Lillian > California

Maggie Harrison was assistant winemaker to Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non for eight years before moving to Oregon to take over the wine making position at Antica Terra. Lillian represents Maggie’s personal project and reflects everything that she learned during her time at Sine Qua Non.

The White Hawk Vineyard is planted on ancient sand dunes on the south facing slope of Cat Canyon, a side of the Los Alamos Valley in Santa Barbara County. It’s 21 miles west of the Pacific and 2 miles north of Los Alamos and planted at 900 feet elevation. This region is recognized as a top producing wine region. Fog often embraces the small vineyard in the morning before gentle afternoon breezes chase it away to allow the sun's rays to slowly ripen the fruit.

The vineyard is farmed using sustainable and primarily organic viticulture. The yields are minuscule and the berries intense with a strong core of acidity that is complemented by elements of meat and blackberries. Other wineries that source fruit from this venerable vineyard include Sine Qua Non, Ojai and Andrew Murray.

Syrah 05 - White Hawk vineyard

“The Lillian 2005 Syrah exhibits a beautiful deep ruby/purple hue in addition to a sweet bouquet of flowers, black currants, forest floor, and subtle road tar. Full-bodied and gorgeously textured with terrific fruit purity, outstanding depth, and an impeccably well-balanced, savory mouthfeel with no hard edges, this beautiful Syrah can be drunk now or cellared for another 7-10 years.”

Rating: 92

Wine Advocate # 177 (Jun 2008)

“Youthful inky purple. Intensely perfumed, exotic aromas of exuberant black and blue fruits, tobacco, smoky minerals, incense and Indian spices. Plump and juicy, with deep, sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors, soft tannins and sweet vanilla and mocha qualities. A velvety palate-stainer with excellent finishing breadth and persistence. Maggie Harrison was an assistant winemaker at Sine Qua Non, and this wine shows that pedigree.”

Rating 91

Josh Raynolds

Nov./Dec/ 08