This is a wine of exceptional extraction, richness, and depth. The color is an opaque black/purple, and the wine offers up classic tar, cassis, and bacon fat aromas. Full-bodied, with no hard edges, this profoundly concentrated, mouthfilling, voluptuously-textured Syrah possesses all the necessary components to age beautifully for a decade or more. However, the wine's explosive richness and enticing aromatics will insure that much of it is drunk within hours of purchase. Ojai has turned out an impressive wine. If I were to invest in vineyard land in California, I would consider three spots - northern California's Anderson Valley and Sonoma Coast for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Santa Barbara for Syrah. Over the last several years, there has been considerable evidence that Adam Tolmach's Ojai Vineyard is among the leading candidates for Santa Barbara's top winery. The brilliance of these wines over the last several vintages has been uncontestable. Ojai's new releases include many stunning wines, particularly the Pinot Noir and Syrah offerings. This is not to say the whites are uninteresting. Tel. (805) 649-1674