Santa Barbara Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
After over a quarter century of making
Cabernet Sauvignon from our Lafond Vineyard, winemaker
Bruce McGuire is now sourcing this grape from vineyards on the warmer eastern side of the
Santa Ynez Valley. While we still mourn our departed Cabernet vines, we now look forward to learning from this grape planted in a more traditional climate than our very cool growing area and tended to by very professional wine growers.
The 2005 vintage was primarily grown in the Westerly Vineyard located in Happy Canyon on the warmer, eastern side of the Santa Ynez Valley. Note: Westerly Vineyard is named for the road it is on, not its location in the valley. This is only a five barrel lot that was harvested on the mildly late date of November 5th. After a year of bottle aging in the winery, the wine still wants for more age to fully “flesh out”.
At this young age, the nose shows hints of chocolate, wood spice and dark berrys. The dark berry character is opulant in the mouth and the tannins are soft and pleasing. Decanting and air time are highly recommend to help this Cabernet to show off its concentrated fruit character. A very good choice for beef or hearty pasta. Cellaring from 2011 through 2013 should be amply rewarded.
To Order:
Santa Barbara Winery Rosé of Syrah
The 2007 vintage of our
Rosé of Syrah marks the fifth consecutive vintage winemaker
Bruce McGuire has made of this dry wine. A very nice milestone indeed because
Santa Barbara Winery has been making rosé wines since the 1960’s utilizing grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir.
These wines were made in various years as we plumbed the public’s taste for rosé as a wine catagory and for particular styles that pleased not only our palate but enough folks to make this a commercially viable production. When Bruce first identified a section of Hilltop Ranch Vineyard as being particularly well suited to making rosé, we were becoming aware of a re-energized intrest in these wines as wine and food journalists seemed to be devoting much more time to the appreciation of rosé wines and their versatility in the world of food pairings.
To make a complete and mouth filling wine from Syrah is not an easy task. When Bruce harvests this aforementioned block of Syrah, the fruit is hand sorted and destemmed. The juice and skins are then given a “cold soak” overnight followed by a light pressing the next day before a cool fermentation in stainless steel.
This process preserves the electric color and the bright fruit flavors and aromas nicely balanced by firm acidity courtesy of the cold climate Sta. Rita Hills. A terrific wine to enjoy with all but the heartiest of foods, a simple lunch of cheese, cured meats, olives and bread is a favorite. Enjoy through the winter of 2009.
To order:
After over a quarter century of making Cabernet Sauvignon from our Lafond Vineyard, winemaker Bruce McGuire is now sourcing this grape from vineyards on the warmer eastern side of the Santa Ynez Valley. While we still mourn our departed Cabernet vines, we now look forward to learning from this grape planted in a more traditional climate than our very cool growing area and tended to by very professional wine growers.
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