Barden Syrah Donnachadh Vineyard 2017 Sta. Rita Hills

95 Points Wine Enthusiast:"Though rather light in the glass for Syrah, this elegant bottling is not short on anything, and will only improve with time. Aromas of smoky tar, pepper-crusted lamb shank and delicate purple flowers lead into a palate packed with rosemary, thyme, dried sage and incense flavors. Brisk black raspberry and lilac slowly arise toward the midpalate. Drink now through 2039."

The steep hills of Donnachadh Vineyard are an impressive sight.  The number of plantings of Syrah in Sta. Rita Hills are tiny.  The results are grand.   Aromas of deep dark wild berries with intense fruit make this a savage powerful black pepper, juicy and concentrated wine. 

The last vintage of the BARDEN Syrah was 2013. This is one of the best cold climate Syrah’s being produced in Santa Barbara County from fruit sourced from Sta. Rita Hills’ Donnachadh vineyard. Steep hillside vineyards create an extremely bold wine. This low alcohol wine has intense fruit and a black pepper spiciness on the finish. Fermentation was 50% whole cluster.