SANTA BARBARA COUNTY | LOS ALAMOS VALLEY

The first Jaffurs Syrah was made from Thompson Vineyard in 1994, and we’re working in the same block to this day. The 2017 shows expressive aromatics of Bing cherry, baking spice and eucalyptus. Sweet tobacco, cinnamon and plum round out the flavor profile. While the tannins show grippy as a young wine, and will no doubt reward time in the bottle, Thompson can be enjoyed younger than the other vineyard designate Syrahs.

Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck  92 Points

The 2017 Syrah Thompson Vineyard comes from a great site in Santa Barbara County and was all destemmed. It gives up a ripe, sexy bouquet of red and blue fruits, ground pepper, and violets, with just a touch of gaminess and bacon fat emerging with time in the glass. Nicely textured, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, it's a ripe, powerful California Syrah to drink over the coming 7-8 years. Maturity 2020-2028. — Jeb Dunnuck

2016 Syrah, Thompson Vineyard

Wine Advocate  92 Points

Medium to deep ruby-purple in the glass, the 2016 Syrah Thompson Vineyard has a very pretty, broody nose of lilac and violet with sliced blueberries, plum, chocolate-covered cherries, turned earth, charcuterie and olive. Full-bodied, it packs in the nuanced black and blue fruits, with firm, chewy tannins and good freshness, finishing long. Yum! Drink date 2020-2032. — Erin Brooks

The 2016 Syrah Thompson Vineyard is dark, powerful and also quite inward, with big tannins that clamp down on the fruit. There is good depth and plenty of intensity but the 2016 is especially brooding in the early going. Time in the glass brings out an enticing array of red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender and spice, along with aromatic presence that grows over time. There is a lot to look forward to, but readers need to be patient. Drink 2021-2031. — Antonio Galloni

All destemmed and brought up in 40% new oak, the 2016 Syrah Thompson Vineyard comes from a great site in Santa Barbara County off Alisos Canyon road. Ripe cherries, black raspberries, mulberries, Asian spice, menthol, and peppery incense notes all emerge from the glass and it's medium to full-bodied, has a lush, rounded, sexy texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. Drink it any time over the coming decade. Maturity 2019-2029. — Jeb Dunnuck

2015 Syrah, Thompson Vineyard

Candied boysenberry, white pepper and thyme-crusted roast aromas show on the nose of this bottling from a seminal vineyard in the Los Alamos area. Tightly woven on the palate, the wine is very expressive and floral, with flavors of violet, elderflower and black-plum skins. — Matt Kettmann

The 2015 Syrah Thompson Vineyard (a great, well-known site in Santa Barbara County) spent 18 months in 28% new French oak. It offers more plums, blackberries, violets, and licorice aromas and flavors in a slightly high-toned, perfumed, exotic style, while more pepper and gamy notes emerge with time in the glass. It's a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, balanced Syrah that can be drunk today or cellared for a decade. Maturity 2018-2028. — Jeb Dunnuck

The 2015 Syrah Thompson Vineyard is powerful, dense and super expressive. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, tobacco and licorice all flesh out in the glass. Even with all of its power, the Thompson retains a distinctly mid-weight sense of structure. The 2015 was done with fully destemmed fruit and spent 18 months in barrel. Drink 2018-2026. — Antonio Galloni