2011 Lucia, Syrah “Garys’ Vineyard” Santa Lucia Highlands.
It is not so much a secret anymore how good the Syrah is from the Santa Lucia Highlands, and especially when crafted by Jeff Pisoni for his family’s Lucia label, but only a few years ago really people thought of Garys’ and Pisoni vineyards as Pinot Noir only, this though has not been the case, in fact I have thought on a few occasions it was the Syrah that produced the better wine from this region. That being said yes, the great Pisoni Pinot is still the most revered wine of the Santa Lucia Highlands, but the Syrah is not far off, like this Lucia Garys’ 2011 which while still a tad reduced and shutdown is showing wonderful complexity and is filled with interesting layers. The nose needs air to come around, though this should come around with a bit more bottle age and once open it reveals blueberry, bacon, truffle, roasted herbs, mint and hints of violets which lead to a full palate of boysenberry, briar edged currants, a meaty/game, cherry and plum sauce with touches of cedar, anise, dark coco, pepper spice, lavender and a faint whiff of vanilla and cinnamon sticks. This wine might merit a couple point jump up in a few more months, it looks to me as it is just coming out of a primal phase and I think will really come to life in more vivid detail and focus in the next year or so, I look forward to following it’s progress. Drink from 2014 to 2022, this is intriguing stuff from a talented winemaker and great terroir. A side note, I tasted this wine along side the Shafer Relentless and Tensley Colson Canyon Syrah wines and the Lucia more than held it’s own, and while the other two were delicious I would opt for the Lucia myself!
($45 Est.) 93+ Points, grapelive
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