2012 Beckmen Vineyards Cuvee Le Bec Santa Ynez Valley 750 ml

Parker’s “World’s Finest” Under-$17 American Red

Beckmen Vineyards

Robert Parker called Steve Beckmen’s “Cuvee Le Bec” one of the “wine world’s finest bargains.” Wine Spectator pushed the envelope further, including Beckmen’s voluptuous Rhône blend on its list of the “100 Outstanding Values” of the year.

In 1996, Tom Beckmen (Steve’s dad) purchased a stunning 365-acre hillside property overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley. Early soil studies indicated an unusually rich concentration of limestone on the mountain, which when coupled with Ballard Canyon’s cool, maritime microclimate, argued for the planting of Rhône varieties. With elevations reaching above 1,250 feet, they devised a vineyard blueprint that called for a diverse clonal mix of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvédre. Over the next decade, Purisima Mountain was planted accordingly, an achievement that ranks among the most ambitious viticultural endeavors in the history of Santa Ynez.

Beginning in the mid-2000s, the kingpins of Ballard Canyon — Beckmen Vineyards, Stolpman Vineyards, and Jonata (Screaming Eagle’s sister winery) — have been turning out some of the most brilliant Syrahs in California, with many releases rivaling or surpassing the greats of the Northern Rhône. Still, bottles like Beckmen’s “Syrah Clone #1,” Stolpman’s “Hilltops,” and Jonata’s “La Sangre de Jonata” largely eluded the critical radar.

But as the economy picked up steam in 2014, and Santa Barbara’s three superstars each released mind-boggling 2012s, the rich and often famous of Los Angeles made a beeline for Ballard Canyon.

First came Hollywood: A star here or there, then the entire cast. Then it was the Googlers, making the haul all the way up from Venice Beach. Finally, when former and current Los Angeles Lakers brought their posses to tower over the bar at the understated Beckmen tasting room on Ontiveros Road, all bets were off.

“To be honest,” Steve told us, “we were working too hard in the vines and the cellar to see what was coming. But by the end of the year, our Direct-to-Consumer business was up 50%. We ran out of the high-end Syrahs. We’re down to the last cases of the 2012 Purisima Grenache (Parker’s 93-pointer puts most Châteauneuf-du-Papes to shame!). I love blending ‘Le Bec.’ I like giving people a bargain. But the grapes that go into ‘Le Bec’ are the same as those that go into the higher-priced wines. Economically, ‘Le Bec’ doesn’t add up.”

The 2012 Cuvee Le Bec is a $25 bottle masquerading behind a far more modest price tag. 43% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 15% Mourvédre, and 8% Counoise. Bright ruby to the rim. Mouthwatering floral aromas of dark red fruits, tobacco, and sweet spice, mineral and complex. Rich, juicy, and high-toned on the attack, silken in texture, filled with a plush mix of black raspberry preserves, tinged with violets and a dash of white pepper. Finishes, as always, with excellent persistence and limestone-infused vibrancy. Drink now for its sheer primary-fruit pleasure or lay down for 3-5 years.

100 cases. Only $16.50 today on WineAccess. No dawdling. This offer won’t be live for more than an hour or two. All orders placed today will ship next week — shipping included on 6 bottles or more.