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2008 Samsara Melville Vineyard Syrah

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Latest Sale Price

May 29, 2022 - $31

Estimate

RATINGS

96The Wine Advocate

...gorgeous amounts of black (and slightly blue) fruits, with tons of violets, olives and peppered meat, this beauty is full-bodied, impeccably balanced and silky, with a terrific mid-palate and fine, polished tannin providing plenty of focus and cut on the palate... Bravo!

93Jeb Dunnuck

Fresh and brambly...red berry, underbrush, tapenade, and floral personality...opens up beautifully in the glass and gets more and more interesting, showing a wilder, gamey quality...medium to full bodied with juicy, subtly sweet fruit, racy acidity, a silky, superb texture and grippy finish. Classy wine and very well done...

92Vinous / IWC

Brighter red fruits on the nose than the Ampelos, with complicating notes of Asian spices, potpourri and minerals. Racy and spicy on entry, then richer in the mid-palate, offering sweet raspberry and cherry flavors with notes of licorice and candied flowers. Finishes with impressive clarity, a strong echo of spices and persistent red fruit and floral character.

92Wine Enthusiast

A delicious wine, dry and lush and very rich. Hard to resist the exotic appeal of its tangerine, cherry, rose petal and sandalwood flavors, with a touch of smoky char from new oak. A drop of Malvasia Bianca adds a fresh bite of acidity and citrus peel.

REGION

United States, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills

Santa Rita Hills AVA in northern Santa Barbara County was granted appellation status in 2001. Located between the towns of Lompoc and Buellton, it has a total area of 30,720 acres with 2,700 vineyard acres. The area is considered a cool climate for vineyards, so vineyards are most often planted with the cool-weather grapes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The hills in the western part of this appellation are directly exposed to the Pacific Ocean, meaning that maritime winds and fog make the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills AVA particularly cool. The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard planted in 1971 was the first vineyard in the district and is still considered one of the best.

TYPE

Red Wine, Syrah (Shiraz)

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.