Zaca Mesa 2010 Syrah Santa Ynez Valley
Zaca Mesa Syrah 2010 Santa Ynez Valley
K&L Wines $13.99, Costco $17.99
A few weeks ago we reviewed the Andrew Murray Tous les Jours 2013 from the Santa Ynez Valley in the Santa Barbara wine country. We loved that wine and now comes along another delicious Syrah from the same wine appellation. It is the Zaca Mesa Syrah 2010. While the Andrew Murray Tous les Jours is young, fruity, and lively, the Zaca Mesa Syrah 2010 has the advantage of aging. The spec sheet tells us this wine was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels and bottled in April of 2012. It is more elegant in style and more hearty than the Tous les Jours. The Zaca Mesa Syrah is 94% Syrah and 6% Viognier, all estate fruit that is sustainably farmed. These grapes are co-fermented, similar to what is done in the Rhone Valley. The Viognier gives the wine some added flavors and a rounder mouthfeel. The Zaca Mesa Syrah is very drinkable now, but I think it will age gracefully for five years or more. As of this post, the K&L Wines had plenty of inventory showing on their Website. At Costco, a few strange things are going on. This wine is apparently not in all their stores. My wine friend Craig went to the South San Francisco Store, but they did not have the wine for sale. I originally purchased my bottle of this Syrah at the Foster City Costco for $7.99, with a $4.00 rebate at checkout. When I went back a few days later to purchase more, there was no rebate in sight. What is up with that! The Wine Enthusiast rates the Zaca Mesa Syrah at 92 Points. I give it an 90-point rating. Vintage Wine Taster Mike asked me which wine I preferred, the Andrew Murray or the Zaca Mesa. I really like them both, but I give the edge to Tous les Jours. I rated it 91 points. The Tous les Jours is also a dollar less. Both are wonderful Syrah wines and I want them both in my wine cellar.
More on Zaca Mesa
We have visited the Zaca Mesa winery on three separate occasions. It is located on Foxen Canyon Road in the Santa Barbara wine country near the town of Los Olivos. This is a fun wine country trip and you can find complete information on Wine Country Getaways on the Foxen Canyon Wine Route. Here is a brief slideshow of Zaca Mesa. Do you like to play chess?
Costco now has the $4.00 instant rebate on the Zaca Mesa Syrah. We purchased two bottles on Monday. $17.99 but $13.99 at the checkout counter. Plenty of this wine at the Foster City Costco.