Today we share the great Koehler wines, one of the really enticing producers of Santa Barbara County. Koehler farms a 40-acre property that includes 50-year-old estate vines. Many serving their viticultural team have been with Koehler Winery for decades. Derek Koehler grew up on the estate and spent a semester in France studying international practices within the wine industry. Today he is in charge of the operations of the family winery.
Wines are made by Trace Brueske and were seriously good across the board. Check out the fabulous 2024 Koehler ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which exudes class and value. This is an amazing rendition of good value Santa Barbara Pinot with its salty core of red fruits and is one to buy by the case. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://www.koehlerwinery.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Koehler Family Wines.
2024 Koehler ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the ‘Maria Vista Vineyard’ this 2024 Pinot Noir opens with tart red fruits and sandalwood tones alongside salty soil nuances on the nose. The palate is soft and juicy, brimming with vibrant red fruits alongside damp soil accents. This is already beautifully evolved stuff that is drinking great its heady youth. Buy this by the case! Drink 2026-2032- 93
2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Pinot Noir- Another outstanding edition of this wine, the 2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Pinot Noir is beautifully-textured and shows great finesse. Bright Bing cherry and red raspberry flavors parade with lavender and salty soils on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2026-2032- 93
2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Grenache- The 2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Grenache shows off pretty potpourri tones on the nose with Mandarin orange rind, pomegranate seed and tobacco leaf accents. The palate shows nice finesse and a soft texture on the mouth, brimming with bright and sweet red fruits. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Abodes Vineyard’ Grenache- Soft and approachable, the 2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Abodes Vineyard’ Grenache offers forward and juicy red fruits with citrus zest and damp soil notes on the palate, with stony accents. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2023 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Sangiovese- Light tannic, the 2023 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Sangiovese offers sea salt dusted Yakima cherry and loganberry flavors that combine with rocky accents on the palate. Light to medium-bodied, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy this really well-made Sangio now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2023 Koehler ‘Sycamore Ranch’ Sangiovese- The 2023 ‘Sycamore Ranch’ Sangiovese shows up translucent in the glass, offering red florals with red lociroce and salty soil notes on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2023 Koehler ‘Estate Grown’ Mourvedre- Sourced from old vines at their estate vineyard, this 2023 Mourvèdre was stored in neutral oak for 16 months prior to bottling. Totally translucent in the glass, this delivers good meaty character alongside pretty red fruits on the palate, with excellent freshness and length. Salty and savory, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2026-2032- 93
2023 Koehler ‘Nolan Ranch’ Mencia- Sourced from the ‘Nolan Ranch’ the 2023 Koehler Mencia was stored for 16 months in neutral oak before bottling. Iodine, tar, black cherry and salty nuances all fill the palate. Fresh, vibrant and neatly-textured, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Canyon’ Syrah- Quite different than its ‘Whole Cluster’ cousin, the 2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Canyon’ Syrah is more approachable now. A great core of red fruits greets you alongside diatom, wet gravel, charcuterie and red licorice notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2023 Koehler ‘Whole-Cluster’ Syrah- Coming from the Ballard Adobes Vineyard, this 100% whole-cluster fermented Syrah delivers concentrated dark fruits on the palate, with tar, green peppercorns, bulls blood and iodine notes alongside salty soil nuances. Full-bodied and intense, give this another year in the bottle to fully develop. Drink 2027-2037- 94
2023 Koehler ‘Happy Canyon’ Cabernet Franc- This 2023 ‘Happy Canyon’ Cabernet Franc is wonderfully herbal on the nose with green bell pepper, exotic spices and dense dark fruits. The palate has a nice graphite edge, with soft tannins that frame a generous core of red and dark fruits, with salty and loamy soil nuances. Drink 2026-2034- 92
2022 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers medium-bodied dark fruits that mingle with chocolate and anise seed flavors. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 90