A Toast to the Holidays

For me, the holidays are my favorite time to nostalgically open and enjoy wines we’ve made over the years and simultaneously, a time to look forward with excitement towards what's to come. 

If you’ve been a member for any length of time, you know that it took me 8 years and a combination of cold-calling/emailing and begging to secure fruit from one of the Central Coast’s most esteemed locations, Larner Vineyard. That first year, I received two special blocks of Syrah from Michael Larner, and the rest, as they say, is history.  

Larner Vineyard is unique thanks to its limestone and marina sand soil, a bit of a unicorn in the clay and limestone-heavy Ballard Canyon which it calls home.  Year after year, this vineyard has produced our favorite lots, and, as we transition to our fruit from Levo Vineyard, it’s been the hardest breakup yet. The 2022 Larner Barrel Select Syrah will be our grand finale from Santa Barbara; with no surprise, it’s everything our team loves about this vineyard.  It’s a colossal wine but remains bright with natural acidity that dances and evolves with airtime in a decanter.  No doubt, a wine that will reward those who stow bottles in the cellar for a few years. The sandy soils created an elegant wine that is packed with flavor.  Aged in 100% new French oak (Millet, M+ toast barrel) with only 32 cases in existence, I really couldn’t imagine my Santa Barbara swan song going out on a higher note.

In honor of our final Santa Barbara hurrah, my sentimentality has peaked, and I’m also re-releasing some throwbacks that have been conveniently cellar-aged just for you. The 2016 “DreamCrusher” Syrah and Petite Sirah, are two wines that were made entirely from fruit grown down south. These are special wines, and this particular release is from my own personal library, if you know my drinking habits, you’ll know there’s only a handful left. This intellectual Syrah oozes the cool climate essence of tobacco, olive tapenade, peppered meat and plum sauce. For my fruit bomb lovers, the Petite Sirah glistens in the glass dark as spades, black pepper, and violets push through dark red fruit. 

Whether you’re a long-time member strolling down memory lane with me or hearing about these throwbacks for the first time, I encourage you to take the ride with Levo from where we started, as we look forward to where we’re going.

Lastly, if you’re looking for holidays gifts for family and friends or help with corporate gifting this year, Levo has you covered. Sign folks up for our wine club for the year (3, 6, and 12 bottle available) or have us ship out a one time gift and save yourself the work!

Cheers,

Bret and the Team at Levo

Questions or customization of your order please call (805) 400-5994 or e-mail info@levovineyards.com. Wine orders require the signature of an adult 21 years or older.