08 Jul Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Lyons Vineyard 2023 Syrah, Los Olivos District, Santa Barbara County

A classic Fourth of July celebration means hamburgers on the grill. And while there are plenty of red wines that pair beautifully with a burger, I reached for something a little more special, a limited-production bottle of Syrah. With its savory character, vibrant acidity, and layered flavors, the Lyons Vineyard 2023 Syrah from the Los Olivos District was a delicious wine and an even better pairing, making it the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

About Lyons Vineyard

Lyons Vineyard is a boutique, family-owned estate in the Los Olivos District AVA founded by Sarah and Skye Lyons. The 10-acre property was first planted in 2009 with an acre of Grenache and an acre of Viognier. When Sarah and Skye purchased the property in 2017, they added four more acres of vineyard and planted Syrah and Mourvèdre. After years of growing fruit for some of Santa Barbara County’s most respected winemakers, the couple launched their own label with the 2022 vintage. Their philosophy is rooted in producing small-lot, estate-grown Rhône wines that express freshness, balance, and a true sense of place. They farm sustainably but do not use any chemical sprays. They prioritize soil health and biodiversity through cover crops, compost, crop diversification, owl and Western Bluebird boxes and raptor perches, and clean energy through solar power.

Tasting Notes

The Lyons Vineyard 2023 Syrah is sourced entirely from the estate’s Block 3, planted to Clone 470, a low-yielding clone, in the Los Olivos District. Located on a riverbench, at an elevation of 700 feet, the soils are sandy loam on top of sandy clay. Add the diurnal temperature shift, and the Syrah can fully ripen without high sugar levels. The wine spent 18 months in neutral French oak, allowing the vineyard and fruit to remain the focus rather than the influence of new oak. The result is a Syrah that emphasizes elegance and freshness while still delivering depth and complexity.

The nose opens with aromas of dark cherry and forest floor, followed by notes of leather and licorice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, polished tannins that frame the fruit rather than overwhelm it, and a savory note. Overall, the wine shows freshness and restraint.

Food Pairing

Syrah is a good pairing with grilled hamburgers and was the perfect wine to share over a Fourth of July dinner with friends. The wine’s firm but balanced tannins cut through the richness of the beef, while its notes of dark fruit, savory spice, and earth matched the smoky, caramelized flavors of the burger. Add good conversation and laughs with friends, and it was the perfect pairing.

Where To Purchase

All of the bottlings from Lyon Vineyards are small lots, and the Syrah is no exception. There were only 75 cases of this wine made, and the wine retails for $68. I was lucky to get a bottle of this wine as it will not be officially released until September. But to find this wine and other Lyon Vineyard wines, visit their website.