A traditional style that stands out from the so-called "California Syrah"
If you are a wine connoisseur, you might think of Syrah as an elegant and delicate type of wine from the Northern Rhône. And California Syrah, by contrast, is ripe, jammy and full-bodied gatoon!
This Ohi Vineyards Santa Barbara Syrah may overturn such preconceptions.
Founder and winemaker Adam Tolmach has been making wine in the Santa Barbara area for nearly 40 years. Taking advantage of the coolness that is not found in other California regions, we make wine in a traditional French style that sets us apart from the general California style.
The 2017 vintage uses Syrah from four vineyards in the Santa Barbara region. An expressive wine with a good balance of fruit and spice.
91 Parker Points! Ruby color with purplish hues, aromas of blueberries, boysenberries, earth, meat, minerals and pepper. The medium-bodied palate is structured with fresh blue and black fruits and moderate tannins. The aftertaste is long and hierarchical. A must-try Syrah for French Syrah fans.
Blend Composition:
- Syrah 87%
- Grenache 10%
- Barbera 3%
Contents: 750ml Alcohol: 13.5%
*Because this product is purchased from a cooperative importer, it may take an extra 1-2 business days to ship.
Syrah, of all the grapes I've worked with over 34 years, remains my biggest obsession and our flagship variety at The Ojai Vineyard. That said, after many years it remains a misunderstood grape in California; many people aren't sure whether to expect something jammy, thick and sweet or something peppery, savory and lively.
The cool, often foggy climate of northern Santa Barbara County turns out to be one of the most ideal places to grow Syrah anywhere outside of the northern Rhone Valley in France (which is where I take my cues with this grape). valleys that run East-West and are open to the cold Pacific Ocean, so they feed brisk coastal breezes inland and Syrah ripens gradually. Instead of thick, jammy fruitiness that Syrah shows from warm vineyards, here you get that mysteriously earthy, exotic and spicy side of the variety.
As has been for a few years, the backbone of this 2017 bottling is Syrah grown on steep wind-blasted slopes at John Sebastiano. This site provides loads of gamey, tobacco inflected flavor and tractor beam drinkability, with aromas that show incense smoke and pepper galore! For some textural power we blended in a bit of warmer-climate Syrah from Roll Ranch and a touch of Grenache, also from John Sebastiano. This blend offers a cross-section of everything I love about Syrah: great earthy fragrance, savory fruit , and a mid-weight feel that is quenching and delicious with a fine meal.
Vineyards/Blend: 23% Bien Nacido, 15% Roll Ranch Syrah, 41% John Sebastiano Syrah, 10% Grenache John Sebastiano,8% Syrah RW 3% Barbera Rich| Alc: 13.5% | Vinification: New French Oak | Barrel Aging: 10 Months | Total Production: 1341 cases