Our Rating
Santa Barbara County
Red Blend
Blending five varieties across multiple vineyard sites in Santa Barbara County, the 2020 Hidden Asset takes a focused, structural approach to ripeness. Composed of Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and a small portion of Cabernet Franc, this vintage leans into dark fruit and spice while maintaining composure through well-managed oak and firm tannins. At 14.5% ABV, it carries its weight with balance and clarity, offering a clear representation of the region’s warmer expressions.
Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards operates three estate vineyards across Santa Barbara County: Santa Maria Valley, Los Alamos, and Santa Ynez Valley. With over two dozen grape varieties under vine, the winery maintains a focus on site-driven winemaking and restrained oak use. Its portfolio includes both varietal wines and blends like Hidden Asset, which draw from multiple microclimates across the estate’s holdings.
Megan McGrath Gates has overseen winemaking at Lucas & Lewellen since 2007. With a background in both chemistry and viticulture, her approach favors structured wines with balanced profiles. She works closely with the vineyard team to match each site’s fruit with fermentation regimes and oak programs tailored to varietal expression.
Look
The wine pours a clear ruby with medium color intensity and high viscosity, forming slow, persistent legs in the glass.
Smell
Aromatics are pronounced, led by black cherry, raspberry, and black currant. Supporting notes include graphite, cedar, and green pepper, along with subtler touches of boysenberry and pomegranate. Hints of soil and oak add depth, with alcohol registering at a moderate-plus level on the nose.
Taste
On the palate, the wine is dry and full-bodied, with pronounced flavors of black cherry, plum, blackberry, and dark chocolate. A lift of mint and well-integrated oak reinforces its complexity. Tannins are medium-plus, giving the wine a firm grip, while acidity sits just below medium, creating a rounder, more polished impression. The finish is long, tapering with dark fruit and a faint trace of savory spice.
The 2020 Hidden Asset offers concentration without overextraction, layering fruit and structure in a composed, cellar-worthy style. While already expressive, it benefits from decanting and will likely develop more secondary character over the next decade. It’s a well-executed example of Santa Barbara County blending, bringing together varietal strength and site influence with restraint.
USA
Santa Barbara County
Red Blend
14.5
Megan McGrath Gates
30 Minutes
Now to 2035
Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
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