2019 The Pursuit | John Sebastiano Vineyard

75 cases produced

 

On the eastern edge of Santa Rita Hills lies one of the most intrepid vineyards we have ever sourced from. Densely planted and windy from cooling marine influences, yields are limited, producing some of the most intense fruit in our line-up. Close to 15 minutes after entering the vineyard gate, winding our way up dirt roads, when we still haven't reached our syrah block, we think, "what an adventure!"

 

John Sebastiano Syrah is like crushed silk across the palate with all the varietal characteristics of cool-climate Syrah and then some! There is an exceptional concentration of cassis blended with pepper and bacon fat. With a hint of game and earthy herbs, this Syrah has multilayered complexity with a beautiful acid lift at the finish.

 

Manual cluster and berry sorting. 100% destemmed. Cold pre-fermentation maceration. Fermented in stainless steel. Cap managed with punch down, pumpover and pneumatage. Lees stirring in barrel. Aged 20 months in 67% new French oak. 

 

VARIETAL: 100% Syrah I Clone 383 
VINEYARD: John Sebastiano Vineyard I Block 18A 
APPELLATION: Santa Rita Hills 
COUNTY: Santa Barbara 
TERROIR: Diatomaceous earth & sandy loam 
HARVEST: Hand harvested in October 2019

 

Ratings

95 pts, Wine Enthusiast

94 pts, Jeb Dunnuck | Blackberries, iron, white pepper, and some gamey nuances all emerge from the 2019 The Pursuit John Sebastiano Vineyard, a pure, medium-bodied, concentrated, straight-up impressive Syrah from the Sta. Rita Hills that will drink nicely for a decade. This has plenty of cool climate-like aromatics while bringing good depth and fruit as well as structure on the palate.