Trademark Syrah barnyard plays over the palate that includes underbrush, pepper and slightly underripe blueberry. Not Brett barnyard, more like animal dung and sweat. The nose shows leather and light aromatic notes. Not outstanding, good, a bit pricey at $30 10 years ago on realease.
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A stunningly well-made Syrah with exactly the right balance, integration and proportions. This wine is drinking superbly right now and delivers pure joy. As I have written many times before , tre are few more underrated wines than the ones from Ojai. The 2006 White Hawk delivers the very typical refined and elegant combination of power, elegance and fruit. The fruit is totally on par with all the other components, yet it manages to elevate its voice a bit but certainly in a rather gentle and intriguing manner. Power is expressed by a marvelous 50+ second length on the finish! Despite more than ten years rest there is plenty of both texture and structure. This effort will continue to age well for another five to ten years. A totally brilliant wine!
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Can't find notes. Paired with grilled Halibut and actually went well.
This has aged well and was good on night 2 as well. Saline, tobacco, dark fruits on nose & palate. Very nice structure with medium+ acids, integrated tannins and long finish.
92-93 (Probably would put down 93 if I had saved my notes). Would buy again.
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Opens kind of old tasting, but sheds that skin after about 20 minutes. Nice, slightly hot nose, great mouth, and a really great length. The heat detracts some, but the general picture is fantastic. Great red strawberry and cherry fruit with some peppery heat. Not so much earth tones, which robs the wine of a bit of complexity, but what's left is still a very good bottle.
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A total stunner, which was certainly expected. There are few more underrated wines than the ones from Ojai. As usual the very refined and elegant combination of power, elegance and fruit permeate the first impression. The Syrah fruit is allowed to raise its voice in this wine but in a rather gentle and intriguing manner. Power is manifested by a joyful 50+ second length on the finish! Despite ten years in the cellar, texture and structure tell me this effort has several years to go. It will continue to develop and grow on its strengths for at least another five years or more. Again, a totally brilliant wine! (score is 94+)
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A Wine Access purchase of some four years or more ago - part of a syrah sampler package that proved to be a good buy. For those that like the dense, inky, velvet, ripe fruit characteristics of your syrah, then I think you would like this quite a bit. On the evidence it has plenty of life to go and I would be happy to have more in the cellar; alas there are none.
Kind of brooding aroma, faint sweet berry and floral notes, palate-coating plums and dark ripe fruit, velvet mouth feel, medium acidity, smooth lingering finish.
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Absolutely brilliant. The number one reason this wine is actually brilliant isbecause it combines three elements I love: power, elegance and fruit. Power and elegance are maybe considered as mutually exclusive by some wine aficionados, but I beg to differ. The Syrah fruit is certainly allowed to speak up in this wine but in a gentle and very inviting way. At the same time power is manifested by a 55 second length on the finish. Texture and structure tell me this effort has several years left in the cellar. It will continue to develop and grow on its strengths. Again, this is a brilliant wine!
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I liked this wine a lot more when it was first opened than an hour later. At that point, I found that the tasty notes were a bit dominated by the structure notes, and the pleasure of the wine was diminished.
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Lots of dark fruit, plums, black cherries etc. Decanted for two hours, still young but drinks very well now. Not too jammy with nicely integrated tannins and oak.
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This syrah is drinking wonderfully right now. Popped and poured and it was fantastic. Rich, full-bodied, fruit forward, beautiful mid-palate and nice finish. Drink now!
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Thick, dark purple. Very aromatic, black cherry, vanilla, licorice, anise, and a floral undertone that developed with air. Alcohol not entirely masked, but integrated. Creamy and rich on the palate with a good hit of acid to go along. Kept it lively. Very good finish, with grippy tannins and a little smoke. Finish went to nearly a minute.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours before dinner - grilled ribs - needs more time. Floral / meat / blackberry on nose. Medium body, good acidic structure, blackberry, black cherry, cherry on palate with long finish. 91-92 range. [edit] Left overnight in cellar under vacu-vin. Gained weight overnight and more raspberry / bright fruit profile - if opening now decant for several hours. 92+ on night 2.
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Wild red berries and sweet coco nut on the nose. Darker plummy fruit in the mouth. A bit jammy but very nice. I think it will be even better in a year or two. Good length.
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Simply adorable, this being the last vintage before Adam Tolmach begun changing his style into less alcohol, less mature fruit and more acidity, the 2006 Syrah from White Hawk vineyard is a very nice example of what the Ojai Winery is capable of producing in terms of expressiveness and elegance combined. The nose reveals dark sweet licorice, morellos, boysenberries and a slight whiff of smoked bacon. The palate is elegant, yet forward and expressive. The length on the finish is lovely and lasts for 40 seconds or more. Probably not necessary to say, but the overall impression is very positive.
