BALLARD CANYON AVA  |  SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

A densely planted vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA, Kimsey gives us a complex wine with concentrated fruit and grippy phenolics. Western facing slopes expose the vines to cool breezes off the Pacific, allowing for acid retention and slow flavor development. Aromatics show raspberry, mint, and bacon fat, with fig jam, plum, and chocolate on the palate. Finishes with peppery spice and youthful tannins. Drink early for a youthfully rustic wine or hold up to a decade or more.

Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck  93+ points ~ All destemmed and aged in 29% new French oak, the 2019 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard offers more meaty blue fruits, leather, and ground pepper, with some Hermitage-like graphite and scorched earth nuances. It's ripe, medium-bodied, and concentrated, with ripe tannins and good acidity. It needs a few years, but it’s a beautiful wine. Maturity after 2024. — Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous  93 points ~ The 2019 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is packed with dark cherry/plum fruit, cedar, tobacco, incense, and dried herbs. All the fruit is destemmed, and yet the Kimsey has tons of savory/earthy intensity running through it. This powerhouse Syrah will need a few years to be at its best, but it is so promising. Drinking window 2024-2034. — Antonio Galloni

Wine Enthusiast  93 points ~ Elderberry, crumpled violets, and light asphalt aromas show on the nose of this bottling. There's a likable toast component to the palate, where flavors of lavender, black pepper, and more elderberry align. — Matt Kettman

2018 Syrah, Kimsey Vineyard

Jeb Dunnuck  92 Points ~ From a terrific site at the base of Ballard Canyon, the 2018 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard sports a dense purple hue as well as young, unevolved notes of bright black and blue fruits, ground pepper, violets, and hints of sappy green herbs. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, and structured. It needs another 2-3 years of bottle age to come together, but it’s unquestionably an outstanding bottle of Syrah. Maturity after 2023. — Jeb Dunnuck

Wine Enthusiast  93 Points Cellar Selection ~ There's an intense umami-laden nose to this bottling, offering dried meat, light pepper, iodine and dark-blackberry aromas. The palate is very firm in structure, setting up blackberry jam, acai and cracked pepper flavors to last for a long time. Drink 2022–2038. — Matt Kettman

Vinous  93 Points ~ The 2018 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is a dense, potent wine. Inky blue/black fruit, licorice, spice, new leather, espresso infuse the palate with quite a bit of textural depth. This rich, unctuous Syrah has a lot to offer. Drinking window 2023-2033. — Antonio Galloni

2017 Syrah, Kimsey Vineyard

Jeb Dunnuck  93+ Points ~ From Ballard Canyon, the 2017 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is all destemmed Syrah aged 22 months in just 22% new French oak. Its ruby/purple hue is followed by a pretty, perfumed bouquet of sweet red and black raspberries, toasted spices, flowers, and peppery incense. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated, with a firm, focused style on the palate, it's beautifully balanced yet needs 2-3 years of bottle age. — Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous  93 Points ~ The 2017 Syrah Kimsey Vineyard is another wine that captures the essence of site. Black/purplish fruit, dark spice, licorice and new leather all bring out the brooding side of Syrah that is such a Kimsey signature. Time in the glass releases a range of more peppery, floral nuances that add brightness, but the Kimsey remains a Syrah of depth and sepia-toned character. It is wonderfully expressive now, but will be even better with a bit of time in bottle. Drinking window 2022-2032. — Antonio Galloni