El Viñero Onshore Flow Syrah SLO Coast 2019

Crafting terroir-driven wines starts from the ground up, emphasizing the work accomplished in the vineyard as the foundation for the final product that emerges from the cellar. Owner/Winemaker Jordan Crabtree of El Viñero knows this all too well, having made his start in the wine industry as a viticulturist and vineyard manager. After earning both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Viticulture & Enology with Minors in Fruit Science & Plant Protection Science, Jordan founded Vinifarm, Inc. He has managed and developed vineyards throughout the Central Coast for six and a half years, and in 2019, Jordan added the title of Winemaker to his resume with the first vintage of El Viñero.

His Onshore Flow Syrah hails from one of California's newest crowned sub-AVAs, SLO Coast. Certified in 2022, the SLO Coast sub-AVA includes almost 4,000 acres of planted vines in the over 400,000 acres it spans. The region extends from San Simeon in the North to just south of Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach, with the average vineyard distance from the coast being only 5.2 miles away. This proximity to the Pacific Ocean affords the area a long and cool growing season, and in fact, it's the coolest in California. Combined with the complex soil makeup, including volcanic, marine, and wind deposits, it makes for exceptional grape-growing conditions.

Jordan has a long-term farming lease on the three-acre vineyard from which he sources the Onshore Flow Syrah. The cooler temperatures of the site help maintain the acidity of the grapes and keep the alcohol level on the lower side. He opted for 100% whole cluster fermentation, adding body, texture, and spice to the wine. The spice presents on the nose with white pepper and clove notes that playfully mingle with dark chocolate and dark cherry. Softer tannins have prevailed over the last five years, and the acid remains fresh, showcasing how well the Syrah is aging and how many great drinking years are to come.