BALLARD CANYON AVA  |  SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Reviews

2019 Syrah, Larner Vineyard

Wine Enthusiast  95 points ~ In this seamless expression of Syrah, the nose weaves through dark fruit and purple flower aromas with nothing obtrusive. The palate is also cohesive, loaded with purple fruit and flower flavors dusted in pepper and dried herb. Great for now, the wine will also age gracefully. — Matt Kettmann

Jeb Dunnuck  94 points ~ I loved the 2019 Syrah Larner Vineyard, which has beautiful red and blue fruits as well as peppery and floral notes. Pure class on the palate, it's medium-bodied, has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and is going to age for 10-15 years in cold cellars. As with the Bien Nacido release, this saw a splash of Viognier (3%) and plenty of stems (57%), with the aging spanning 22 months in 28% new French oak. Maturity 2022-2037. — Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous  94 points ~ The 2019 Syrah Larner Vineyard is another standout in this range from Jaffurs. Inky red fruit, iron, white pepper, incense, tobacco, and dried flowers infuse the 2019 with tons of nuance and complexity. A healthy dollop of whole clusters (57%) and a touch of Viognier lift the red-fleshed Larner fruit nicely. There's a ton to look forward to, especially once the tannins soften. Drinking window 2024-2034. — Antonio Galloni

2018 Syrah, Larner Vineyard

Jeb Dunnuck  97+ points ~ The 2018 Syrah Larner Vineyard (co-fermented with 2% Viognier and fermented with 35% stems) sports a dense purple hue to go with a surprisingly rich, powerful style carrying lots of ripe red, blue, and black fruits as well as ground pepper, violets, game, and tapenade-like aromas and flavors. It shows more and more elegance with time in the glass and is full-bodied and wonderfully concentrated, with building tannins and lots of minerality on the finish. It's a killer wine, yet patience is required. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decades. Maturity 2023-2044. — Jeb Dunnuck

Wine Enthusiast  95 points ~ Lavender, pepper dust and crushed boysenberry aromas make for a spicy, fresh and savory nose on this single-vineyard expression. There's firm and compelling tension on the palate, which frames the fresh purple-fruit, licorice-flake and cracked pepper flavors. — Matt Kettmann

Vinous  91 points ~ The 2018 Syrah Larner Vineyard offers a terrific expression of this Ballard Canyon site. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco, cedar, licorice, dried herbs, and lifted floral notes give the 2018 quite a bit of complexity and overall dimension. Drinking window 2023-2033. — Antonio Galloni

2017 Syrah, Larner Vineyard

Jeb Dunnuck  92 points ~ The 2017 Syrah Larner Vineyard comes from a top site in Ballard Canyon and includes a splash of Viognier and 70% whole clusters. Aged 22 months in 25% new French oak, it has a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, crushed flowers, smoked game, and toasted spices. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced on the palate, it's another terrific, complex, layered wine in this lineup that will evolve for 10-12 years. Maturity 2020-2032. — Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous  94 points ~ The 2017 Syrah Larner Vineyard is a deeply intriguing, beautiful wine. Dark red fruit, mint, iron and incense form a compelling profile. The 2017 is a potent, intense wine, and yet it expresses that sense of energy that is such a signature of Larner and Ballard Canyon. Savory overtones and a spine of tannin take this gorgeous Syrah through to the finish. Impressive. Drinking window 2022-2032. — Antonio Galloni.