Cold Heaven Syrah Second Sin Santa Barbara County

This nine-year-old, deep garnet Syrah is now fully hitting its stride. Intense aromas of smoked meat and bramble fruits are supplemented by nuances of pink peppercorns, coriander, tobacco and leather. The wine is full-bodied and delivers boysenberry, raspberry and pickling spice flavors on the palate. Beautifully balanced with fresh acidity, soft tannins and nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 13.6%), it sails through the middle and closes with a crisp, medium-length finish. This Syrah has impressive structure which is undoubtedly attributable …

Deep ruby with a bit of brown. Very nice nose of white pepper, cooked plums, leather, with a faint but totally pleasant moldiness from bottle age. Rich and balanced on the palate, with solid but not tart acids supporting a full body. Tea and floral notes with cooked black cherries in the flavors. Finishes well, with a light, drying grip and light velvety tannins. Executive summary: Wow. This is a very nice bottle, showing very well right now. It repays …

Beautiful syrah. Doesn't show any of its age; still tastes youthful with good acidity. Good bright fruit with peppery spice. Unlike many central coast syrahs, everything is in perfect balance. Will buy again.

Tasting room visit, 2/24. Profound bouquet- waves of floral, sweet spice, almond and meaty-savory notes pervade. Lean and focused on the palate, delivering full notes of cherry, tea and spice to the fore. Elegant and lush with firm spicy tannins and a full finish. Excellent.

Vegetal with age on the nose. And not aging nicely either. Needs to get gone right now.

Wasn't wowed, though I dig this elegant style of Syrah. Red and black fruits, spice, smoke and a bit of funk on the nose and palate. Med/full body, med acidity. No heat.

Fantastic. Really. Elegant and racy. A pop and pour that didn't last long. Out of the bottle - very smooth and luscious.

Clos Pepe, Cold Heaven and Longoria (Santa Ynez Valley) : The Syrah counterpart to the great Le Bon Climat Viognier. Very similar to the '03 vintage which was flat out one of the best Syrahs I've tasted. Elegantly styled, more fruit driven than the '04. Perfumed with spice and pepper. Firm tannin, lively acidity, creamy texture. Cold Heaven is known as a Viognier house, but the Syrahs are a hidden gem. 13.6% ABV, by the way, and not at all …

This is showing great, especially with some air. I didn't even know Cold Heaven made red wines and this was a fantastic introduction. 13.6 percent alcohol but nice, pure flavors. Hardly thin and insipid. Darker fruits on the nose and palate and also some floral notes. Maybe a touch of black pepper and other spice. This had an elegance I think a lot of Santa Babara area pinot makers would envy. Everything is om balance and it flows nicely from …

Dark garnet color. This wine took over an hour to open up after pouring. Nice nose of plums, black pepper, baking spices, yeast and cedar notes. Well-structured on the palate, with good acidic backbone supporting lively fruit, spices and an entirely welcome tarriness. In the finish, lively acidity, moderate tannins, toasted oak. This is a stylish and ambitious bottle of wine, showing what cooler climates will do to a well-raised and well-vinified syrah grape. I'm giving it a high mark …