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2017 Syrah, Kimsey Vineyard

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY | BALLARD CANYON AVA
A densely planted vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA, Kimsey gives us concentrated fruit with supple, integrated tannins. Cherry and mocha aromatics burst from the glass, with underling notes of blackberry and cedar box. This is a full-bodied, structured Syrah; vibrant and fresh on the palate, with juicy plum and sweet tobacco. Finishes long, with prominent tannins that will soften with time in the bottle.
Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ Points
From Ballard Canyon, the 2017 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is all destemmed Syrah aged 22 months in just 22% new French oak. Its ruby/purple hue is followed by a pretty, perfumed bouquet of sweet red and black raspberries, toasted spices, flowers, and peppery incense. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated, with a firm, focused style on the palate, it's beautifully balanced yet needs 2-3 years of bottle age. — Jeb Dunnuck
Vinous 93 Points
The 2017 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is another wine that captures the essence of site. Black/purplish fruit, dark spice, licorice and new leather all bring out the brooding side of Syrah that is such a Kimsey signature. Time in the glass releases a range of more peppery, floral nuances that add brightness, but the Kimsey remains a Syrah of depth and sepia-toned character. It is wonderfully expressive now, but will be even better with a bit of time in bottle. Drinking window 2022-2032. — Antonio Galloni
2016 Syrah, Kimsey Vineyard
The 2016 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is deep ruby-purple with scents of black plum, macerated blueberries, olive, cocoa, violets and lush black fruits with meaty hints slowly revealing themselves. Full-bodied, it floods the mouth with luscious dark fruits and tons of savory accents—first olive, then chocolate, then cedar—with very firm, slightly drying tannins, just enough freshness and a very long finish. Give this more time in bottle. Drink date 2020-2035. — Erin Brooks
The 2016 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is a powerful, muscular wine. There is certainly no shortage of intensity in the blackberry jam, spice, leather and menthol flavors. Inky and rich, with equally imposing tannins, the 2016 needs time to soften, although I expect it will always be a massive, forbidding wine. The 2016 was done with entirely destemmed fruit. Drink 2021-2031. — Antonio Galloni
Another Ballard Canyon release is the 2016 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard, which is all Syrah that was destemmed and brought up in close to 40% new French oak. Blue fruits, cedary spice, white pepper, and underbrush notes all emerge from this perfumed, juicy Syrah. Medium to full-bodied, with good acidity and ripe tannins, it shines for its complexity as well as its depth and length. This classic cool-climate Syrah will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade. Maturity 2021-2031. — Jeb Dunnuck
2015 Syrah, Kimsey Vineyard
Vinous 93 Points
The 2015 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is a bold, authoritative wine, as Syrahs from this site always are. Dense and meaty through the middle, with terrific richness, the Kimsey has a lot to offer. There is plenty of density to the dark cherry and plum fruit, but it's the wine's distinct structural profile and the personality of this Ballard Canyon site that speak with the greatest eloquence. Drink 2018-2025. — Antonio Galloni
From a site in Ballard Canyon, the 2015 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard spent 22 months in 20% new French oak, which is the smallest percentage of the single vineyard Syrahs. Its deep ruby color is followed by a pretty, perfumed, medium to full-bodied Syrah that has textbook notes of blackberries, black olives, bacon fat, and bouquet garni. It offers balance, tons of character, and a great finish. I like it today, but it has 7-8 years or more of prime drinking ahead of it. Maturity 2018-2026. — Jeb Dunnuck
Snappy black-raspberry and green-peppercorn aromas meet with black-plum paste and purple flowers on the nose of this bottling. It's a lively wine, fresh, floral and medium bodied on the palate, where thyme, rosemary and fennel flavors decorate the dark fruit. — Matt Kettmann