2019 Rusack Estate Syrah Ballard Canyon Santa Barbara 750 ml

Santa Barbara County’s Ballard Canyon couldn’t be more tailor-made for Syrah, which ripens to perfection under a hot Southern California sun, buffeted by cool breezes off the Pacific. At night, the temperature plummets, stimulating the vibrant acidity that is essential to world-class examples of the grape. 

This is where Syrah stalwarts like Stolpman and Jonata are stationed. It’s where cult Syrah producers like Sine Qua Non have looked for first-class fruit—and it’s the source of the 2019 Rusack Estate Syrah, a stunner that shows why this is the sweet spot for California Syrah. 

Sitting northwest of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley, Ballard Canyon is far enough inland that hot, dry afternoons ensure the type of weight and concentration you’ll find in Napa reds. At the same time, the east-west valley acts as a wind tunnel for cool Pacific winds that blast the vines, imparting vibrancy and aromatic intensity.

The Rusack estate consists of 48 acres, about half of which are planted to grapes. The estate, which was first founded in 1974, was in rough shape when it caught the Rusacks’ attention—but they saw huge potential. Luckily, they had a little help from Santa Barbara legend Richard Longoria who, papered the property with Post-It notes full of helpful tips. 

Winemaker Steven Gerbac, a native of nearby Lompoc, has been with Rusack since ‘03, and has spent the last decade as Winemaker. For the 2019 Syrah, his instincts told him to dose it with a dash of Petite Sirah for structure, color, and complexity. After aging for 21 months in 95% French and 5% American oak, the result is a red that shows California’s Syrah hotbed at its very best.