Sommeliers of the American Riviera

Sommeliers of the American Riviera
2025 Ballard Canyon Review

https://sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org/2025BallardCanyonReview/index.html

Thanks to Santa Barbara County's east–west orientation, with the cold Pacific to the west and the rising sun to the east, the region is home to every grape growing climate on earth, all in the distance of about thirty miles.

The American Viticultural Area (AVA) of Ballard Canyon is centrally located in the Santa Ynez Valley, approximately thirty miles from the Pacific Ocean to the west and forty miles from Jameson Lake, at the convergence of the Santa Ynez and San Raphael Mountains to the east. It is Santa Barbara County's smallest AVA, accounting for only ten percent of the region's total vineyard acreage, and it is the only AVA in the United States to officially claim Syrah as its flagship grape. Every bottle of estate grown Syrah, regardless of producer, is embossed with a cartouche reading Ballard Canyon, in much the same spirit as the Papal crest appears on a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Ballard Canyon AVA is generally considered to be a world-class growing region for Syrah and Grenache especially, as well as other famed Rhône varieties.

Like a rollercoaster, the country lane of Ballard Canyon Road runs in the form of a backwards L from Los Olivos in the northeast to Buellton in the southwest. It was here that in 1974 Gene Hallock first planted Ballard Canyon Vineyards at the site that is now home to Rusack. Soil types in the region range from sand and silt to clay, chalk, limestone and river cobbles. The quickly draining soils promote smaller, more concentrated berries which lead to more concentrated fruit flavors, floral aromas and finesse in the resulting wines, whereas limestone and chalk famously produce wines of high minerality and zest.

For its annual review, Sommeliers of the American Riviera (StAR) tastes blind, that is to say that those judging are blind to the identities of participating producers. The wines are judged solely on their appearance, aroma, flavor, and structure, according to what the international sommelier community considers to be a classic example of the highest quality wine a given grape variety can produce when grown in a particular region.

Of the 30 wines tasted for the StAR 2025 Ballard Canyon Review, the following received 90 points or higher:

Kunin, 2022 Kimsey Vineyard, Grenache — 95
Kimsey, 2021 Estate, Syrah — 94
Larner, 2021 Estate, Syrah — 94
Kaena, 2021 Tierra Alta, Grenache — 94
Kimsey, 2021 Estate, Grenache — 94
Paul Lato, 2023 "Lumiere", Larner Vineyard, Grenache — 94
Clementine Carter, 2023 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 93
Horizon, 2023, Ballard Canyon, Grenache — 93
Jaffurs, 2022 Ballard Canyon, Grenache — 93
Kaena, 2021 Tierra Alta, Syrah — 93
Kunin, 2022 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 93
Larner, 2021, Estate, Grenache — 93
Piazza Family, 2020 Bella Vista, Reserve Syrah — 93
SAMsARA, 2023 Larner Vineyard, Grenache — 93
Beckmen, 2022 Purisima Mountain, Syrah — 92
Clementine Carter, 2023 Larner Vineyard, Grenache — 92
Chris Caruso, 2022 Ballard Canyon, Grenache — 92
Chris Caruso, 2021 Kimsey Vineyard, Syrah — 92
Dragonette Cellars, 2022 Stolpman Vineyard, Syrah — 92
Blair Fox, 2020 Kimsey Vineyard, Syrah — 92
Jaffurs, 2022 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 92
Paul Lato, 2023 "Cinematique", Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 92
Carr Winery, 2020 Tierra Alta, Syrah — 91
Luna Hart, 2022 Hinnrichs Vineyard, Syrah — 91
Marco Lucchesi, 2021 Tierra Alta, Syrah — 91
Story of Soil, 2022 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 91
Piazza Family, 2022 Bella Vista, Grenache — 90
Story of Soil, 2023 Stolpman Vineyard, Grenache — 90

What we liked most about Kunin's Grenache: deep ruby color | high aromatic intensity | flavors and aromas of raspberry, strawberry, plum, pepper, thyme, sandalwood, toasted bread, and sweet cream | soft texture, smooth tannin, light body and moderate alcohol.

What we liked most about the Kimsey's Syrah: dark ruby color | expressive aromatics | flavors and aromas of apricot, cherry, plum, browned butter, caramel, licorice, and wet stone | lively palate with mild alcohol.

What we liked most about the Larner's Syrah: dark ruby to purple bowl with magenta rim | expressive aromatics | flavors and aromas of raspberry, blackberry, marionberry, olive and pepper undertones, barbecued meats, and mild oak toast | firm tannin, fuller body and warmer alcohol balanced by juicy acidity.

Tech sheets:

https://sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org/2025BallardCanyonReview/Kunin2022grenache.docx

https://sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org/2025BallardCanyonReview/Kimsey2021syrah.pdf

https://sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org/2025BallardCanyonReview/Larner2021syrah.pdf

Thank you to all the producers that participated in this project,
and congratulations especially to Kunin, Kimsey and Larner!
Your hard work and passion bring joy to us all.

Emily Johnston, founding member
Carlos Mascherin, founding member
Kathryn Hope, senior member

Sommeliers of the American Riviera
2025 Sta. Rita Hills Review

https://sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org/2025SRHreview/index.html

Thanks to Santa Barbara County's east–west orientation, with the cold Pacific to the west and the rising sun to the east, the region is home to every grape growing climate on earth, all in the distance of about thirty miles.

