By VIE
2017 Syrah White Hawk Vineyard Santa Barbara County

Vineyard
White Hawk Vineyard, Los Alamos Hills, Santa Barbara County. The White Hawk Vineyard is planted on ancient sand dunes on the south-facing slope of Cat Canyon, a side of the Los Alamos Valley in Santa Barbara County. It is 21 miles west of the Pacific, 2 miles north of Los Alamos, planted at 900 feet in elevation. This region is recognized as a top-producing wine region. Fog often embraces the small vineyard in the morning, before gentle afternoon breezes chase it away, allowing the sun's rays to slowly ripen the fruit.

Wine Details
Blend: 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier, co-fermented
Winemaking: Indigenous yeast fermentation, 15% whole cluster
Aging: Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% new
Alcohol: 14.70%
pH: 3.51
TA: 0.71
Release Date: Winter 2021

Tasting Notes
Our 2017 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah exhibits many of the unique characteristics of this classic Santa Barbara vineyard. At first glance, the deep, dark color with a slight blue hue exhibits the focus, concentration, and depth of this wine. In the glass, the nose is filled with white pepper spice, violets, blueberries, dried herbs, and a hint of aged leather. On the palate, this wine focuses on dark fruit and tannins at first, opening to expose underlying layers of dark blackberries and blueberries, accented by pepper, smoke, and a hint of bacon. This wine is focused but full-bodied on the palate, with dark fruit extending into a long finish supported by subtle, sweet tannins. Cellar this wine for 1-2 years and enjoy it for 10 more years.
[Information provided by Matador Vino]

Wine: Vie Winery 2017 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah (Santa Barbara County)
Score/Rating: 88
Review Date: 04/01/2021
Reviewed By: Matt Kettman
Tasting Notes: Black-plum skins, lavender and a hint of balsamic berries show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is tart and tangy with black plum, as complexity comes through with hints of thyme and black pepper.