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Ojai Syrahs are just lovely wines with a clear and pure fruit, balanced tannins and oak joined by an elegant acidity. The 2006 White Hawk is no exception, but shows a little more expressive tannins tonight, probably due to the youth of this effort. Overall impression is very positive. (score is 92-93)
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This 2006 drinks well now, possessing aromas of ripe blackberries and plums. There is an underlying spiciness that adds depth to the palate but does not overpower. Nice smooth, silky finish.
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Popped the Cork and replaced after 5hrs of exposure to air, then refrigerated overnight for consumption the next day. Color was dark red/purple with aromas of black fruits hints of spice, licorice and barnyard. The palate was smooth with initial attacks of black fruits and spice, however the astringency of this young wine took over at the back end and was the predominant character. This acidity was however muted with food. So for me this is an unbalanced wine and I would only consume with food.
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Poured through the aerator the bubbles are inky and purple, while viewed from lighting below the color is an intense scarlet, tricks of the light. Initially the aroma is completely closed in; even after a few hours and vigorous shaking, it is difficult to tease more than a fleeting resinous glimpse of anise-tinged dark fruits. On the palate, dense, silky smooth and concentrated; but not for a while do strikingly discernible flavours emerge, so tight is it. Predominantly blueberry and other dark berries, laced with anise, dark chocolate, smooth, a slightly gamey note, nothing over-ripe or cooked.
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Popped and poured. Received last week. Perhaps should have let it settle more. Tight intense wine. With cheese showed nice anise note. Perhaps will be better tomorrow?
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1/21/2024 - Xfactor Likes this wine: 92 Points
A beauty at this age. Decanted. Lots of fruit and earth, then quieted down and composed at 2+ hours.
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12/7/2020 - Mingestrom Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark fruit and tobacco, drink now, tannins fully integrated, long finish.
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1/26/2020 - Mingestrom Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of dark fruit with integrated tannins, well balanced and very long, not to sweet and jammy, excellent wine.
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9/11/2018 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
Trademark Syrah barnyard plays over the palate that includes underbrush, pepper and slightly underripe blueberry. Not Brett barnyard, more like animal dung and sweat. The nose shows leather and light aromatic notes. Not outstanding, good, a bit pricey at $30 10 years ago on realease.
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2/2/2018 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 95 Points
A stunningly well-made Syrah with exactly the right balance, integration and proportions. This wine is drinking superbly right now and delivers pure joy. As I have written many times before , tre are few more underrated wines than the ones from Ojai. The 2006 White Hawk delivers the very typical refined and elegant combination of power, elegance and fruit. The fruit is totally on par with all the other components, yet it manages to elevate its voice a bit but certainly in a rather gentle and intriguing manner. Power is expressed by a marvelous 50+ second length on the finish! Despite more than ten years rest there is plenty of both texture and structure. This effort will continue to age well for another five to ten years. A totally brilliant wine!
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11/4/2017 - CWilliam wrote:
Can't find notes. Paired with grilled Halibut and actually went well.
This has aged well and was good on night 2 as well. Saline, tobacco, dark fruits on nose & palate. Very nice structure with medium+ acids, integrated tannins and long finish.
92-93 (Probably would put down 93 if I had saved my notes). Would buy again.
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12/7/2016 - jbaron wrote: 93 Points
Opens kind of old tasting, but sheds that skin after about 20 minutes. Nice, slightly hot nose, great mouth, and a really great length. The heat detracts some, but the general picture is fantastic. Great red strawberry and cherry fruit with some peppery heat. Not so much earth tones, which robs the wine of a bit of complexity, but what's left is still a very good bottle.
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9/24/2016 - jbaron Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite tasty... after the fact. Might could use another few years, but no harm in having now.
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6/25/2016 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A total stunner, which was certainly expected. There are few more underrated wines than the ones from Ojai. As usual the very refined and elegant combination of power, elegance and fruit permeate the first impression. The Syrah fruit is allowed to raise its voice in this wine but in a rather gentle and intriguing manner. Power is manifested by a joyful 50+ second length on the finish! Despite ten years in the cellar, texture and structure tell me this effort has several years to go. It will continue to develop and grow on its strengths for at least another five years or more. Again, a totally brilliant wine! (score is 94+)
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2/15/2016 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
Surprisingly youthful and fresh with juicy blackberry, smoke.
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10/19/2015 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
A Wine Access purchase of some four years or more ago - part of a syrah sampler package that proved to be a good buy. For those that like the dense, inky, velvet, ripe fruit characteristics of your syrah, then I think you would like this quite a bit. On the evidence it has plenty of life to go and I would be happy to have more in the cellar; alas there are none.
Kind of brooding aroma, faint sweet berry and floral notes, palate-coating plums and dark ripe fruit, velvet mouth feel, medium acidity, smooth lingering finish.
