2015 Storm Edna Valley ‘Slide Hill Vineyard’ Syrah

Rooted in the hills of Santa Barbara County, Storm Wines meshes Old World influences with New World winemaking techniques in the heart of California. The Mediterranean climate, diverse soils, and exciting new opportunities in this budding Central Coast wine region have combined to drive Ernst’s passion for producing world-class wines that are fruit forward, refreshing, and reflective of the place from which they come.

After finishing his studies at Elsenburg Agricultural School in the Western Cape, Ernst Storm first came to Santa Barbara from South Africa in 2003. Although not very familiar with the area, he knew that he wanted to make classically-styled wines of focus and elegance. Today, Storm produces about 2,000 cases of small-production wines annually. Storm notes that if you can keep production small, you can treat every wine you make like it’s the only wine. This artisanal mentality and dedication to craft is one of the reasons we started Argaux in the first place, and it’s one of the reasons we’ve enjoyed working with Ernst for almost eight years now.

SYRAH
Of the noble grape varieties, Syrah may have the oldest geography and history. The vines origins are thought to date back to one of the world’s earliest wine-producing regions, the city of Shiraz in the Middle East. Now worshipped in the Rhône Valley in France, these dark, dense, and powerful wines can be just as distinct as Cabernet Sauvignon. You’ll find this grape also largely grown in Australia, where it is identifiable as Shiraz. Sometimes known to be “meaty,” think exotic spices and darker meat dishes to help showcase the complexity of these wines. Syrah needs time to show its greatness, but when it does, you’ll be thankful you had a bottle!

CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA
When we speak of Central Coast, CA were including numerous diverse regions from Santa Cruz down through Santa Barbara counties. This encompasses smaller areas such as Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Monterey AVA, Paso Robles AVA, Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Ynez Valley AVA, and Sta. Rita Hills AVA. The Central Coast is responsible for many great value wines from a multitude of grape varietals depending on the climate within the specific designated areas. From the coastal AVA’s with influence from the fog and cooling effects, you will find Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The inland AVA’s are much warmer, like Paso Robles, so look here for outstanding Syrah, Grenache, Zinfandel, or Rhône-style blends.