Pec and Burl Cuvee #3 Red Blend Napa Valley 2021

Some wine projects begin with a five-year plan. Others begin with two college kids, a backpack, and a one-way ticket to Europe. Keaton Burlington and Dylan Pecchenino met while studying wine and viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo — two Central Valley natives drawn to the same pursuit. Their friendship was forged in vineyards and late nights, but it was a 44-day trip across five European countries that quietly set the course. With little more than a rough itinerary and a shared sense of curiosity, they wandered through cellars and hillside towns, soaking in the intentional, deeply rooted culture of places like Barolo. There, wine felt less like a product and more like a creative expression. That perspective stayed with them.

Back home, they honed their craft under serious mentorship. Both worked under Justin Smith at Saxum Vineyards, where intensity and precision are the norm. Keaton remained there for six years, while Dylan broadened his path through Turtle Rock and Ledge in Paso Robles before eventually heading north to Napa Valley, working at Dana Estates and now Aonair and Reverie II in St. Helena. Along the way, Pec & Burl took shape — playful in spirit but increasingly focused in execution. Cuvée #3 feels like a turning point in this story.

If you had told them a few years ago they’d be crafting their third Napa Valley vintage, they would have laughed. Yet here it is — a wine that bridges their Paso roots with Napa precision. The 2021 introduces a new Syrah site in Coombsville, where the cooling influence of the San Pablo Bay pushes coastal winds into the southern reaches of the valley. The result is Syrah (82% of the blend) with dark black and blue fruit intensity, yet lifted by vibrant acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena makes up the difference, adding structure and textural depth, grounding the blend with classic Napa architecture. A healthy portion of new French oak brings polish and breadth without sacrificing energy. The wine is indulgent, yes — but also deliberate. There is richness, but it’s carried by freshness. Power, but not heaviness. It reflects two friends who have grown up in the industry together, whose wines evolve as they do — each vintage another chapter in a shared pursuit. Pec & Burl may carry a playful name, but Cuvée #3 shows just how serious that pursuit has become.