2015 Grenache

This is a remarkable set of wines from Bill Kimsey and the team headed by winemaker Matt Dees and viticulturist Ruben Solorzano. The Kimsey wines have always offered huge fruit and plenty of personality. But they have also been massively tannic and not exactly subtle. What struck me most about these new and upcoming releases was how polished the tannins have become. According to Dees, the estate is now focused almost exclusively on the own-rooted blocks within the property (especially for Syrah), which he attributes to the greater finesse in the wines. In just a few short years, Kimsey has become a new reference point in Ballard Canyon and Santa Barbara more broadly.

Bill and Nancy Kimsey have established a serious reputation for quality in a very short time. Vineyard guru Ruben Solorzano opted for high-density planting and own-rooted vines in developing the property. Matt Dees makes the wines. In addition to their own wines, the Kimseys also sell fruit to a handful of other producers. The wines made from this site share intensity, darkness and power as signatures. Bill Kimsey enjoyed a long career at Ernst & Young, where rose to become CEO. Kimsey has applied that same determination to his second career. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see where this property goes in the coming years.