintage, which allows for longer hang time and more complex flavor development. These grapes were harvested on November 2nd at 24.2° brix, with 3.33 pH and 6.8 acidity…remarkable balance for grapes harvested this late!
The grapes were de-stemmed into a small open top fermenter, with twice daily manual punch downs. The wine was aged in Francois Freres Burgundy barrels, 40% new oak, for 20 months. Bottled without fining or filtration. This exotic Syrah shows aromas of hard spices, black pepper and dried berries. The flavors are classic cool climate Syrah, with moderate tannins and mouth-watering freshness. While quite enjoyable now, this wine will benefit from 10-15 years in the cellar.
Cheers, Bob Lindquist – May 2026
