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: 2014 Paul Lato "Il Padrino - Bien Nacido Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Syrah

2014 Paul Lato "Il Padrino - Bien Nacido Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Syrah

SKU #1383819 97 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark Another sensational vintage for this cuvee, the 2014 Syrah Il Padrino Bien Nacido Vineyard is slightly deeper colored than the Larner Vineyard and has a more earthy, gamey, savory characteristics in its black currants, damp earth, olive tapenade and sappy flower aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, rich, beautifully concentrated and layered, with good acidity and fine tannin, it needs short term cellaring to come together (the Larner is much more upfront) and will drink beautifully through 2026. This estate is one of the true gems in the Central Coast and Paul Lato continues to eschew the ridiculous trend towards harvesting early and making lean, anemic wines. These latest releases shine for their purity, finesse and elegance, just as much as for their texture and beautiful California fruit. Don't miss them! (JD) Inner quote mark (8/2016)

94 points Vinous

Outer quote mark One of the real highlights in this range, the 2014 Syrah Il Padrino Bien Nacido Vineyard is racy, powerful and structured, all of which suggest it needs at least a few years in bottle to truly come around. Black pepper, lavender, spice, mint, pine and wild flowers are all fused together in this super-expressive, exquisite Syrah. Savory notes develop in the glass, adding aromatic lift. There is plenty to admire in this striking, beautifully crafted Syrah from Paul Lato. Once again, the Bien Nacido Syrah is a super distinctive wine built on precision and energy. (AG) Inner quote mark (9/2016)

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2014 Paul Lato "Il Padrino - Bien Nacido Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Syrah

Price: $89.99

Quantity:

RP: 97

VN: 94

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Additional Information:

Varietal:

Shiraz/Syrah

- One of France's noblest black grape varieties, Syrah is known for its intense and distinctive perfume reminiscent of briar fruit, tar, spice and black pepper and its firm structure. One of few black grape varietals frequently vinified on its own, the best examples of Syrah come from the Northern Rhône, particularly Hermitage, but also Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph. These wines are very astringent in their youth, though some Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph can be enjoyed young, relatively speaking. Given the requisite patience, though, these wines can reveal amazing complexity and secondary fruit characteristics like plum and blackcurrant as well as subtle hints of smoke and flowers. In the Southern Rhône, Syrah is used to add structure and complexity to wines dominated by Grenache and complemented by Mourvèdre, like the more immediately drinkable Côte du Rhônes, as well as the long-lived wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In recent years, plantings of Syrah have spread throughout the Languedoc-Roussillon where it is produced on its own or blended with other varietals. Outside of France, the most important Syrah growing country is easily Australia, where it is called Shiraz. Quality levels here depend greatly on yields and geography, and the wines range from bold, fruity and easy-drinking to intense and ageable, like the famed Penfolds Grange. Often bottled on its own, in Australia Syrah is also can be blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre, as in the Southern Rhône, and is increasingly combined with Cabernet Sauvignon. Syrah has also been steadily increasing in popularity in California, thanks to a group of advocates called the Rhône Rangers. Its most successful iterations come from the Central and Sonoma Coasts, where winemakers are pushing boundaries and creating some incredible wines. In recent years Syrah has also found a number of proponents in Washington State, which is definitely a region to watch for this variety.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Santa Maria/Santa Barbara

- Santa Maria and Santa Ynez make up the two AVAs of Santa Barbara County, an area known for its natural beauty and temperate climate. The best grape-growing areas, however, are located on the very coastal reaches of these two appellations, and are cooled by ever-present fog and ocean breezes (it is even cooler and foggier here than Carneros!). As expected, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thrive while the more inland zones lay claim to Bordeaux varietals and some Rhône blends.