Lafond Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills (California) Syrah/Grenache 2009

Ripe and soft, yet filled with fresh acidity that adds lift and energy to the wine, this is a remarkable example of what can be achieved in California with a couple of grapes to which neither the wine press (nor the wine trade) has been terribly kind in recent years. Although it is quite soft in texture, it has lots of acidity and very fine-grained tannins supporting it, so that it is really a wine for the table rather than the sipper it initially seems to be. What a food wine too, with a spicy edge of its own, and just a bit of sweetness that would be extremely flattering with spicy meat dishes. Platinum Award winner at the 2013 San Diego International Wine Competition.