This bottle is marked 11/02/15 057 12:07 82 and it's the last of a shipment I received in 2016. It's drinking well and has some good years ahead of it, but I doubt it will improve. It's got subtle red fruit aromas and straightforward flavors, a medium body and a nice balance. At 13.5% it's a smooth food wine. By California standards it is not expensive, but it has a weak QPR for what's in the bottle.
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I spent the last half hour trying to determine if this wine was defective or just SUPER strong on the oak. Color is nice purple garnet, cork was in fine condition. But I was unable to discern any smells beyond the overpowering cigar box, hardware store oddness. Nice acidity and tannins. But if this is oak and not tainted, it is so wood forward that no other flavors can squeak by. Still not sure if I m going to dump it or go for round 2 tomorrow. I probably will ring the bell and fill another glass. It’s Covid time. How bad can this be compared to everything else!
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Because this wine is a NV, it is important for contributors to note - if they know - when the wine was made or at least when it came from the winery. This is my second bottle from a batch I bought from the winery in the autumn of 2016. Does it come from the harvest of 2014 or 2015?
It has been two years since the first bottle, and I’ve rated this two points higher. The wine has become a bit more supple and open. It still lacks the aromatic complexity I would like, but it has a very nice fragrance profile of high-toned red fruits, plus structure, backbone, and a nice mineral finish. Many, many more years ahead of it. In addition to containing some of the Syrah and Pinot Noir for which we love Ojai, I think it’s got a fair bit of other grapes as well - Sangiovese ? Grenache ? Cinsault ?
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In its drinking window, but still has at least five years left at peak. More aromatic than when last tasted, this offering today provides nice balance between black fruits, minerals and smoky elements. Tannins have resolved considerably since last year. Great with tonight’s stuffed peppers. (����= Worth Seeking Out)
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I am a fan of the Ojai Vineyard, but this wine left me perplexed, and I have now concluded that it is not meant for immediate drinking but rather is a substantial wine that needs age to show its best stuff.
Consumed over two nights, it was awkward and closed, with modest aromatics, a medium-full structure, big mouth feel, and full red fruit and mineral flavors dominated by a creaminess that I assume is oak, and which I found unpleasant. That is the wine that I rate 86 for drinking today.
As hinted above, even though this is a NV entry-level wine, it isn't one of those easy-quaffing, lip-smacking reds that doesn't see wood, has modest tannins and is made for immediate drinking. After finishing this I was so perplexed that I checked out the maturity chart on the Ojai website and they show that every one of these that they've made since 1992 (as far back as their chart goes) is still in its early or peak drinking window - thus my conclusion about the need to cellar this. This is is too expensive for what it delivers today to have a good QPR, but I will bet that with some bottle age it will be much, much better and will deliver a lot for its price.
Why doesn't Ojai just give this a vintage label and make it easier for us to figure out its peak drinking window ?
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A lip smacker that provides enjoyment from first pop to last sip. Opaque purple with gripping legs, a medium to full body and a lusty finish. Plums, blackberries, blueberries, dried apricots, cherry syrup and minerals that follow through on the finish. Some chalky tannins that promise to smooth out over time. Darn good for an entry-level wine. (����= Worth Seeking Out)
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Meat, sour cherries, blackberry. Moderate oak. Little bit of bitterness and nice acidity. Quite long finish. Supposedly a syrah/pinot blend, but the syrah character really gets the upper hand. Previous bottle was a lot more pinot-like.
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This is a terrific value for a non-vintage table wine. This is a combination of syrah and pinot. Just a nice tasty everyday type of wine, that will go with a variety of foods.
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Very good mystery blend that probably consists of syrah and pinot noir. Dark ruby in color, almost purple. Has aromas of plum, rose petals, and blueberry jam. Palate has black and blue fruits, cracked pepper, and just a touch of cedar. Brambly finish. Took a while to open, but when it did it was delightful.
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7/16/2022 - cork breath wrote: 88 Points
Simple sooth easy drinking. Expected more based on the story behind this wine but there are better wines to be had for the price. ($25)
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2/4/2021 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 88 Points
This bottle is marked 11/02/15 057 12:07 82 and it's the last of a shipment I received in 2016. It's drinking well and has some good years ahead of it, but I doubt it will improve. It's got subtle red fruit aromas and straightforward flavors, a medium body and a nice balance. At 13.5% it's a smooth food wine. By California standards it is not expensive, but it has a weak QPR for what's in the bottle.
