2011 Syrah - Verna's Vineyard, Santa Barbara County

92 points - Vinous 

"Bright ruby. Spicy aromas of cherry and blackcurrant, with a sexy floral quality and a hint of black pepper. Taut and lively on entry then deeper and more broad in the mid-palate, offering juicy, smoke-tinged dark fruit compote flavors and a touch of licorice. The impressively energetic, youthfully tannic finish shows good clarity and suave, floral-driven persistance.

Verna's Vineyard, now known as Shokrian Vineyard, is located just outside of the town of Los Alamos in Los Alamos Valley.  This site, with aproximately 52 acres planted to Pinot Noir and Syrah in 2011, possesses a very unique temperate climate in comparison to the surrounding valleys, and clay-loam soil that gives the grapes intensity, depth and minerality. The Syrahs from this vineyard are incredibly complex and age-worthy.