About Bien Nacido Vineyard - Located in the Santa Maria Valley AVA this is one of SB's best known vineyards. Since 1996 our Syrah block is located half way up a steep hillside where the soil is thin with great minerality and drainage.
The 2005 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah is again our darkest wine. It is extracted, rich and fruitful on the finish, with density and power. Its warm, seductive aromatics make it our best Bien Nacido Syrah yet. It has a classic BNV high-tone, candy-spice-cherry-sweet tar aroma and a thick, dark-fruit taste. Extra barrel aging intensifies the flavors and aromas. It was made using four new French, two new American, plus older French and American barrels. (380 cases produced)
• This wine is 100% Syrah fruit from the high saddle of Z(b) Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria. This is an extremely cool vineyard site and is exposed to constant marine air flow.
• Bien Nacido Vineyard harvested on October 18th at 25.4 brix, 3.25 pH, 3.5 TPA.
• The fruit was stemmed but not crushed. Intact, whole berries were placed in small bin boxes for fermentation.
• Fermented on the skins in small bin boxes for 14 days after a 48 hour cold soak.
• Wild, RC212, D254, and William-Selyem yeast used.
• This wine represents sixteen choice barrels selected out of a total lot of eighteen.
• Made using four new French, two new American, plus older French and American barrels. .
• Wine was racked in mid July, and again before bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in January
• Unfined and unfiltered.
• 16 month barrel age.
• Bottled in April 2007.
Food Pairing: This is a highly flavored wine which works well with similarly flavorful food. Try dark sauces, even some with dark fruit. Makes a great reduction sauce. Try spiced or BBQ pork, lamb, or beef. Slow roasted short-ribs in syrah reduction cannot be beat. Seared, spiced Ahi is a favorite, as is smoked salmon.