{"product_id":"the-joy-fantastic-syrah-sta-rita-hills-2021","title":"The Joy Fantastic Syrah Sta. Rita Hills 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eFor anyone who loves savory, peppery, cool-climate Syrah with real nerve to it, today's a great day! This 95-point 2021 from The Joy Fantastic comes off one of the westernmost, windiest, coolest sites in the Sta. Rita Hills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Joy Fantastic is the estate label of Black Sheep Finds, the tiny, family-run project that Peter Hunken and Amy Christine have been building out of Lompoc since 2003. Peter cut his teeth back in 2001 at Stolpman Vineyards, and Amy passed the brutal Master of Wine exam in 2013, joining a very short list of women in the U.S. to earn those two letters. In 2014 they finally got their own dirt – a former hillside cow pasture on the far western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills – planted it to organic vines (CCOF certified), and pulled their first estate crop in 2016. The name itself is a wink at Prince's 1999 album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this vineyard sing is where it sits. It's one of the farthest-west, coolest, windiest spots in the whole appellation, which means relentless Pacific air, a long slow ripening season, and natural acidity for days. In the cellar they keep a light touch on purpose – fewer punch-downs, gentle pump-overs, a CO2 blanket over the fermentation – all to chase finesse over brute force. The wine is unfined and vegan, clocking in around a very reasonable 13% ABV. This is the elegant, Northern Rhône end of California Syrah, not the jammy fruit-bomb end.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt starts with raspberry and pomegranate, but the tart, just-picked kind, more snap than sugar – with a lift of red and purple flowers floating over the top. Then it turns and shows its other face… a crack of pepper, a savory swipe of sage, and firm tannins that pull the whole thing taut and hold their grip clean through the finish. Wine Enthusiast scored it 95 points, and it’s so clear why when you have a taste.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ePAIRING IDEAS: I’m firing up this intensely good harissa chicken and veggies \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thedefineddish.com\/sheet-pan-harissa-chicken-veggies-with-lemon-aioli\/\"\u003erecipe\u003c\/a\u003e with lemon aioli – the spice and creaminess is made for this snappy Syrah.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53338228130089,"sku":"1014599","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/TheJoyFantastic_1014599_FB_Rack.jpg?v=1784163674","url":"https:\/\/firstbottlewines.com\/products\/the-joy-fantastic-syrah-sta-rita-hills-2021","provider":"First Bottle Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}