Red Wines

The Syrah grapes came from a very steep hillside block of Clone 1 planted in shallow calcareous soils.  Located in the Ballard Canyon of Santa Barbara County with a cool marine influence and long, cool growing season these grapes possessed excellent purity and depth while the vineyard produced a meager 2.3 tons per acre crop with excellent concentration. 

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“A deep purple-hued Syrah loaded with notions of ripe black fruits, ground pepper, cumin, leather, and hints of iron. Medium-bodied on the palate, with ripe tannins and good overall balance, it reminds me of a solid Hermitage with its meaty, savory, almost bloody style…and will drink brilliantly for over a decade. It's another screamingly good Syrah from Blair that readers should snatch up." ∼  Jeb Dunnuck

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“Cool-climate notes of red and black fruits, white pepper, cedarwood, and iron all emerge from the 2019 Syrah Tierra Alta Vineyard, a gorgeous, multi-dimensional, savory, complex Syrah that does everything right. It might be one of the finest Syrahs I've tasted from Blair.” -  J e b   D u n n u c k

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"The 2019 Syrah Tierra Alta Vineyard is a wild wine that reflects the personality of the site. At once very ripe and vegetal, the 2019 suggests that finding the right time to harvest here is likely a pretty big challenge. Super-ripe red cherry fruit, plum, tobacco, cedar and dried flowers are front and center. The flavor profile is decidedly reminiscent of Zinfandel."  ∼  Antonio Galloni

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"The 2019 Syrah Zotovich Vineyard is laced with dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint, sweet tobacco, black pepper and scorched earth. The 30%

Our 50/50 blend comprised from our very best barrel of Syrah and very best barrel of Petite Sirah from our estate vineyard, Fox Family Vineyard.  With only one barrel of each varietal, we are only able to make 49 cases of this amazing wine for our members to enjoy.  Cheers!

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"The 2019 The Ambush Fox Family Vineyard is racy and flamboyant to the core. Dark cherry, plum, leather, licorice and sweet spice are front and center. Time in the glass really brings out the Grenache red-toned fruit in this Grenache/Syrah-based blend."  ∼ Antonio Galloni, Vinous

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"More ground pepper, leather, cured meats, and savory herbs notes define the 2018 Syrah The Dare, a 100% Syrah sourced from the finest barrels of Kimsey, Fox Family, Larner, Zotovich, Thompson, and Tierra Alta Vineyards. Medium-bodied, nicely textured, and concentrated, it has a complex, savory, layered, Hermitage-like style that's going to shine for a good 7-8 years."  ∼  Jeb Dunnuck

"This site has produced a perfumed, savory, complex red ...Violets, incense, herbs de Provence, and loads of pepper all flow to a medium to full-bodied, seamless wine that shines both for its complexity as well as richness and length.  This is a brilliant, elegant, classic high-quality California Syrah" - Jeb Dennuck of the 2016 vintage