Jackson Estate Alisos Hills Syrah 2018
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
2017 Vintage
92+ points, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Sep 2019
Medium to deep ruby-purple, the 2017 Jackson Estate Alisos Hills Syrah gives up white pepper, pipe tobacco, candied blueberries, boysenberry, Castelvetrano olives, chargrilled meats and lilac perfume. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky, savory and intense with a firm frame of ripe, finely grained tannins and seamlessly woven freshness, finishing long and layered.
Winemaking
Aged 13 months in 60% French oak, 19% new.
Vineyards
The Alisos Hills are very similar in prole 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.
