BALLARD CANYON AVA  |  SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Reviews

2021 not yet reviewed.

2020 Syrah, Larner Vineyard

Jeb Dunnuck  98 points ~ Another release from Ballard Canyon, the 2020 Syrah Larner Vineyard was co-fermented with 1% Viognier and raised in French oak. It has incredible purity in its red, blue, and black fruits as well as its notes of flowers, violets, orange blossom, and ground pepper. These carry to a full-bodied Syrah with a seamless, layered mouthfeel, incredibly polished tannins, integrated acidity, and a great, great finish. This tour de force Syrah is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and is a wine I wish every reader could taste. It's the finest vintage of this release to date, surpassing the 2018, and will evolve for another 10-15 years. Maturity 2023-2038. — Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous  96 points  ~ The 2020 Syrah Larner Vineyard is one of the most perfumed wines in this range. Bright red-toned fruit, rose petal, mint, and blood orange are lifted by a touch of Viognier in the vineyard and a good dose of stems. All the elements are so well balanced in this sublime, elegant Syrah from Jaffurs. This is such an elegant wine. Drinking window 2023-2031. — Antonio Galloni

Wine Enthusiast  93 points ~ Direct and clean aromas of boysenberry and lilac are seamlessly integrated on the nose of this bottling from one of the prime properties in this small appellation. The palate is smoothly textured, floral and spicy, offering cracked pepper, lavender and blueberry sorbet flavors. — Matt Kettmann

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