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10/10/2015 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely brilliant. The number one reason this wine is actually brilliant isbecause it combines three elements I love: power, elegance and fruit. Power and elegance are maybe considered as mutually exclusive by some wine aficionados, but I beg to differ. The Syrah fruit is certainly allowed to speak up in this wine but in a gentle and very inviting way. At the same time power is manifested by a 55 second length on the finish. Texture and structure tell me this effort has several years left in the cellar. It will continue to develop and grow on its strengths. Again, this is a brilliant wine!
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7/8/2015 - jbaron wrote: 90 Points
I liked this wine a lot more when it was first opened than an hour later. At that point, I found that the tasty notes were a bit dominated by the structure notes, and the pleasure of the wine was diminished.
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2/15/2015 - Mingestrom Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of dark fruit, plums, black cherries etc. Decanted for two hours, still young but drinks very well now. Not too jammy with nicely integrated tannins and oak.
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12/15/2014 - stantheman Likes this wine: 93 Points
This syrah is drinking wonderfully right now. Popped and poured and it was fantastic. Rich, full-bodied, fruit forward, beautiful mid-palate and nice finish. Drink now!
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8/12/2013 - lolo66 wrote: 90 Points
Intense dark wine with strong notes of cured olives and meats. This has balance, well made, but my palate has shifted away from a wine like this.
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10/25/2012 - Wamrod wrote: 92 Points
Thick, dark purple. Very aromatic, black cherry, vanilla, licorice, anise, and a floral undertone that developed with air. Alcohol not entirely masked, but integrated. Creamy and rich on the palate with a good hit of acid to go along. Kept it lively. Very good finish, with grippy tannins and a little smoke. Finish went to nearly a minute.
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9/23/2012 - edarrincox wrote: 90 Points
Must decant before drinking--if you do, you'll be rewarded by black cherry notes with just the right acidity. Hints of licorice and garden spice.
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5/13/2012 - Sundbyberg wrote: 90 Points
Decent but in comparison to Denner, the dirt worshipper, which we had at the same time, this wine is just alright.
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5/7/2012 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours before dinner - grilled ribs - needs more time. Floral / meat / blackberry on nose. Medium body, good acidic structure, blackberry, black cherry, cherry on palate with long finish. 91-92 range. [edit] Left overnight in cellar under vacu-vin. Gained weight overnight and more raspberry / bright fruit profile - if opening now decant for several hours. 92+ on night 2.
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4/19/2012 - St Paul wrote: 94 Points
Wild red berries and sweet coco nut on the nose. Darker plummy fruit in the mouth. A bit jammy but very nice. I think it will be even better in a year or two. Good length.
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4/18/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 94 Points
Simply adorable, this being the last vintage before Adam Tolmach begun changing his style into less alcohol, less mature fruit and more acidity, the 2006 Syrah from White Hawk vineyard is a very nice example of what the Ojai Winery is capable of producing in terms of expressiveness and elegance combined. The nose reveals dark sweet licorice, morellos, boysenberries and a slight whiff of smoked bacon. The palate is elegant, yet forward and expressive. The length on the finish is lovely and lasts for 40 seconds or more. Probably not necessary to say, but the overall impression is very positive.
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2/6/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 92 Points
Ojai Syrahs are just lovely wines with a clear and pure fruit, balanced tannins and oak joined by an elegant acidity. The 2006 White Hawk is no exception, but shows a little more expressive tannins tonight, probably due to the youth of this effort. Overall impression is very positive. (score is 92-93)
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6/4/2011 - rbb100 wrote: 92 Points
This 2006 drinks well now, possessing aromas of ripe blackberries and plums. There is an underlying spiciness that adds depth to the palate but does not overpower. Nice smooth, silky finish.
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5/23/2011 - JustDrinkIt wrote: 85 Points
Popped the Cork and replaced after 5hrs of exposure to air, then refrigerated overnight for consumption the next day.
Color was dark red/purple with aromas of black fruits hints of spice, licorice and barnyard. The palate was smooth with initial attacks of black fruits and spice, however the astringency of this young wine took over at the back end and was the predominant character. This acidity was however muted with food. So for me this is an unbalanced wine and I would only consume with food.
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3/12/2011 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
Poured through the aerator the bubbles are inky and purple, while viewed from lighting below the color is an intense scarlet, tricks of the light. Initially the aroma is completely closed in; even after a few hours and vigorous shaking, it is difficult to tease more than a fleeting resinous glimpse of anise-tinged dark fruits. On the palate, dense, silky smooth and concentrated; but not for a while do strikingly discernible flavours emerge, so tight is it. Predominantly blueberry and other dark berries, laced with anise, dark chocolate, smooth, a slightly gamey note, nothing over-ripe or cooked.
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3/11/2011 - Mootsie wrote: 89 Points
Agree with the note below. A little tight. Anise/spice for sure. Smooth, but just not real expressive yet.
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2/28/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Received last week. Perhaps should have let it settle more. Tight intense wine. With cheese showed nice anise note. Perhaps will be better tomorrow?
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