The 2012 Syrah Santa Barbara County is a solid value that’s a great intro into the new style here. Very pretty, fresh and lively, it offers notions of violets, pepper, earth and juicy berry fruits to go with a medium-bodied, forward and already delicious style. I don’t think it will make old bones, but it should dish out loads of pleasure over the coming 3-4 years.
This was a mammoth tasting with winemaker Adam Tolmach and assistant Fabien Castel. While I had a number of these shipped to my office in Colorado (where I was able to follow the wines for multiple days), there were still upward of 30 bottles to taste through when I showed up at the estate. Adam continues to pull in his harvest dates, and in a number of cases, has released two cuvees from each vineyard, one harvested early (the Special Bottling) and one harvested later, which is still on the early edge. I have mixed feelings about the new style here, and while these early pick dates give his wines beautiful tension, acidity and energy, it comes at the expense of texture and richness, and the wines have a sappy, resinous, if not green, character that won’t be for everyone. Nevertheless, there are certainly some outstanding wines here.
Tel. (805) 649-1674; www.ojaivineyard.com
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