Tasting Notes: 

This 2018 Syrah is from their San Saba Estate vineyards. Despite the rich, dark color this Syrah is surprisingly elegant and graceful. Expect aromas of blackberries, graphite, leather and peppercorns. The palate is rich, concentrated and structure thanks to juicy acidity and well integrated tannins. 

Wrath Wines: 

Wrath Wines estate produces small lots of site-driven wines from their 72 acre estate vineyard and other respected properties within the nearby Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The estate San Saba Vineyard was first planted in 1975 and when owners, Michael Thomas and his mother Barbara Lemmon, purchased the property from Michael’s stepfather in 2007, they set out to dramatically change the estate’s wine and viticulture program to produce terroir-inspired wines. 

The name for the winery was inspired by both the ‘wrath’ of nature and the ‘wrath’ of the creative process that winemakers must have when crafting wine.

Sabrine Rodems is winemaker for Wrath Wines, Scratch Wines, and the woman behind  Wines of Danger. She has been taking the Wrath less is more philosophy to heart by applying it to every aspect of her winemaking. They source from some of the best vineyards in Santa Lucia Highlands, including their own.

Syrah: 

The Rhône Valley in France is undoubtedly Syrah’s home. In fact, in the Northern Rhône, it is the only permitted red wine grape. Syrah is a big, lush, rustic grape that has been described by the famous British scholar George Saintsbury as the “manliest grape”. Syrah is a lush, complex wine that has the fruit, body, and alcohol of a Cabernet Sauvignon with much softer tannins. It has flavors of leather, earth, wild blackberries, smoke, roasted meats, and pepper.

Santa Lucia Highlands: 

The Santa Lucia Highlands perches on the east-facing terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range to the south of breezy Monterey Bay on California's central coast.

In 1991, the federal government approved the Santa Lucia Highlands as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA). Today, the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA includes approximately 6,400 acres of vinifera grapevines, predominantly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

It’s no accident that more than half the acres planted to grapes in the Santa Lucia Highlands are Pinot Noir vines. Some of the best and most praised Pinot Noirs from California are made from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Of roughly 6,400 acres planted, about 3,500 are devoted to producing world-class Pinot Noir.

Food & Wine Pairing:

New world examples of Syrah pair nicely with both meat and fowl, pork especially is a great match with some of these more fruit-forward wines. Overall, Syrah is a big alcohol wine so you need food to match that, nothing tame or timid.Syrah also pairs well with dishes that have a coarse texture as well as anything with pungent flavors like gamey meats or strong cheese.

Red meats, game and goat based dishes work well with the medium to high tannin profile. Vegetarian options include grilled mushrooms, eggplant lasagne and lentil-based burgers. It is definitely a go to wine for any BBQ. 

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