Sunstone Syrah 2005

Santa Barbara County
California
14.1% alcohol

The Big Wooden Guy is disappointed. Very disappointed.

The bottlenotes:

Perched on terraces overlooking the Santa Ynez river, Sunstone Vineyards and Winery is home to 77 acres of Bordeaux and Rhone style varietals. Grown using sustainable farming practices respecting our environment and neighbors, Sunstone grapes produce wines of superior quality and flavor. Our wines represent distinct varietal character unique to our terroir and Satna Barbara County wine country.

The nose- Australia meets France. Big jammy fruit alongside earth and herbs. The fruit is blueberry pie filling with a little blackberry added to the mix. Oak is prevalent, showing up as vanilla with a molasses shadow. A bit of mushrooms and earth, along with a tin hint of sage save it from being just a fruit bomb.

Fruit is blacker on the palate, leaning far more toward blackberry and plum than the blueberies on the nose. Blackberries, plum, black pepper start out the attack. Some very tart wild cherries, wild strawberries and then vanilla add to the blend, the black fruit fading as the red increases. Vanilla and oak, some showing up as brown sugar, make a sweet, too sweet, finish. Tannins are smooth and soft.

Night Two

This absolutely died from one night to the next. It was not particularly oxidized, it just, well, sucked. I took one sip, then another, and quit. It was, frankly, too bad to suffer through a second night tasting.

I did not love it. Can you tell?