A flawless year-round red from one of Santa Barbara’s true icons

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    94 pts WE
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2019 Zaca Mesa Winery Z Cuvee Estate Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley 750 ml

Limited Time Offer
Ships 01/19

Retail: $29

$1838% off 1-11 bottles
$1645% off 12+ bottles
Shipping included on orders $150+.
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  • Curated by unrivaled experts
  • Choose your delivery date
  • Temperature controlled shipping options
  • Get credited back if a wine fails to impress

A Smarter $18 Was Never Spent

We were shocked—shocked we tell you—when we looked back and realized that we had never in our history offered a Zaca Mesa wine.

How is that possible? Zaca Mesa is one of the true originals of Santa Barbara, dating back to 1972, when the late founder, John Cushman, purchased the property with some friends. It was just the third winery in Santa Barbara County, and it boasts some big-league alums. Ken Brown, the first winemaker, planted Syrah vines at Zaca Mesa’s (now named) Black Bear Block in 1978, and now they’re the oldest Syrah plantings on the Central Coast.

Zaca Mesa is known for its outstanding vineyards, which are nestled along Foxen Canyon Road against the San Rafael Mountains. The property’s 150+ planted acres are a portrait of what Santa Barbara does best: There’s a little bit of Sauvignon Blanc on a property dominated by Rhône varieties like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Viognier. 

The 2019 Cuvée Z is a Mourvèdre-heavy blend (Bandol or Beaucastel, anyone?) given gorgeous red fruit by 29% Grenache, rounded out with a little Syrah and Cinsault. The fruit came from some of ZM’s top sites, including the famed Mesa Block, which sits on a flat tabletop at 1,400 feet of elevation and is planted primarily to Syrah. The Cushman block, one of the winery’s first parcels, contributed Grenache, while Mariposa and Chapel contributed Cinsault, old-vine Mourvèdre, and more Grenache.

The wine took a 15-month rest in neutral oak barrels, and has enjoyed a long stretch in bottle. The result is one of the biggest slam-dunks we’ve ever seen from the Golden State. A plush, elegant Rhône-style blend, this is drinking beautifully now: The 94-point score and Editors’ Choice honors were bestowed on this wine just a few months ago. 

A perfect year-round wine, this has the depth and bottle-age for cold winter nights by the fire, plus robust fruit that makes it perfect to pop by the grill when the weather gets warm. Anyone who loves great California wine—not to mention a great bargain—will flip.