Jeb Dunnuck’s 2020 Santa Barbara County Tasting
Posted: Aug 4, 2020
Jeb Dunnuck has been tasting and reviewing our wines since 2013, when he was a wine writer for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. In 2017, he left the Wine Advocate to begin his own wine review website, JebDunnuck.com. We look forward to sharing our new releases with him every summer when he visits Santa Barbara County. Below are his reviews from his tasting on August 4, 2020: The 2018s from Santa Barbara County.
2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: 92 points
“There are two Bordeaux blends from this estate. Starting with the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, it’s all Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 18 months in barrel. Its deep purple hue is followed by a classic Cabernet nose of blue fruits, sappy green herbs, cedar pencil, bay leaf, and sage brush. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and nicely structured, it’s already drinking nicely yet should keep for a solid 15 years or more. Maturity: 2020 – 2036.”
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2018 Estate Grenache: 92 points
“All from the estate in the Los Olivos District, the 2018 Grenache Estate offers a beautiful bouquet of spiced red fruits, candied violets, spring flowers, and bouquet garni. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Grenache with a great texture, ripe tannins, and a layered, balanced style that’s going to evolve beautifully for 7 – 8 years. Maturity: 2020 – 2028.”
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2018 Purisima Mountain Vineyard Clone #1 Syrah: 94 points
“The 2018 Syrah Clone 1 Purisima Mountain Vineyard comes all from the estate vineyard and is all Clone 1 Syrah that was destemmed and aged 18 months. Plenty of blackberry fruits, spice, ground pepper, and incense notes give way a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant Syrah with plenty of classic California fruit yet a cooler-climate, complex, elegant style. It’s a terrific Syrah to enjoy over the coming decade. Maturity: 2020 – 2030.”
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2017 Purisima Mountain Vineyard Block Six Syrah: 93+ points
“The 2017 Purisima Mountain Vineyard Block Six saw a slightly longer élevage and spent 22 months in barrel prior to bottling. It shows a touch more oak as well as smoky dark fruit, peppery herb, violet, and iron aromas and flavors. This ripe, full-bodied Syrah has ripe tannins, a big, mouthfilling texture, and a great finish. Give bottles a year or two and it should keep for a decade. Maturity: 2021 – 2032.”
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2017 Purisima Red Wine: 93 points
“There are just 55 cases of the 2017 Purisima Red Wine (100% Syrah), which was all destemmed and spent 26 months in barrel. It’s another big, rich effort offering lots of spiced red and blackberry fruits, toasted bread, cedary herbs, and peppery aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness, ripe yet present tannins, and a great finish.”
Retail: $125
Email info@beckmenvineyards.com to inquire.
2017 TLB Red Wine: 92 points
“A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah that saw a full 28 months in barrel, the 2017 TLB Red Wine sports a dense purple hue as well as ripe, sexy notes of blackcurrants, sagebrush, bay leaf, and sappy flowers. This ripe, full-bodied effort has solid purity of fruit, polished tannins, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade or more. Maturity: 2020 – 2030.”
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