Tinaquaic Vineyard & Foxen Winery — A Brief History
Foxen Vineyard is one of Santa Barbara prominent vineyards.
Tinaquaic Vineyard itself is one of Foxen’s original estate sites. But here in the sleepy corner of the Santa Barbara region lies a Syrah who shows off depth, spice and elegant structures To top all of that the wines here lend themself to the hommage of their Côte-Rôtie cousin in the Old World
So what did I make of it …….
Foxen 2021 Syrah — Toasted Rope (Tinaquaic Vineyard)
Appearance: In the glass of the 2021 Toasted Rope lies a deep ruby-purple centre, dark as dark. With a touch of garnet on the rim. Some might think it’s 100% Petit Verdot because its so dark – or an enchanted pool looking deeper and deeper into the abyss – but here something is more alluring. Medium body and decent alcohol level. This wine is a treat to experience.
Aroma: Forest floor fruits (try saying that when your drunk) evident first – complemented by plum and dark cherry. Touches of white pepper, dried herbs. Subtle smoky aroma – This wine is enticing!
Palate: Concentrated dark fruit wrapped in spice and supple tannins. A 15% Viognier pushes up the texture, increases floral notes but dances with smoky, almost roasted notes beneath the fruit. Acidity is balanced and poised with a long finish. This is a “leave me alone in a room listening to vinyl with your headphones on” kind of wine
In short: It’s a grown-up wine. Buy that leather Club chair and sink into it. Let the world drift on ahead of you. This wine is for the moment.
Pair with: Grilled lamb chops, Beef short rib ragu, Smoked duck breast etc.
The GrapeWizard Verdict : The 2021 Foxen Toasted Rope Syrah from Tinaquaic Vineyard is a compelling example of Central Coast Syrah done with purpose and pedigree. It combines bold fruit, peppery spice and floral nuance with balanced tannin and lingering finish, making it one of the standouts in Foxen’s esteemed portfolio of estate single-vineyard wines
Another example of a fabulous Syrah from a region that doesn’t really get a look in . Contact me for more infor about this fabulous wine and other syrahs from my shop
One reply on “FOXEN – 2021 SYRAH – USA”
Great review! But “Toasted Rope” sounds alot like some of the badly translated labels I`ve come across! 😉