2021 Love & Terroir "Melville Vineyard" Syrah

The Syrah I’d open when I want something wild, savory, and unmistakably coastal — pepper, earth, and ocean air.

2021 Melville Vineyard Syrah — Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County
Dry, medium-bodied Syrah with high-toned aromatics, savory complexity, and cool-climate structure.

Style
Medium body | Medium+ tannin | Dry
Savory, coastal, pepper-driven

Tasting Profile
• Dark plum, blackberry, subtle blue fruit
• Charred tobacco, herbs, white pepper, spice
• Kelp, seaweed, saline minerality
• Structured, persistent palate with peppercorn-driven finish

Vineyard
Crafted from a small, sandy parcel on Melville’s Sta. Rita Hills estate, planted to five Syrah clones (Estrella, Beaucastel 99, 1, 383, 470).
Nutrient-deficient sandy soils drive aromatic lift and spice, while pockets of sandy loam add depth and structure.

Winemaking
80% whole cluster, 20% destemmed.
Fermented in small open-top fermenters with extended 35-day skin and stem contact to build structure and complexity.

Why It Matters
Sta. Rita Hills Syrah shows a distinctly coastal profile—this bottling leans into whole-cluster fermentation and site expression to deliver a wine that’s savory, structured, and intentionally “challenging” in the best way.

Enjoy With
• Grilled lamb, duck, and game
• Mushroom and umami-driven dishes
• Herb-heavy or spice-forward preparations

93 Points — Wine Enthusiast
“This is a pretty challenging but ultimately fascinating cool-climate Syrah… funky aromas of charred tobacco, kelp and herb… seaweed alongside dark plum… persistent rainbow peppercorn spice.” — Matt Kettmann

Limited production. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.