2022 Dragonette Cellars Syrah Stolpman Vineyard Ballard Canyon Santa Barbara County 750 ml

Few wineries in California are as reliably outstanding as Dragonette.

They’ve been roundly praised by just about every critic who covers the state: Antonio Galloni of Vinous has called their wines “truly world class”—“and I don’t use those words lightly.” Jeb Dunnuck has said “the estate can do no wrong,” praising Dragonette as “unquestionably” one of his favorites in Santa Barbara County. 

Dragonette is focused on Pinot and Chardonnay, but they make some of the most exquisite Syrah in Santa Barbara County—which happens to be California’s finest environment for the noble variety. This bottling could not come from a more legendary source: It hails from Stolpman, the iconic Ballard Canyon grower/producer that is also a longtime favorite of Wine Access members. 

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.

For this bottling, the Dragonette team tapped Syrah grown on multiple blocks on the Stolpman site, some from the original 1996 planting, some from the higher density plantings (2006) on the steep hills at the north edge of the property. In most years, the vineyard is dry-farmed and gives low yields of intense, concentrated Syrah. 

The 2022 vintage was marked by cool weather and a late-season heat wave. After harvesting in early September, then into early October, the grapes were sorted, destemmed, and fermented on native yeasts. After native malolactic fermentation in barrel, the wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, 18% of it new. 

The result is a fantastic Syrah with an unbeatable pedigree. Opaque violet in the glass, it’s got an intoxicating nose of blackberry compote, blueberry, and black plum, layered with smoked meat, cracked white pepper, and violets. On the palate, it is both powerful and refined, with dense black fruit framed by firm yet polished tannins that carry a long and resonant finish.