2016 Space Cadet Syrah/Grenache, Paul Lato, Santa Barbara

2016 Space Cadet Syrah/Grenache, Paul Lato, Santa Barbara

Hailing from the famed Bien Nacido and Larner vineyards, the 2016 is the first vintage of Space Cadet made, and it has been well-received. A blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, this is a brilliant wine for lovers of the Southern Rhône.

Critic score
96/100 info
Pricing
info
Bottle
From a client
5 available
£61.50

Wine details

  • Region & country
    Santa Barbara County, California, USA
  • Grape
    80% Shiraz/Syrah
    20% Grenache/Garnacha
  • Maturity
    Ready 2021 - 2028info
  • Colour
    Red
  • Sweetness
    Dry
  • Style
    Still
  • Unit Volume
    Bottle (75cl.)
  • ABV
    15%

Tasting notes

This is the inaugural vintage of the Space Cadet, a wine only made in exceptional years. It's a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache from the Bien Nacido and Larner vineyards. The wine was aged for 24 months in 20% new French oak. Still youthfully coiled and with lots of latent layers, the 2016 Syrah/Grenache Space Cadet has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and scents of cassis, blueberry jam, warm chocolate, baked blackberries, black cherries and grilled meats with nuances of crushed stone, warm baking spice, cracked pepper, flowers and red fruit sparks. Full-bodied, dense, rich and hedonistic in the mouth, it gives up luscious fruits, spices and chocolate box notions, with very firm, finely pixelated tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and flavorful. Yowza! This is only made in exceptional years, and there are 150 cases of the 2017 vintage.

Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (September 2019)
97/100

The 2016 Space Cadet, Lato's Syrah-based red, is deep, succulent and quite giving, with terrific fruit density and tons of sheer appeal. The blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache works beautifully. Dark red/purplish fruit, game, smoke and cured meats give the 2016 tons of character. This is another highly expressive and inviting wine from Paul Lato. Most of the fruit (80%) is from Larner, while the rest is from (10%) Larner Grenache and (10%) Bien Nacido Vineyard Grenache.

Antonio Galloni, vinous.com (September 2019)
95/100

Also from this producer

Pricing
info