Space Cadet
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–12 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Named with a touch of self-deprecating humor, 'Space Cadet' is Paul Lato's masterful exploration of the classic Rhône-style blend, typically marrying Syrah and Grenache. The name playfully references Lato's dream-like, artistic focus, which detractors once misunderstood before he cemented his reputation as one of California's most precise and focused winemakers. Sourced from prestigious sites in Santa Barbara County—most notably the sandy soils of the Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon—this cuvée benefits from a unique microclimate where warm days are tempered by cool, maritime winds. The sandy terroir imparts an ethereal perfume and remarkably polished, fine-grained tannins to the blend. In the cellar, Lato employs gentle handling and French oak aging to preserve the vibrant fruit purity, resulting in a wine that balances rich intensity with a striking, weightless elegance.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Syrah, Grenache