Managing specialty grocery stores throughout his twenties, McPrice Myers developed a taste for great food - and more importantly great wine.  While he enjoyed wines from all over the world, one sip of Central Coast Syrah and he was hooked.  One trip up to wine country and he was a changed man forever.  

Like many of us, McPrice fell in love with wine country the first time he laid eyes on it, visiting the Paso Robles area as much as his "day job" in Orange County and LA would allow.  He was struck by the area and the quality of wines being made there - he remembers that Mat Garretson's wines in particular turned him on to the potential of Rhône varietals on Central Coast.  These early tasting visits soon turned to working visits as McPrice helped out at harvest for a number of producers in the area.  After making it through several harvests up in Paso, McPrice decided that he needed to set out on his own.  

Starting out at the young age of 27, McPrice didn't have the technical training of some of his peers on the Central Coast.  However, he knew that a blend of unwaivering commitment and fruit from choice vineyards could turn out something special.  McPrice has stuck with this recipe over the past few vintages to cook up some stunning single vineyard Syrah and Grenache from sites spread all across Santa Barbara County.  It appears the ever deepening talent pool of young, driven winemakers on the Central Coast has made room for one more.

After his first few years learning the ropes in Paso, McPrice discovered that small producers on the Central Coast who didn't have a facility could make their wines at Central Coast Wine Services.  So with an insatiable drive to make wine under his own label, and connections at some acclaimed vineyards in the area, McPrice crushed his first fruit under the McPrice Myers Wine Company label in 2002.  For this first vintage, McPrice made about 250 cases of Syrah from the Larner vineyard in Santa Ynez and the Fralich vineyard just south of Paso Robles.  

Having survived the chaos of his first year alone at CCWS in 2002, McPrice hit his stride with the currently released 2003 vintage.  For 2003, McPrice sharpened his focus on vineyards exclusively in Santa Barbara County.  He continued his successful relationship with the Larner family and kept his choice blocks of clone 3 and clone 877 Syrah from this beautiful vineyard on Ballard Canyon Road in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley.  With high profile vineyards like Larner, Purisima Mountain, Stolpman, and Tierra Alta, Ballard Canyon Syrah is quickly becoming some of the most sought-after fruit in Santa Barbara County and McPrice's version doesn't disappoint.  The McPrice Myers 2003 Larner Vineyard Syrah is striking wine that is very much a reflection of its winemaker - robust, yet refined.  Explosive plum and lavender aromatics followed by dense, mouthcoating blackberry flavors and a classic cracked pepper finish that stays.

McPrice only made 200 cases of his 2003 Syrah and it's mostly spoken for these days.  In addition to his Larner Syrah, McPrice also made a few precious cases of Viognier from Larner - a perfumed white that refreshes the palate and instantly reminds you why you've given up Chardonnay.  Top California wine restaurants such as Bacar, Town Hall, Bouchon, and Pinot Province snatched up most of McPrice's 2003's, but there will be a bit more to go around next year.  For 2004, his production of Larner Syrah will nearly double as he picked up an additional block of 383 clone Syrah from a cooler section of the vineyard.  In barrel, this clone 383 block is already showing a different flavor profile than McPrice's original Larner block.  The two different blocks would show nicely on their own but will likely be blended together.   

In addition to the new block at Larner, McPrice added another exciting site to his Syrah line-up in 2004 - the Laetitia vineyard outside Arroyo Grande.  The Laetitia Vineyard is a beautiful site just miles from the Pacific and provides McPrice with Tablas and Syrah Noir clone fruit from a secluded block towards the back of the property.  From this cool climate known for Pinot and Chardonnay, McPrice has crafted a bright, cherry-filled Syrah with plenty of white-pepper spice to go around.

While Syrah may always provide the foundation for McPrice's line-up, his Grenache may end up as the flagship.  McPrice's 2003 Grenache sourced from the Alta Mesa Vineyard perched high above the Santa Maria AVA is an impressive effort.  All the exotic red fruit you expect from Grenache, but packed into a structured frame not often seen in this up-and-coming varietal.  It's like a fresh rhubarb pie - only made at the French Laundry rather than your local country kitchen.  

For 2004, McPrice will continue with a Grenache from the high altitude Alta Mesa Vineyard but has also added a block of Grenache from the Larner Vineyard.  He will also add a co-fermented Grenache/Mourvèdre blend and a late harvest Grenache to his line up. The Grenache/Mourvèdre blend is already showing intense complexity with as it seamlessly blends deep berry, chocolate, and toasted pecan flavors - it's a unique wine that will certainly be one to follow upon release.

In addition to the new vineyards for 2004, McPrice has moved his operation away from the traffic jam at CCWS and into the newly equipped Herman Story Winery just a few blocks away from CCWS in Santa Maria.  During his tour-of-duty at CCWS, McPrice met up with Russell From of Herman Story Wines who was nice enough to share a winemaking tip or two as well as some warehouse space in his newly upgraded facility.

With consistent fruit and a new facility, McPrice is looking forward building on his recent success in the coming vintages.  While he didn't start out with a load of experience, he's been a quick study over the past few vintages and has formulated an approach that suits him well.  He doesn't make his wines by the numbers, but rather practices what he calls "winemaking by taste."  McPrice knows the type of wine he likes to drink, that he is proud to have friends drink, and he lets his palatte guide him through the subtle decisions that turn out the finished product he wants.  As long as McPrice sticks to this recipe, we can all look forward to exciting Syrah and Grenache based wines from the McPrice Myers Wine Company for years to come.

Cheers - TG