March 5, 2014 - Ripe and spicy, yet classic syrah nose of burnt rubber, bacon fat, black pepper, thyme, and lavender. Good palate with zip, fruit, some booze. I don't think this would be confused for a Northern Rhone in a blind line-up with its deep and lush fruit, but this is much better balanced than many Cali syrahs from the same era. This really grows as it gets some air time. I'm really digging this, to my surprise (I haven't liked the 2000 Ojai Thompson the times I've tried it). Drink now. 91-92
March 3, 2013 - Euro-Themed Lunch - In Pursuit of Balance with US Domestic Wines (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Smooth, fruity nose. Some pepper. Spicy palate. Tasted blilnd and clearly felt like a good California Syrah.
September 7, 2011 - Cork is almost in perfect shape. Inky, dark crimson color. Subtle aromas of dried cranberries, sweet black cherry, & incense. On the palate, flavors are subtle too, some black cherry, black olive & tar. The wine is big with some underlying structure, decent length, but not very giving and kind of boring--no zest. Tannins are completely integrated and there isn't much of a finish. Maybe this is past it's prime and on the downside. It's OK, just not exiting or profound. I've had better Ojai syrah.
March 29, 2008 - Color was a dark and opaque deep red-black with little or no lightening at the rim. Nose was very expressive showing herbs of provence, reserved elegant fruit, and cold-climate pepper. The palate showed completely dry with no California pruniness or overripeness at all. There were tastes of rich dark berries, spices, minerals and marked pepperiness. The wine showed great balancing acidity, and initially there were prominent tannins on the finish. After 20 minutes or so, the tannins began to integrate and the wine really opened up. It was still obviously Californian, but closer to a Northern Rhone profile than any other California syrah I've ever tasted, save for Edmunds St. John. No obvious oak, and certainly no excessive alcohol. Although delicious now, this has great structure and is still young with years ahead of it. Most excellent.
February 7, 2007 - Dark, saturated, and very youthful looking. Initially, a strong smell of blackberry/boysenberry mixed with a touch of cigar box. Round, long flavors with rich dark berry fruit and prominent core of ripe tannins. As it sat open, the fruit elements in the nose receded and it took on a northern Rhone profile, developing more secondary bouquet as well. Impressive material and balance without any discernible oak influence or excessive alcohol. I'd be interested in tasting this again 3-5 years down the road since it appears to have the structure to improve.
September 30, 2006 - smokey, needed to decant for about an hour or so
April 20, 2004 - This (along with Jade Mountain's '98 Syrah) is one of the "Rhoniest" California Syrahs I've ever encountered. The aromas of herbes de Provence are striking and powerful. The wine is ripe, heady and dense with grilled meat (lamb) adding to the complexity. Very good Syrah. I bought this bottle following a California Syrah tasting as I felt it had the closest ties to the Rhone (which I enjoy) of the wines I tried. Glad to see nothing has changed in this regard.