Andrew Murray Tous Les Jours Syrah 2018

Andrew Murray Tous Les Jours Syrah 2018 is a 100% Syrah from Santa Ynez Valley, California, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 93 points and an Editors' Choice designation from Wine Enthusiast, along with 91 points from Jeb Dunnuck — strong critical validation for a wine whose name translates from French as "every day."

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Santa Ynez Valley, Central Coast, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Winery: Andrew Murray Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Andrew Murray Vineyards is one of the Central Coast's most dedicated Rhône-variety specialists, with winemaker Andrew Murray building a reputation over decades for site-driven expressions of Syrah. The 2018 Tous Les Jours sources most of its fruit from the Foxen Canyon corridor, a cooler-climate pocket within Santa Ynez Valley where marine influence imparts natural acidity, deep color, and savory complexity that warmer valley-floor sites cannot replicate. The grapes were mostly destemmed and brought up in neutral oak, a deliberate approach that keeps varietal character and vineyard expression front and center rather than layering on new-barrel influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lavender and rosemary greet the nose first, followed by a wave of purple and blue fruit — blueberry, acai, and boysenberry. Deeper sniffs reveal hints of cigar box, crumbling rock, and a thread of smoke.

Taste: The entry is juicy and medium-bodied, with blue fruit and black cherry meeting zesty, food-friendly acidity. At mid-palate, asphalt, graphite, and cracked pepper emerge, building into a layered, savory core. Gentle oak framing supports the fruit without dominating it, and the peppery herbal character gives the wine a distinctly cool-climate personality.

Finish: Moderately long and textured, with lingering boysenberry, black plum, and a dusting of white pepper. The acidity keeps the finish lively and clean, inviting another sip.

How to Drink Tous Les Jours Syrah

This Syrah rewards a slight chill — around 60–64°F — served in a large-bowled glass that lets the aromatic complexity breathe. It drinks beautifully on its own but is built for the table. A Côtes du Rhône-style red wine spritz works surprisingly well with this wine's natural acidity. It stands up in a classic Kalimotxo riff for casual summer gatherings, though that may be a waste of 93-point wine. For a cocktail-adjacent approach, try it in a red wine sangria with stone fruit and rosemary, which echoes the wine's own herbal aromatics.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that deserve something a step above ordinary table wine
• Gifting a Rhône wine enthusiast curious about top California expressions
• Building a cellar of cool-climate California Syrah at an accessible price tier
• Hosting a comparative tasting of California Syrah versus Northern Rhône bottlings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tous Les Jours Syrah taste like? The 2018 delivers juicy blue and black fruit — blueberry, boysenberry, black plum — layered with savory notes of cracked pepper, asphalt, graphite, and dried herbs. It is medium-bodied with bright acidity and a cool-climate personality that distinguishes it from richer, warmer-climate Syrahs.

How does Tous Les Jours Syrah compare to a Northern Rhône Saint-Joseph? Critics have described this wine as "California's answer to a terrific Saint-Joseph," and the comparison is apt: both emphasize savory, peppery Syrah with restraint and acidity over sheer power. The Murray bottling tends toward slightly riper blue fruit and a rounder mid-palate, while Saint-Joseph typically shows more pronounced minerality and leaner structure.

Is Tous Les Jours Syrah good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its balanced acidity, layered aromatics, and moderate body make it an engaging glass on its own, particularly at a slight chill around 60–64°F.

Where is Tous Les Jours Syrah made? It is produced by Andrew Murray Vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, part of California's Central Coast. The fruit is primarily sourced from the Foxen Canyon corridor, a cooler sub-area known for producing Syrah with savory depth and natural acidity.

What foods pair well with Tous Les Jours Syrah? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's peppery, herbal character. Braised short ribs mirror its dark fruit and smoky undertones. Roasted duck breast with a berry reduction echoes the blueberry and boysenberry notes. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego complement the graphite and savory finish. Herb-crusted pork loin pairs well with the wine's rosemary and lavender aromatics.

What sizes does Tous Les Jours Syrah come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Tous Les Jours Syrah worth the price? Positioned as an accessible, everyday-tier Syrah — the name literally means "every day" — it punches well above its weight class, as evidenced by a 93-point Editors' Choice score from Wine Enthusiast. For cool-climate California Syrah at this quality level, it represents strong value.

Why Tous Les Jours Syrah?

The 2018 vintage stands out because it captures genuinely cool-climate Syrah character from one of Santa Ynez Valley's most distinctive corridors, Foxen Canyon, where marine influence creates conditions more commonly associated with the Northern Rhône than with Southern California. Neutral oak aging lets that terroir speak without cosmetic interference. A 93-point Editors' Choice from Wine Enthusiast and 91 points from Jeb Dunnuck confirm this is not just a pleasant daily drinker but a seriously well-made wine. For anyone drawn to peppery, savory, site-expressive Syrah, this bottling delivers a rare combination of complexity and approachability.