SPEAR Estate Syrah 2021, Santa Barbara

Blueberry, floral and white pepper on the nose. Boysenberry, currant and elderberry on the palate. 

The grapes from Spear's cool climate estate vineyard include Clones 383, 470, and the Alban selection.  The vines are planted on the gentle slopes that are characteristic of the Sta Rita Hills area, on soils of clay and sandy clay loam.  The wine was100% whole cluster fermented, as were their previous vintages that earned scores of 94 from Wine Enthusiast as well as Vinous.

Pairings: look for dishes that pair with the wine's savory/peppery notes, like lamb grilled with some surprising spices like allspice, clove and mint as well as tagines and other North African dishes. Duck confit with cumin and blackberry sauce, tri-tip with black peppercorn crust, or puttanesca pasta.  Cheese pairings include aged cheeses with the salty "flavor crystals", pecorino, Grana Padano, and the blues like Gorgonzola. 

The Winery

First planted in 2013, this is a family-owned estate with 33 acres of grapes that are sustainably farmed, certified organic and herbicide-free.  Spear Estate is located in the heart of Sta Rita Hills, a favorite growing region for lovers of cool climate Syrah.

The winery's founder, Ofer Shepher, spent his youthful summers on a Kibbutz, where he acquired his foundational belief that soil health is the starting point for fine wine. His love of wine came during weekend camping trips in the Santa Ynez Valley and, by 2004, he'd enrolled in the winemaking program at UC Davis. It took him seven years of searching before he found the site that would become Spear Ranch, now home to cool-climate varietals of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.