Kessler-Haak Vineyards and Wines, Sta. Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County, California) Syrah 2015

 I often wonder why there aren’t more Syrah bottlings from Santa Rita Hills.  The cool climate and soil types suit the variety well, producing wines like this one, a wine that maintains attractive pepper character that plays well off of black and blue fruit aromas and flavors.  A food friend — think something along the lines of lamb or pit roasted pig.