2021 Samuel Louis Smith, Sandstone Terrace Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains; watercolor table by Sam Smith

In 2014 as a micro-négociant, Sam Smith started his own label Samuel Louis Smith Wines which focuses on higher elevation, cool climate, organic sources. Smith’s unusual path to winemaking started in Bakersfield, where he grew up making art, and learning languages.  He continued studying French and Spanish at UC Santa Barbara, but a semester in Bordeaux taught him about wine; later he completed the UC Davis winemaking certificate. He’s worked in wineries around the world including some famous ones in the Rhone, and his day job is as the winemaker at organic Morgan in the Santa Lucia Hills working with owner and founder Dan Lee. His father helps with financial aspects of his business, and Sam Smith does the art for his SLS labels himself. I interviewed him for Slow Wine Guide; while he waxed poetic he was waxing the corks. Here are some excerpts from our conversation.

When he went to Bordeaux, Sam says “I was already interested in wine but didn’t know a whole lot about it. I lived with a French host family and we drank wine: Sunday suppers. That’s where I first learned how to drink wine and how to better recognize subtleties.” At UC Davis, Sam says he earned a winemaking certificate: “It doesn’t teach you how to make wine but how to fix wine.”

Sam likes to pick grapes early “to have nice freshness and natural acidity but also maintain flavor profile that’s not overly sweet on the palate. I like structure and acidity but will age well.” Wines are fermented using native yeasts which he cultures “to leverage and highlight the yeast coming from the vineyards.”  Reds are unfined unfiltered; the chardonnays not as they are 100% ML so filtered. 

Sam selects organic higher elevation and cooler with most vineyard sites in Monterey Bay area looking for “mountainous high elevation cool climate good growers good people limiting factors” remarking that “I spend a lot of money on grapes and they spend a lot of money on farming and I want good people. Most of the vineyards are handshake deals but I have good relationships ” The exception is his chardonnay from Spear in the Sta Rita Hills close to the ocean. Spear keeps him connected with his start at UCSB: “It maintains contact with the area but more than that I spend a lot of time down there with close family and friends. Spear fits and checks most or all of the boxes of what I’m trying to do.” 

Unfortunately Sam Smith won’t be pouring his wines at the Rhone Rangers Experience on Sunday Feb. 18, but wines he makes for Morgan will be there so check them out if you go!

SLS Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains with a blue cheese burger

2018 Samuel Louis Smith Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains 

ABV: 12.9%
SRP: $35
Grapes: Syrah
purchased on sale

This is Bottle no. 1301 of 1800, Santa Cruz Mountains, Sandstone terrace from only 6 barrels produced, unfiltered.

Appearance: Dark and dense, mulberry, violet, ruby rim.

Aroma: Violet, boysenberry, blueberry, mulberry, black pepper, rose potpourri, 

Palate: Tart boysenberry, mulberry, nice in body, a bit of crab apple on the finish, clay or limestone minerality,  smooth, tannins have been nicely integrated, eucalyptus or minty freshness, cool and refreshing for a red wine. 

Pairing:  The smoked and grilled burgers adds a layer of flavor that this wine just loves. The richness of the lamb also goes perfectly with the Syrah. There was a decent amount of pepper seasoning that also highlighted the wine.

2021 Samuel Louis Smith, Sandstone Terrace Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains

2021 Samuel Louis Smith, Sandstone Terrace Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains

ABV 12.8%
SRP $36
sample for my review for Slow Wine Guide

Color: Ruby, a bit cloudy, bright pink rim

Aroma: Blueberry, boysenberry, violet and iris, potpourri, violet pastilles, wet damp moist forest. 

Palate: Bright tart boysenberry, violet, mud, silt, mineral finish blue fruit, eucalyptus, and a bit of sage, rose petals, mulberry.

What I said about this wine for Slow Wine Guide: Ruby with aromas of blue and boysenberry, potpourri, violet pastilles, moist forest and on the palate tart boysenberry, mulberry, violet, silty minerals, eucalyptus, sage.

Happy Syrah Day! What’s in your glass?