2020 Ex Post Facto Syrah
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Syrah from Ex Post Facto is lovely at this youthful stage, made without new oak and sourced mainly from the Santa Maria Valley (although moving forward, winemaker Greg Brewer says fruit will come instead from the Sta. Rita Hills). Medium ruby-purple, it offers blackcurrants, dried red cherries and incredible natural spice, like black licorice, cocoa powder, cracked pepper and lilac. The palate is stunning, offering powerful, spicy fruit supported by generous freshness and powdery tannins, and it finishes with great length and definition. Wow!
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Syrah Ex Post Facto (100% Syrah) comes from sites in Santa Barbara County and is always a vibrant, cool-climate inspired Syrah (although it’s certainly ripe). Ripe red and blackberry fruits, sappy green herbs, and peppery notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a fleshy, rounded, opulent texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This beauty is going to shine for 7-8 years. Enough can’t be said about the quality that’s consistently delivered by Greg Brewer’s Brewer-Clifton releases. As always, these wines are basically harvested all at the same time (by vineyard) and are not destemmed, with the aging occurring all in old barrels. The goal here is to show the difference between the vineyards, and I think he succeeds admirably.
Greg Brewer's 2020 Syrah is redolent of red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and tons of savory character from the 100% whole clusters. In 2020, the Ex Post Facto Syrah is decidedly floral and red fruited in character, which seems to really emphasize both freshness and energy.