One of my favorite vineyards for ultra-cool-climate wines–now incorporated into the new SLO Coast AVA after being relegated to mere *Central Coast* or *San Luis Obispo Co* for decades. Blithering weather, non-stop coastal beatings, and tiny yields. My first go-round with the Syrah from these people, though I’ve had the Derby version a few times.

Bright purple-pink-blue in the glass, nose crispy, dirty fruit with pie-cherry piquantness and deep woodsy earth aromas.

In the mouth, bright and sharp: a tingly fruit concentration feeling quite ripe and lacking the harsh vegetal many Sonoma Coast versions contain. Chalky and thin–I can’t imagine the ABV being over 13-oh–an acidic rush stimulating the dry berry into lip-smacking shrillness but never subtracting from the overall concentration. A bit one-dimensional and lacking Northern-Rhone earthy subtleties, it is shockingly fresh and vibrant while unabashed seriousness lurks. Needs some years to settle down.

2019 LAST LIGHT Syrah Derbyshire Vyd. San Luis Obispo Co. 12.4

www.lastlightwine.com/