2018 Site Wines Syrah Santa Barbara County 750 ml

The 2018 Site Wines Syrah Santa Barbara County is the essence of artisanal winemaking without compromise. It comes from a brilliant winemaker who has captivated some of the best restaurants in California—and it reminds us of a more restrained Sine Qua Non. 

Winemaker Jeremy Weintraub’s entire production is normally claimed by Michelin-starred destinations like The French Laundry, SingleThread, Lazy Bear, and tons more. But because of a friendship we've struck with him over the past few years, every bottle of this Syrah is bound for our members as a Wine Access exclusive. And for this kind of quality, craftsmanship, and exclusivity, there might be no better red wine buy in California. 

Jeremy only made 125 cases of this wine, so while we’ve got every available bottle, we don’t have much. Those who take it home will see why demand is so high for this Santa Barbara Syrah. It’s an opaque purple-black wine that opens with aromas of dark blackberries, black plums, and Bing cherries, all dusted in black pepper and chocolate. The mouthfeel is generous, adding tones of black olive, smoked herbs, and vanilla to the ample fruit. It’s dense and mouth-filling, with a rich and velvety profile that is long and lush on the finish.

The name of Jeremy’s project says it all: Site Wines are all about expressing their source, which is why he refuses to claim any one “style.” Instead, the former Seavey (Napa) and current Adelaida (Paso Robles) winemaker favors a roll-with-the-punches approach that can only be dictated by the vintage and the vineyard—and he doesn’t work with many.

His Santa Barbara Syrah comes from two of the most revered sites in the county: Bien Nacido, which sits in the cool sunshine of Santa Maria, and Larner, at the wind-whipped southern end of Ballard Canyon. With it, Jeremy has taken a stunning snapshot of two of the great Syrah terroirs in California.