Elkins Wines - 'Yellow Foxtrot Vineyard' - Syrah - Santa Barbara County, CA - 2024

@elkinswines

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Vineyard: Yellow Foxtrot Vineyard County: Santa Barbara Soil Complex: Marina Sand Varietal(s): 100% Syrah Harvest Date: October 23rd, 2024 Stem Inclusion: 75% Whole Cluster Maturation: Neutral Oak Barrels Residual Sugar: 0.6g/L pH: 3.81 Titratable Acidity: 5.9g/L Alcohol by Volume: 14.3% Bottling Date: January 24th, 2024 Fruit was harvest early in the morning of September 16th, 2022. The grapes were partially destemmed and transferred into a stainless steel tank for fermentation. Fermentation began spontaneously and the wine received a combination of punchdowns and pumpovers for 14 days, followed by another 5 days of maceration. The wine was gently pressed in a manual basket press and aged for 16 months in a combination of 60 gallon and 80 gallon neutral oak barrels. The wine was bottled unfiltered and without the addition of any fining additives.

Notes on the Producer

The Winemaking ”First and foremost, we are making wines that we like to drink. Not only because of how they taste, but also because of how they were made and what they represent. Made using sustainably grown grapes, our wines are made in a way that showcases vintage, varietal, and location. To achieve this, we implement a low-input style of winemaking that lets the fruit do the talking. The wines are then bottled unfiltered, with minimal sulfur, and without the use of fining or stabilizing additives.” -Matt Matt graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture & Enology in 2015. Following harvest internships in South Australia, South Africa, and Napa, he joined the winemaking team at a new, high-tech winery in Napa, California. It did not take long, however, for Matt to get the urge to start making wines that more aligned with his sustainability and low-input ideologies. In 2021, with much encouragement and help from friends and family, he started Elkins Wines. Kevin’s passion for wine stems from wine culture. With the belief that food and wine bring people together, the possibility of being a part of a small, family business producing small-lot, sustainably made wine immediately appealed to him. Kevin assists with all aspects of winemaking during harvest and bottling, and also manages Elkins Wines sales and distribution in Washington state.

Grapes & Style

Syrah

Syrah is a northern Rhône grape with a serious range, capable of making dark, structured, savory reds without needing the sheer weight of Cabernet. Its home is places like Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas, and Saint-Joseph, but it has traveled widely, especially to Australia, California, South Africa, and parts of the Mediterranean.

In the vineyard, Syrah tends to like warmth, but not excessive heat. In cooler sites it can be peppery, floral, and lifted; in warmer places it becomes darker, richer, and more generous. It has relatively small berries and can produce wines with deep color, good tannin, and a strong savory profile.

In the glass, Syrah often shows black fruit, violet, black pepper, olive, smoke, meat, and spice. The best examples have density without feeling clumsy — dark-fruited and structured, but still aromatic and full of detail. We tend to love Syrah when it keeps that savory edge and doesn’t lose its freshness.