Jackson Estate Alisos Hills Syrah 2020
The Alisos Hills vineyards are a wild place–where mule deer, wild boar and bobcats roam the riparian corridors. The wild character of this region shows up in the intense wines grown here and creates a depth of character that is unique to California. Our Alisos Hills Syrah is palate-filling and rich without being cloying or flabby; in perfect balance for a bold wine. Full bodied and inky purple, with a blue-violet, spicy bouquet that translates into lush blackberry and cola flavors.
Acclaim
2019 Vintage
91 points, Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast, Sept 2021
From the Barham Vineyard, this bottling begins with deep and dark aromas of black currant, blackberry and purple flowers on the nose. The palate is loaded with candied purple fruit and flowers, cut by a line of intranet acidity and rounded with a bit of smoke.
Winemaking
Aged 11 months in 100% French oak, 28% new.
Vineyards
The Alisos Hills are very similar in profile to the rugged landscape of the Rhône Valley with its gravelly, sandy-loam soils on rolling hills covered in scrubby brush.
Elevation: 700-1100 feet
Soil: Mix of clay and sandy loam with gravel on the upper Southeast facing slope at the Barham vineyard and the upper Northeast sandy corner of Neely Vineyard.
Climate: The cool coastal vineyards of Santa Barbara are peppered with warmer blocks that hold heat better than others. The Alisos Hills Syrah is a blend of those special blocks.
