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Rachel and Jim have long dreamed of making wine from the fruit of their own vineyards, and they seized a rather unique opportunity during the Corona pandemic to become the owners of Slide-Hill, a farm on Orcutt Road in Arroyo Grande. Those in the know have already realized that this is very close to John Alban, i.e. Alban Vineyards. Mainly Chardonnay, Albariño, Grenache and Syrah were planted here. Jim was so impressed by one Syrah block from the very beginning that he vinifies and ages its fruit separately. Jim, a connoisseur, an expert, one of the best in his field, was absolutely right, because the wine he lets age in the few barrels is of epic quality.

Its aroma is complex, enticing and rocking – at least for me – because it smells of black pepper, blood sausage, herbs and the best matured beef. Powerful and with a lot of oomph, the wine flows onto the palate and takes its place, this wine is not timid. But the finish is wonderfully harmonious and the remaining tannins are of the highest quality. After a few seconds, a surprising and pleasant freshness sets in and the saliva begins to flow. This is a serious Syrah, pressed in tiny quantities and therefore only available in the smallest quantities, perhaps even by the bottle. BUT it's worth reaching for the keyboard or the phone for.