Biodynamic Practices
97 Points & #20 Top 100 of 2025 Wine Enthusiast
This is a fascinatingly vibrant bottling, designed to last for decades but is intensely pleasing right now. Aromas of purple flowers, peppery and berry ride atop an underlying earthiness on the nose. The palate is peppery from the tip of the sip to the deep finish, with a buoyant acidity carrying through the crushed raspberry flavors. Drink now-2041.
93 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from X and Z blocks and includes some fruit from the very old vines planted in the 1970s. It has very pretty scents of wild berries, game meats, saddle leather and wildflowers, continuously opening as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate features understated, mineral-driven fruit, silky tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a long, latent finish. It deserves 3-5 years in bottle to unwind. 487 cases were made.
93 Points Vinous
The 2021 Syrah (Santa Maria) is a blend from the X and Z blocks at Bien Nacido. Bright and effusive, with lovely aromatic presence, the 2021 is positively stellar. Dark red/plum fruit, chalk, white pepper mint and pomegranate all open in this super-expressive Syrah. Clean mineral notes extend the effortless, nuanced finish
93 Points Decanter
A lighter style Syrah reflective of the region's cooling coastal influence over-delivers with a rich bouquet of Intensely aromatic black and blue fruited notes, sweet tobacco leaves and oak tree sap. On the palate, a continuation of sweet tobacco and a hint of flinty minerality open the senses for sun-dried white sage and chilled wild blueberry compote flavours from this cool climate Syrah. Bold, yet rather romantic in nature with soft tannins and lean acidity that carry through to the finish of lingering berry flavour on the tongue.