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1/21/2021 - Casellar Does not like this wine: 70 Points
I spent the last half hour trying to determine if this wine was defective or just SUPER strong on the oak. Color is nice purple garnet, cork was in fine condition. But I was unable to discern any smells beyond the overpowering cigar box, hardware store oddness. Nice acidity and tannins. But if this is oak and not tainted, it is so wood forward that no other flavors can squeak by. Still not sure if I m going to dump it or go for round 2 tomorrow. I probably will ring the bell and fill another glass. It’s Covid time. How bad can this be compared to everything else!
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10/22/2020 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyed over 3 days. Savory, olive, touch of spice. Very typical of Rhône blend. Solid.
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3/15/2019 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 88 Points
Because this wine is a NV, it is important for contributors to note - if they know - when the wine was made or at least when it came from the winery. This is my second bottle from a batch I bought from the winery in the autumn of 2016. Does it come from the harvest of 2014 or 2015?
It has been two years since the first bottle, and I’ve rated this two points higher. The wine has become a bit more supple and open. It still lacks the aromatic complexity I would like, but it has a very nice fragrance profile of high-toned red fruits, plus structure, backbone, and a nice mineral finish. Many, many more years ahead of it. In addition to containing some of the Syrah and Pinot Noir for which we love Ojai, I think it’s got a fair bit of other grapes as well - Sangiovese ? Grenache ? Cinsault ?
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12/14/2017 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
In its drinking window, but still has at least five years left at peak. More aromatic than when last tasted, this offering today provides nice balance between black fruits, minerals and smoky elements. Tannins have resolved considerably since last year. Great with tonight’s stuffed peppers. (����= Worth Seeking Out)
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12/4/2016 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 86 Points
I am a fan of the Ojai Vineyard, but this wine left me perplexed, and I have now concluded that it is not meant for immediate drinking but rather is a substantial wine that needs age to show its best stuff.
Consumed over two nights, it was awkward and closed, with modest aromatics, a medium-full structure, big mouth feel, and full red fruit and mineral flavors dominated by a creaminess that I assume is oak, and which I found unpleasant. That is the wine that I rate 86 for drinking today.
As hinted above, even though this is a NV entry-level wine, it isn't one of those easy-quaffing, lip-smacking reds that doesn't see wood, has modest tannins and is made for immediate drinking. After finishing this I was so perplexed that I checked out the maturity chart on the Ojai website and they show that every one of these that they've made since 1992 (as far back as their chart goes) is still in its early or peak drinking window - thus my conclusion about the need to cellar this. This is is too expensive for what it delivers today to have a good QPR, but I will bet that with some bottle age it will be much, much better and will deliver a lot for its price.
Why doesn't Ojai just give this a vintage label and make it easier for us to figure out its peak drinking window ?
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8/1/2016 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
A lip smacker that provides enjoyment from first pop to last sip. Opaque purple with gripping legs, a medium to full body and a lusty finish. Plums, blackberries, blueberries, dried apricots, cherry syrup and minerals that follow through on the finish. Some chalky tannins that promise to smooth out over time. Darn good for an entry-level wine. (����= Worth Seeking Out)
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3/1/2015 - pjbeans Likes this wine: 89 Points
Syrah definitely overshadows the pinot but the pinot softens up the blend and makes it very approachable. Delicious blend to drink during the week
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11/4/2011 - aekenback wrote: 88 Points
Meat, sour cherries, blackberry. Moderate oak. Little bit of bitterness and nice acidity. Quite long finish. Supposedly a syrah/pinot blend, but the syrah character really gets the upper hand. Previous bottle was a lot more pinot-like.
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10/31/2010 - sbbulldog wrote: 86 Points
Not bad, but not my cuppa.
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3/16/2008 - sanman wrote: 87 Points
This is a terrific value for a non-vintage table wine. This is a combination of syrah and pinot. Just a nice tasty everyday type of wine, that will go with a variety of foods.
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9/9/2007 - drdebs wrote: 89 Points
Very good mystery blend that probably consists of syrah and pinot noir. Dark ruby in color, almost purple. Has aromas of plum, rose petals, and blueberry jam. Palate has black and blue fruits, cracked pepper, and just a touch of cedar. Brambly finish. Took a while to open, but when it did it was delightful.
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