Tagged: @klwines

Anonymous: A Ballard Canyon Syrah for a Bargain Price

Banner with the words Anonymous Wine Collective K&L "Wines You'll Never forget - from wineries we'll never disclose" and 3 wine bottles on the side

THE STORY

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you will know that I am a sucker for Ballard Canyon AVA Syrah wines from Santa Barbara County.  When we stumbled upon an Anonymous one at a bargain price on K&L Wine Merchants website, we knew we had to give it a try.  This one was rated 94 points for only $20. For a Ballard Canyon Syrah.  Crazy, right?

We’ve been experimenting with Anonymous wines for a while now and have been very pleased.  You can try them yourselves by searching “Anonymous” on the K&L website. Love the labels – bottles wrapped in plain brown bags, reminiscent of a blind tasting.

THE WINE COLLECTIVE

From the Ryan Woodhouse’s K&L Newsletter introducing the Anonymous Wine Collective:

“The Anonymous Wine Collective is a dynamic range of wines made in collaboration between K&L and some of the most famous and critically acclaimed wineries in the biz. Some releases will be purely opportunistic, one-off wines, never to be repeated. Others will be ongoing collaborations where we work in tandem with world-class winemakers to make wines each year. Those ongoing relationships will be at the core of the project. Anonymous allows us to work with incredibly talented people and craft the wines, from vine to bottle. I’m proud to say that, with these first releases, I have personally walked in each of the vineyards from which they were sourced. The Anonymous Wine Collective isn’t about buying random, generic, soulless bulk wine. It’s about using our knowledge and long-cemented relationships to bring exceptional wines to our customers at prices that are a fraction of where these wines would typically sell. Our winery partners get an upfront commitment for the wines, often while they’re still in barrel; and in some cases while they’re still on the vine (now there’s trust for you)! In return, we get exceptional wine and phenomenal pricing, all while protecting the anonymity of the wineries behind the project.”

Image of 4 Anonymous wine bottles with labels depicting a wine bottle wrapped in a plain brown bag
Anonymous Wine Lineup – Image used with permission of K&L Wine Merchants

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 1 Anonymous wine. K&L notes come from the K&L website. Images come from anonymouswine.com, klwines.com and the back label of the bottle. Images are used with permission of K&L Wine Merchants. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites. Any other mistakes are mine and mine alone.

2024 Anonymous Envy Block Syrah, Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County, 14% ABV, $20 (#1781)

back label of wine bottle depicting wine detailes wih vineyard and winery redacted in black.
Back Label of the 2024 Anonymous Ballard Canyon Syrah

K&L Notes: “Another first for the Anonymous Wine Collective: a Syrah under our house label. And what an absolute beauty to kick things off. Sourced from one single hillside block of vines, that we’ve named “Envy Block” due to it’s reputation as the sweet spot on this estate for producing the most potent and explosive Syrah. This very block is coveted by some of the most famed cult producers on the Central Coast and has produced multiple 100-point wines. Most wines sourced from this exact parcel retail between $80 and $160, many of them exclusive mailing-list offerings. Most wines sourced from this exact parcel retail between $80 and $160, many of them exclusive mailing-list offerings. Farmed with certified organic and biodynamic methods. The nose is wonderfully expressive with wild blackberry, black raspberry, dark cherry, dried herbs, violets, and hints of dusty earth. Beneath the exuberant fruit lies a compelling savory streak of cracked peppercorn, charred meat, and toasted exotic spice. Medium-plus in body, the wine carries a mouth-filling texture layered with fine tannins that provide impressive structure and length. The whole-cluster inclusion lifts the aromatics beautifully and keeps the wine fresh, energetic, and linear through the finish. This is a remarkably classy bottle of Syrah and, at this price point, an almost unbelievable value. I think it will resonate equally with lovers of savory Northern Rhône Syrah and fans of rich yet refined California Rhône-style wines. I couldn’t be happier with how this wine turned out – I only hope we made enough once people discover just how good it is for the money.” Ryan Woodhouse, K&L

My Review: The pretty garnet in the glass gives the appearance it’s going to be fruity. I get crushed berries, Concord grapes on the nose, big palate of intense fruits. Slightly bitter with a hint of earth on the finish. Tight upon opening, but then revealed a fabulous wine. For the price, it’s exceptional. May 2026.

© Decanting Monterey 2026

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Decanting Monterey Selects Its Wine of the Year: 2020 Site Wine Co. Syrah!

Site: “Sourced from the most distinctive vineyard sites in California”

THE STORY

I never thought to name a Decanting Monterey Wine of the Year until I tasted the 2020 Site Bien Nacido Syrah. One of our many finds from K&L Wine Merchants, this wine surpassed all others for its flavor, structure and value.  We try a lot of wines in a year, from fine Bordeaux wines to grocery store bargains, but most of our wines we find right in our back yard – in Monterey County. I focus my blog on Central Coast wines with rare exception.

