Ex Post Facto 2016 Syrah Wine 750ml

Winemaker Notes

Unbeknownst to many, Greg Brewer has been crafting seductive and compelling Syrah for 25 years. It’s not Syrah through a Pinot Noir producer’s perspective; it is Syrah through the lens of experience in distinctive cool-climate Santa Barbara wine country. The release of our third vintage delivers the exacting texture and pleasure you have come to know. Ex Post Facto, translated to mean “After the Fact”, encapsulates Greg’s slightly deviant desire to go outside his Brewer-Clifton paradigm to explore an outside muse.

Critical Acclaim

WE 93 Wine Enthusiast
This Syrah from Winemaker Greg Brewer is dynamic and built to last, starting with aromas of crushed peppercorn, tapenade, twigs, ground pepper, tar and elderberry fruit. The palate combines black currant with tart black-plum skin, thyme, bay and peppercorns, ending on flashes of tar and mocha.

V 92 Vinous
The 2016 Syrah is a very pretty wine from Greg Brewer’s Ex Post Facto project. Racy and perfumed in the glass, with striking aromatic presence, the 2016 makes a strong opening statement. The red and purplish berry fruit is nicely lifted by floral and savory overtones from the whole clusters. It will be interesting to see where this wine goes in the future. Certainly the debut vintage is promising. Brewer gave the fruit, from Spear, 4-5 days of cold soak followed by a lengthy fermentation/maceration of 45 days or so. The 2016 spent 16 months in neutral French oak.

JD 91 Jeb Dunnuck
Made by Greg Brewer and reminding me of a terrific St. Joseph, the 2016 Syrah Santa Barbara County has vibrant notes of red and black fruits, lots of pepper, hints of tapenade, and even a kiss of bacon fat. It’s elegant, medium-bodied, has high yet integrated acidity and a great finish. Readers looking for a more traditional, classic Syrah from California that has some Old World charm should check this out.

RP 90 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
A keenly priced new label from Greg Brewer, the characterful Ex Post Facto 2016 Syrah offers up a classic bouquet of cherry, smoked meats, raw cocoa and violets. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, supple and savory, with nice balance and length.