# The Joy Fantastic Syrah (2022)

- **Producer:** Holus Bolus
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Syrah
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.6%
- **Average price:** €50
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black pepper, blackberry, plum, violet, herbaceous, smoke, cedar, leather, game

## About this wine

The Joy Fantastic Syrah is an estate-grown, cool-climate red wine crafted by the husband-and-wife team of Peter Hunken and Amy Christine MW. Located at the extreme, chilly western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County, the estate vineyard spans just five acres, with only a single acre dedicated to Syrah. The name of the vineyard is a playful nod to the artist Prince, of whom Amy Christine is a devoted fan. The 2022 vintage represents a poignant moment in the estate's history: it is one of the final harvests from the original, own-rooted Syrah vines before a localized phylloxera outbreak forced their replanting, making this bottling a rare collector's item.

## Interesting facts

- The vineyard's name is a playful tribute to the legendary musician Prince, a favorite of co-founder Amy Christine MW.
- Co-founder Amy Christine is one of only 24 American women to achieve the elite Master of Wine title.
- The 2022 vintage is one of the last made from the original, un-grafted own-rooted Syrah vines before they were replanted.
- The entire estate Syrah production comes from a tiny, single-acre block, resulting in extremely limited annual case production.

## Food pairing

This cool-climate Syrah thrives alongside rich, savory, and gamey dishes. Its high natural acidity cuts through the fat of roasted meats, while its prominent tannins are softened by proteins. The wine's distinct black pepper, iodine, and herbal notes beautifully mirror earthy elements like mushrooms, wild game, and wood-smoked dishes.

## Wine making process

Sourced from the estate's single-acre Syrah block, the grapes are grown in clay loam and diatomaceous soils under certified organic farming practices. The fruit is harvested by hand and fermented using native yeasts. To preserve the delicate, cool-climate elegance of the site and avoid harsh extraction, the winemaking team limited punch-downs to just once per day, relying instead on gentle pump-overs. The wine was aged for 11 to 14 months in older, neutral French oak barrels to allow the natural, savory, and peppery characteristics of the terroir to shine. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered.