Ballard canyon makes some BRUISER Syrahs, and this is no exception. Inpenetrable staining black red, gorgeous coffee and salted caramel pouring out of the nose–I poured a taste and the phone rang and I had a 10-minute conversation and it filled the room with fresh fruit. I kept asking myself, Is that the wine I just poured over there that I’m smelling???

Lush and ripe on the palate, going down easier than a girl from Culver City. GOBS of decadently ripe blackberry and Charleston Chew fruit, a bite of acid and extrememy manageable tannins. This is a beautiful wine–I mean: it’s not going to woo any low-alcohol natural wine fans, but everybody else who loves California wine would be stupid not to find some of this.

2017 BOLT TO WINES Syrah Ballard Canyon Santa Ynez Valley 15.0

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