I love seeing California’s historic sites in the hands of its newest generation. Over the last decade there are great examples of how the torch has been passed: Bien Nacido's Block-X by Bedrock, Freedom Hill by Kelley Fox, Sanford & Benedict by Arnot Roberts.

And, one of our recent landings is maybe the most dedicated example of this: Ibarra-Young Vineyard and its newest stewards, Alice Anderson and Topher de Felice of Âmevive Wine. The own-rooted site is essential to the story of American wine, and the wines and work being done there right now are maybe its best yet. More below!

Ibarra-Young vineyard, photo via Âmevive

IBARRA-YOUNG VINEYARD

Ibarra-Young was one of the very first sites ever planted in Santa Barbara's Santa Ynez Valley, by Charlotte Young in 1971. Everything here (including the “newer” plantings from ‘73 and the early '90s) is own-rooted and organically farmed. The site has Syrah, Mourvedre, Marsanne; and suitcase cuttings of Tempranillo and Graciano.

Bob Lindquist was the first to highlight how special this place is with these varietals. A trailblazer in American wine, Bob (like Steven Edmunds whom we highlighted earlier in the year, and Randall Graham) was one of the founding fathers of Rhône varietals in the United States. Showing that, in the right sites, American wine is as elegant, aromatic and long lived as their French peers. His wines from this site defined an era of American wine. And while his winery Qupé sold in 2018, luckily the work here persists in arguably its most exciting chapter, via Âmevive.

ÂMEVIVE WINE

In 2019, Alice Anderson and her partner Topher de Felice started to lease and farm 10 acres in Ibarra Young. They’ve converted their parcel from organic to biodynamic, with an aggressive focus on revitalizing the soils; bringing back a hospitable environment for species that feed the soil and regenerate the environment.

Alice and Topher in the vineyard; photo via Polaner Selections

Alice was first exposed to biodynamics in New Zealand where she worked in Rippon Vineyard, then learned all-things-Syrah in the Northern Rhône. She impressively worked at Pierre Gaillard, earning her way over two years from intern to caviste at the highly respected address. Finally landing back in the US in 2017, she set her feet at nearby Tyler and Tatomer before fully dedicating herself to Âmevive.

2019 was the first vintage and, immediately, you can see how Alice's host of experiences marry beautifully with Ibarra-Young. She makes a wide range of wine, many of which are based on Rhône varietals. Throughout, you can see a steady hand that confidently makes clean, natural wines, as serious as the site’s legacy.

All fermented naturally, almost exclusively raised in old wood and bottled with a touch of SO2 (except one no-sulfur cuvee). Stylistically, our mind runs to the wines of Sandlands and (also from a historic vineyard) Scar of the Sea – i.e. some of our favorites.

2023 ÂMEVIVE 'NOTHING BUT LOVE' SANTA BARBARA, CA
The one 00 wine in the lineup, it's a grippy, quenching blend of 50% Syrah, 50% Gamay. $42

2023 ÂMEVIVE MARSANNE ESTATE IBARRA-YOUNG VINEYARD, LOS OLIVOS, CA
These vines were planted in 1973, in Ibarra-Young Vineyard. One of the finest examples of this varietal, showing the particularly sandy site it's planted in: silty, firm. Deeply impressive wine. $46

2023 ÂMEVIVE 'PERIPHERIE' ESTATE IBARRA-YOUNG VINEYARD, LOS OLIVOS, CA
From the original ‘71 plantings, this is a proper co-harvested, co-fermented wine of Syrah, Mourvedre, Marsanne. Smells and tastes of the Northern Rhône with the lift of new California. $46

2023 ÂMEVIVE ROSÉ OF GRACIANO ESTATE IBARRA-YOUNG VINEYARD, LOS OLIVOS, CA
This wine comes from a small block at Ibarra-Young planted in the late '90’s. It's quickly foot stomped before being pressed off into old wood. A serious rosé w/ impressive length. $39

2023 ÂMEVIVE GAMAY NOIR, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
A whole cluster take from two sites (including OG biodynamic Martian Ranch) that is seriously delicious now but, like the best Cru Beaujolais, has the legs to age many years. $40

2023 ÂMEVIVE ALBARIÑO, SANTA BARBARA
Also from biodynamic Martian Ranch, one of the few wines that spends some of the èlevage in tank - making it the snappiest wines in the lineup. $37