Because we are on K&L Wine Merchant’s Insiders mailing list, we often see bargains otherwise not available.  Through this access, we have tried Central Coast wines we might not otherwise have found. And that was the case with this wine. So we are stepping outside of Monterey County for today’s wine.

I have long been a fan of the Bien Nacido Vineyard, perhaps stemming from a 2018 trip down to Ojai, where we tasted Ojai Vineyard’s fabulous Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah. In addition, I visited Los Olivos in 2022 on the way to a high school reunion and tasted several Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrahs.  I have mentioned the Bien Nacido Vineyard or the Bien Nacido clone in 11 posts since starting Decanting Monterey in 2020.  Read this one to hear more about the legacy of the vineyard itself: Santa Maria AVA: Home to the Legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard!

I love Syrah, especially since we moved to the Central Coast, but not all Syrahs are the same. The vintage, the pick, the winemaker’s talents all play a role in making a wine great. And I worry a wine purchased without a tasting will be too earthy – or even too overdone (high alcohol), even for my preferences (not that I would turn one down!). A great wine will find that balance of flavor and structure – and a good price just makes it even better.  And today’s wine has it all.

THE WINERY

Have you heard of Site Wine Co.?  Neither had I.  Here’s what I found out from various articles but primarily their own website:

“The wines of Site come from grapes that have been sourced from the most distinctive vineyards in California. These sites promise wines that kindle our senses and intellect and leave a gut feeling of pleasure. I view each vintage with a fresh eye and an open mind. I don’t enforce a particular winemaking style but take an approach that’s nimble and dynamic and attuned solely to the vineyard and the vintage, not to a dogma.”

“Site purchases fruit from just 3 vineyards, Bien Nacido Vineyards (Syrah), Larner Vineyard (Syrah, Grenache and Viognier), and Stolpman Vineyards (Roussanne).”

“Site is managed by Jeremy Weintraub, who is winemaker at Adelaida Cellars in Paso Robles, CA. Before Adelaida, Jeremy was winemaker at Seavey Vineyard, in Napa Valley, and before that he had winemaking and grape-growing stints in Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Central Otago, Martinborough, Tuscany, and on Long Island.”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting just this one wine.  Winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the bottle or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2020 Site Wine Co. Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyards, Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Barbara County, 14.3% ABV, $65 ($40 from K&L) (#1692)

Winery Notes: “This wine, comprising 100% syrah grapes from the same rows of Block Z at Bien Nacido Vineyards that I’ve been receiving since 2012, offers aromas of dark fruits, white pepper, and cooking spices. The mouth is medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.” 97 points, Jeb Dunnuck

K&L Wine Notes: “Since we receive a lot of requests for ripe, concentrated wines that are great on their own as well as with food, I’m thrilled we can offer this outstanding Syrah from the Central Coast. It’s a big, dense and seamless red with lush smoky black fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Delicious.” John Downing

My Review: Beautiful, dense garnet in the glass. Saddle leather, chalk, dark cherry, cotton candy on the nose. Mouth filling, explosive rich red fruits on the palate, with cherry dominant. A delicious wine. October 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

‘Please contact the winemaker directly to schedule a tasting of his current release wines. The location, date and time will need to be agreed upon by all parties. A minimum of four guests is preferred for tastings. Email jeremy@sitewineco.com to arrange.”

If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

A Little Holiday Bonus: Hendry Mike & Molly Zinfandel

Off the topic of Central Coast wines for a moment, I wanted to share with you one of our favorite wines of Fall 2025 – the 2022 Hendry Mike and Molly Zinfandel. I shared this wine with my virtual wine class and thought I’d just make a quick post here. If you are a Zin lover, this is a great find.

We are long-time Hendry Ranch Wines fans from a tasting we did at the winery with George Hendry many years ago.

2022 Hendry Mike & Molly Zinfandel, R.W. Moore Vineyard, Coombsville AVA, Napa, 15% ABV, $45 ($30 on K&L Wine Merchants Insider Advantage) (#1686)

Winemaker Notes: “This full-bodied wine is graceful and smooth on the palate, offering flavors of black, brambly fruit, pepper, and warm spices, and while enjoyable now, it will continue to develop beautifully over the years, pairing excellently with braised short ribs, rack of lamb, stews, burgers, and hard, aged cheeses such as Gouda or Parmesan.” 93 points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Scott Beckerley, K&L Review Date: 11/2024: “To be honest, I have a hard time with a lot of zinfandels. I am not really into heavy or (especially!) extracted wines. This Mike & Molly Hendry Zinfandel is neither of these. Don’t be fooled by the alcohol content, it is quite balanced and 100% delicious. There are generous black fruits, cassis, black cherry, blackberry. This is backed up by pretty outstanding acidity and depth of alternating (and graceful) smooth tannins. Super, duper solid!”

My Review: Garnet, almost purple in the glass. Spice, plum and blackberry on the nose. Rich palate of plum, blackberry and cherry with a raspberry finish. One of our favorite wines of the Fall 2025. November 2025

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

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