2023 Waypoint Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah Santa Maria Valley

From the verdant valley slopes to the stately redwood canopies, across the windswept coastal reaches to the rich peaks of volcanic earth, Matt Sands and Philippe Melka know no bounds in their search for the highest caliber vineyards in Northern California.

Waypoint wines are crafted with fruit sourced from some of the most outstanding terroirs in Napa Valley. Winemakers Melka and Sands say, “It is about letting the wines speak for themselves and listening to how the historical terroir is expressed."

Crafted by these two wine rock stars, Philippe Melka and Matt Sands. Melka needs no introduction. This 100-point winemaker, originally from Bordeaux, started his wine journey in Chateau Haut Brion. He’s the mastermind behind some of Napa Valley's most celebrated wines. And Matt Sands, a talented winemaker originally from New Zealand, has forged his expertise in some of the most iconic wineries in the world, like Man O' War, Goldie Vineyard, Stonybridge Vineyard, and Screaming Eagle. Together, they’ve created this piece of art.  

Behind this wine is the uncompromising vision of Alejandro Bulgheroni, the billionaire vintner whose global pursuit of terroir led him to create Napa icons like Lithology. Bulgheroni’s philosophy is simple: acquire the world’s most exceptional land and entrust it to the world’s greatest winemakers. By bringing the same "no-expense-spared" precision used to craft his $300+ Napa Cabernets to the historic soils of Bien Nacido, he has created a Syrah of unrivaled pedigree.

Under his stewardship, the winemaking team of Philippe Melka and Matt Sands has been given total freedom to produce a wine that prioritizes site-transparency and restraint over trends, resulting in a world-class bottle that stands as a testament to Bulgheroni’s commitment to excellence.

Think of Bien Nacido the way wine lovers think of the great single-vineyard sites of Burgundy or the Northern Rhône — a name with its own gravity. One of the oldest cool-climate vineyards in California, Bien Nacido has been the secret weapon behind some of the state's most celebrated bottles for over fifty years. Scores of acclaimed producers compete for its fruit. The vineyard's name — "Well Born" in Spanish — honors its history: planted on the site of the Rancho Tepusquet land grant, a plot of land granted to Tomás Olivera in 1837 when California was still part of Mexico. The Olivera Family's adobe, built in 1857, still stands on the estate today.

The Santa Ynez Mountains channel cold Pacific air through the valley, creating a growing climate that extends the season and preserves acidity and finesse while building real concentration. For lovers of Syrah — whether from the Northern Rhône, Washington, or Paso Robles — this wine speaks a more refined dialect: darker, cooler, more mineral, and built to age.