The American Viticultural Area (AVA) of Sta. Rita Hills is located in the southwest, approximately ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. It is the southernmost Region 1 climate zone in the northern hemisphere, and has one of the longest growing seasons in the world. Its cool ocean breezes and kaleidoscope of soil types make it the ideal location to cultivate Burgundian varieties. The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is generally considered to be a world-class growing region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay especially.

The region is comprised of three sets of foothills. Cradling the region to the south are the Santa Rosa Hills. In the middle are the Santa Rita Hills, for which the region is named. And encapsulating the region to the north are La Purisima Hills. The serene and picturesque country lane of Santa Rosa Road runs through the southern corridor alongside the Santa Ynez River as it flows west into the ocean. It was here that in 1971 Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict first planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Soil types in the southern corridor range from sandy loam to loamy clay to alluvial wash, limestone, a variety of metamorphic rock, and the very curious diatomaceous shale. The more frequently travelled Highway 246 runs through the northern corridor where, comparatively, sand and clay are the dominant soil types.

For its annual review, Sommeliers of the American Riviera (StAR) tastes blind, that is to say that those judging are blind to the identities of participating producers. The wines are judged solely on their appearance, aroma, flavor, and structure, according to what the international sommelier community considers to be a classic example of the highest quality wine a given grape variety can produce when grown in a particular region.

Of the 50 wines tasted for the StAR 2025 Sta. Rita Hills Review, the following received 90 points or higher:

Dragonette Cellars, 2022 Radian Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 96
Tyler Winery, 2022 Mae Estate, Chardonnay — 95
Sanguis, 2023 Whale Song, John Sebastiano Vineyard, Chardonnay — 94
Evan's Ranch, 2023 Morgan's, Pinot Noir — 94
SAMsARA, 2022 Rancho La Viña, Pinot Noir — 94
Evan's Ranch, 2023 Las Brisas, Chardonnay — 93
The Joy Fantastic, 2022 Estate, Pinot Noir — 93
Lafond, 2022 Estate, Chardonnay — 93
Liquid Farm, "Golden Slope", Chardonnay — 93
MarBeso, 2023 Spear Vineyard, Chardonnay — 93
Melville, 2023 Estate, Chardonnay — 93
Melville, 2023 Block M, Pinot Noir — 93
Pence Vineyards, 2022 Rosa, Chardonnay — 93
Strange Family Vineyards, 2022 Estate, Chardonnay — 93
Donnachadh, 2021 Estate, Chardonnay — 92
LaBarge, 2022 Estate, Pinot Noir — 92
Lafond, 2022 Estate, Pommard Clone, Pinot Noir — 92
Paul Lato, 2023 "Ma Jolie", Peake Ranch, Chardonnay — 92
SAMsARA, 2023 Zotovich Vineyard, Chardonnay — 92
Story of Soil, 2023 La Rinconada, Pinot Noir — 92
Alma Rosa, 2022 El Jabali, Chardonnay — 91
Babcock, "Top Cream", John Sebastiano Vineyard, Chardonnay — 91
Dragonette Cellars, 2023 Bentrock Vineyard, Chardonnay — 91
The Joy Fantastic, 2023 Estate, Chardonnay — 91
MarBeso, 2023 Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 91
Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2023 Estate, Pinot Noir — 91
Paul Lato, 2022 "Stand by Me", Drum Canyon Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 91
Sandhi, 2020 Sta. Rita Hills, Chardonnay — 91
Sandhi, 2020 Sanford & Benedict, Pinot Noir — 91
The Set, 2022 Sta. Rita Hills, Chardonnay — 91
Donnachadh, 2021 Estate, Pinot Noir — 90
Liquid Farm, 2023 Sta. Rita Hills, Pinot Noir — 90
Spear Vineyards, 2022 Block 13, Pinot Noir — 90

What we liked most about Dragonette's Pinot Noir was its balance of vibrant acidity with smooth tannins, soft texture, and successful combination of ripe fruit character and rose petal notes, with earthy, iron flavors to ground it.

What we liked most about the Tyler's Chardonnay was that it offered complexity without being complicated, showing lots of beautiful flavors and aromas of peaches, dried herbs, white flowers, and a salinity to its finish like salt spray from the ocean.

Tech sheets:

https://sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org/2025SRHreview/DC_22_PN_Radian_tech.pdf

https://sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org/2025SRHreview/22Mae_CH_Tech.pdf

Thank you to all the producers that participated in this project,
and congratulations especially to Dragonette and Tyler!
Your hard work and passion bring joy to us all.

Emily Johnston, founding member
Carlos Mascherin, founding member
Kathryn Hope, senior member

Throwback Thursday: June 11, 2017 - StAR OG’s, Dane Campbell and Emre Balli, chillin’ after an epic day of blind wine judging at the 31st Annual Ojai Wine Festival🍷😎



Emily Johnston Ojai Wine Festival

A great day judging for the Ojai Wine Festival! Thanks to Emily Johnston, Jenny Mitchum, Alejandro Medina, Drew Cuddy, Remy Giannico and Carlos Mascherin for donating your time and talent to this special event!

A great day of judging at the 31st Annual Ojai Wine Festival. 60 wines rated: 18 awarded bronze, 19 silver, and 7 gold. Thanks to Angela May and all who participated for making it such a success!

Sommeliers a scheming. Only good ever comes from this....

Time to crack the whip!

Thanks to sommelier Sam Cumulus and winemaker Tyler Thomas for an awesome experience!