Tasting Report: Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County is just less than a two-hour drive from my place in Los Angeles, so it really is my serious local wine area. I love the fact I can drive up early one morning and visit three or four wineries and be back at home in the late evening.
I tasted hundreds of wines from SB County in tastings at wineries as well as in my tasting room in Los Angeles. I must admit that I prefer wines from the smaller appellations such as Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, and Santa Ynez Valley. But the broader appellation of Santa Barbara can make beautiful, balanced wines because of the varying climates and soils of its subregions.
I am a big fan of the Pinot Noirs – especially those of long-established Au Bon Climat. Unfortunately, I only tasted one for this report. I love how it is delicate and refined but then develops in the glass and turns dense and full of character. Barrel 27 delivered some great values, as did Jaffurs. Barnwood is definitely a find for me, making excellent reds and whites.
The Syrahs in general from Santa Barbara offer a delicacy and freshness that is rare for California. They really are reminiscent of the North Rhone but with the Sunshine State’s clarity of fruit. Chardonnay and white Rhone grape varieties kick too. And I have high hopes for Italian grape types, especially from the winery of Mosby.
Anyway, check out the report and buy some excellent wines for the money. Most are about $30 to $40 a bottle. I still have 300 or more tasting notes from the Central Coast to be posted.
Also tasted, but not receiving marks of 90 points or more:
2009 Alma Rosa Pinot Gris Santa Barbara County
2009 Alma Rosa Pinot Blanc Santa Barbara County
2007 Ampelos Santa Barbara County Syrache
2010 Ampelos Viognier Santa Barbara County
2007 Barbieri Syrah Santa Barbara County Reeves Ranch Vineyard
2009 Barnwood Santa Barbara County Trio
2009 Cameron Hughes Pinot Grigio Santa Barbara County Lot 264
2008 Core Grenache Santa Barbara County
2009 Greg Norman Chardonnay Santa Barbara County
2009 Herman Story Santa Barbara County Tomboy
2009 La Fenetre Chardonnay Santa Barbara County Los Alamos Vineyard
2008 La Fenetre Syrah Santa Barbara County Alisos Vineyard
2009 Lido Bay Chardonnay Santa Barbara County Seven Seas
2010 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
2006 Mosby Sagrantino Santa Barbara County
2009 Phantom Rivers Grenache Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard
2010 Phantom Rivers Sauvignon Blanc Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard
2007 Steele Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
2008 Venteux Santa Barbara County Tache le Verre
2009 Barbieri Syrah Santa Barbara County Rodney's Vineyard
2010 Caliza Santa Barbara County Kissin' Cousins
2009 Castello di Amorosa Chardonnay Santa Barbara County Bien Nacido Vineyard Reserve
2007 Core Santa Barbara County Elevation Sensation Alta Mesa Vineyard
2008 Curtis Grenache Santa Barbara County
2008 Epiphany Petite Sirah Santa Barbara County
2010 Epiphany Grenache Blanc Santa Barbara County Camp Four Vineyard
2010 Four Vines Chardonnay Santa Barbara County Naked
2009 Greg Norman Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
2009 Lido Bay Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County Bitch Tongue
2007 Mosby Dolcetto Santa Barbara County
2008 Oreana Syrah Santa Barbara County
2009 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County Huntington
2010 Presquile Sauvignon Blanc Santa Barbara County
2009 Scott Cellars Santa Barbara County Cuvee Blanc
2009 Tessa Marie Vermentino Santa Barbara County
2009 Bianchi Santa Barbara County Signature Selection Los Alamos Vineyard
2007 Core Santa Barbara County Mister Moreved Alta Mesa Vineyard
2010 Curtis Santa Barbara County Heritage Rose
2008 Dragonette Cellars Syrah Santa Barbara County
2008 Epiphany Santa Barbara County Revelation
2007 Kuyam Santa Barbara County Thirteen Moons
2008 Laetitia Santa Barbara County Nadia Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard
2010 Mosby Traminer Santa Barbara County
2008 Scott Cellars Santa Barbara County Cuvee J
2009 Barbieri Syrah Santa Barbara County Colson Canyon Vineyard
2009 Blair Fox Cellars Syrah Santa Barbara County The Dare
2009 Stephen Ross Chardonnay Santa Barbara County
2008 Turchi Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Barbara County
