With a little more Syrah in the blend in the 2020 vintage – 51% Syrah, 38% Grenache, 6% Mourvedre, 5% Counoise – the wine has a darker profile compared to the 2019 vintage. Black and blue fruits, licorice, violets, and pepper aromas lead the way in this outstanding vintage of Cuvee le Bec. A cooler vintage brings some fantastic structure and acidity, where the blackberry, dark cherry, licorice, pepper, and roasted herbs are complex and long on the palate. A terrific follow-up to the incredible 2019 vintage, the 2020 is in the same class and perhaps even a bit higher in quality. Drinking great now, the 2019 Cuvee le Bec will age beautifully over the next 12-15 years.

Purisima Mountain Vineyard
Ballard Canyon AVA
Thomas and Judith Beckmen Estate Vineyard
Los Olivos District AVA
Syrah: 10/3–11/5
Grenache: 11/8–11/16
Mourvedre and Counoise:
11/16–11/17
Winemaking & Aging
− 6 different Syrah clones, 3 different Grenache clones
− Syrah portion was handpicked and hand sorted on the sorting line and each individual
clone was fermented with native yeast
− Grenache, Mourvedre, and Counoise were not sorted but they were fermented
individually. Native yeast was used on these lots
− Two to three punch downs per day on all lots
− On skins from 7-18 days depending on the lot
− 15% new French oak 60-gallon barrels, 85% neutral French oak barrels and puncheon