February 12, 2021

RUSACK VINEYARDS “Ballard Canyon” Syrah 2016

(Santa Barbara County, CA) $36

Tasting this terrific syrah, I found myself wondering why I love wines that are woven through with spicy, salty, minerally notes. Is it because these flavors are like excitable electrons that whirl around on the orbit of one’s palate? Yes, there’s that. But I think it’s also because wines with spice/salt/minerals taste so good with food. No need to spice up that roast chicken; the wine did it for you. Of all red varieties, syrah can be depended on in this department. And this syrah from Rusack is delicious, complex, and beautifully structured. Just begging for a roast pork or a juicy cut of grilled meat. Family-owned Rusack Vineyards is in Ballard Canyon in the rolling “horse country” of Santa Barbara, north of Los Angeles. (14.2% abv)

91 points KM

Available at Rusack Vineyards

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