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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Quietly building a reputation as one of the top producers on California’s Central Coast, these powerful and opulent Rhone varietal reds from Andremily are crafted by superstar winemaker Jim Binns, formerly assistant winemaker at legendary cult producer Sine Qua Non, described as “stunningly singular wines” that “readers should not miss” by Jeb Dunnuck, rarely available outside their exclusive mailing list and certain to thrill Rhone fans and collectors at specially negotiated prices.
Achieving a staggering twenty-seven 100 point scores during his tenure with winemaker Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non, Jim Binns established Andremily in 2012 in the outskirts of Ventura, naming it for the combination of his two children’s names, Andrew and Emily and moving on from Sine Qua Non in 2017 to devote his full attention to his Central Coast project. Exquisitely balancing hedonist fruit with precise acidity and elegant fine tannins, Jim sources grapes from some of the best parcels throughout Santa Barbara including the legendary vineyards of Bien Nacido and White Hawk, also recently purchasing the 39-acre Slide Hill Vineyard in Edna Valley to cultivate his own estate fruit. Continuing to “pretty much knock it out of the park in every vintage” according to Jeb Dunnuck, the 97 pt. 2019 Andremily EABA “End All Be All” cuvee is a blend of mostly Syrah with Mourvedre aged for around 22 months in 55% new French oak barrels of mixed sizes, called an “outrageously beautiful ample wine that captures the Andremily style at its best” by Antonio Galloni of Vinous. Described as “undoubtedly one of the finest expressions of this variety coming out of California today” by Jeb Dunnuck, the “simply stunning” 100 pt. 2020 Andremily Mourvedre comes from “one of a handful of the finest Mourvedre artisans in the world” according to the Wine Independent’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, crafted by Jim in an elegantly rich and deeply structured style inspired by Beaucastel’s Hommage a Jacques Perrin. Blended with small amounts of Mourvedre and Viogner in the Northern Rhone style, the 99 pt. 2020 Andremily #9 Syrah spent 22 months in 65% new French oak barrels yielding a “dense, full throttle wine” according to Antonio Galloni with a long, lingering finish. Released in very small numbers, the 2020 Mourvedre and 2020 #9 Syrah are also available as a set of magnums, while a second box set of magnums pairs the 98 pt. 2020 EABA, “a vibrant, exciting wine” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous and the 99 pt. 2020 Grenache, called “a hedonistic, balanced, gorgeous wine” by Jeb Dunnuck, both deeply structured to evolve in the cellar for a decade or more.
Describing winemaker Jim Binns as crafting “some of the most exciting wines coming out of California today,” Jeb Dunnuck declares, “If you get a chance, don’t miss these wines!” – these small production Andremily blends built for “fans of big, concentrated, nuanced Rhone Ranger styles crafted with impressive restraint” according to WI’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown priced well below Sine Qua Non and delivering outstanding value. |
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I loved the 2020 No 9 from barrel and this beauty does not disappoint from bottle. Based on 89% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, and the rest Viognier that was only 50% destemmed, it spent 22 months in 65% new French oak. A wine that demands lots of air to show at its best, it reveals a deep plum/purple hue as well as a brilliant bouquet of red, blue, and black fruits, ground pepper, iodine, crushed violets, and wild sagebrush. With incredible purity and precision aromatically, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a big, rich wine from Binns, but if anything, it shows another level of finesse and stays light on its feet and graceful. This world-class Syrah will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and evolve nicely over the following two decades. It's clearly one of the wines of the vintage in Santa Barbara, if not one of the greatest 2020s in the state.
99 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2023)
The 2020 No. 9 is a blend of 89% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre and 2% Viognier. Grapes come from Andremily's new Slide Hill estate, plus White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke, Kimsey and Alta Mesa Vineyards in Santa Barbara County. It was vinified with 50% whole clusters and matured for around 22 months in 65% new French barriques. It's powerful and ripe yet detailed, offering a soaring expression that begins with dark fruit and soft meaty tones and, with time, blossoms with nuances of coffee beans, garrigue, star anise, sagebrush and dark chocolate. The full-bodied palate explodes with layer after layer of spicy, über concentrated fruit. It has a support of powdery tannins and vibrant acidity that highlights flashes of floral perfume and spice, and it calls you back to the glass with its long, nuanced finish. It deserves plenty of time in bottle to unwind. 890 cases and a few magnums were made.
98+ points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Nov 2023)
Veins of char and singed vanilla beans lend sweet, spicy streaks here. While predominantly Syrah, small proportions of Mourvèdre and Viognier lend angularity and lift to roasted, ripe flavours of black plums and cherries. Half destemmed and matured for 22 months in 65% new French oak, it's a bruising, beefy Syrah gripped by a stern, sandpaper rash of tannins. Ready now with a decant but should meld further in the cellar.
97 points, Anna Lee Iijima, Decanter (Feb 2024)
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