2020 Dragonette Cellars Syrah MJM Santa Ynez Valley 750 ml

Few wineries in California are as reliably outstanding as Dragonette.

They’ve been roundly praised by just about every critic who covers the state: Antonio Galloni of Vinous has called their wines “truly world class”—“and I don’t use those words lightly.” Jeb Dunnuck has said “the estate can do no wrong,” praising Dragonette as “unquestionably” one of his favorites in Santa Barbara County. 

Dragonette is focused on Pinot and Chardonnay, and this is their flagship Syrah, which is named in honor of the wives of Dragonette principals John and Steve Dragonette and Brandon-Sparks-Gillis. It’s the product of a beautiful vintage, as Santa Barbara enjoyed a near-perfect growing season in 2020. The chief fruit source was Stolpman, a tier-one grower with whom Wine Access members are intimately familiar. The rest of the fruit came from the Kimsey and Larner Vineyards, two other highly sought-after Syrah sources. 

Inspired by E. Guigal’s iconic $300+ “La La” Côte-Rôties, this is a barrel selection of the finest, most dramatic lots. It enjoyed an extended stay in barrel—27 months, a full year longer than Dragonette’s “Seven” Syrah bottling. For this part of the élévage, they relied on first-rate cooperage from Sylvain, Ermitage, and Sequin Moreau.

The result is one of the finest Syrahs you’ll find in the New World, a bottle worthy of its inspiration, and one of the greatest reds you can find in California under the price. It’s a thrill to bring you a brand-new bottling from a beloved blue-chip producer—it’ll be a fantastic addition to your collection.