The Ojai Vineyard
Duvarita Vineyard Syrah
Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, USA
Cool, taut, but not lacking in Syrah qualities. A bit closed. Dense and rich, yet almost racy and long on the palate. All the elements are there for something classic in a few years. #ojaivineyard #syrah #duvarita
Cool, taut, but not lacking in Syrah qualities. A bit closed. Dense and rich, yet almost racy and long on the palate. All the elements are there for something classic in a few years. #ojaivineyard #syrah #duvarita
Mar 12th, 2017
2022 vintage. Last tasted a year ago 01.15.25 (9.1). Continuing medium body . The prettier, perfumed side of Syrah currently vs. the knuckle-dragging, monolithic style of Syrah. Excellent intro into this grape for those timid souls afraid of the big, bad wolf from previous wine escapades/near fatalities. The white pepper, black pepper, dustiness and Chambord hallmarks swirling about in both nose and mouth. Second pass after chilling down to the mid-60's (from 70 degrees) added a pleasantly gauzy layer of smoke and tobacco. Still trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up but gaining in both confidence and street cred. Show some respect...er...patience if you can. Screams for a double decant. 01.11.26.
2022 vintage. Last tasted a year ago 01.15.25 (9.1). Continuing medium body . The prettier, perfumed side of Syrah currently vs. the knuckle-dragging, monolithic style of Syrah. Excellent intro into this grape for those timid souls afraid of the big, bad wolf from previous wine escapades/near fatalities. The white pepper, black pepper, dustiness and Chambord hallmarks swirling about in both nose and mouth. Second pass after chilling down to the mid-60's (from 70 degrees) added a pleasantly gauzy layer of smoke and tobacco. Still trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up but gaining in both confidence and street cred. Show some respect...er...patience if you can. Screams for a double decant. 01.11.26.
Jan 12th, 20262019 vintage. Last tasted 05.26.25 (9.4) and 01.08.24 (9.4). Slightly less body (medium/medium-heavy) than previous visits and had a bit more campfire/smoke in the flavors this encounter. Still delicious. 09.17.25.
2019 vintage. Last tasted 05.26.25 (9.4) and 01.08.24 (9.4). Slightly less body (medium/medium-heavy) than previous visits and had a bit more campfire/smoke in the flavors this encounter. Still delicious. 09.17.25.
Sep 18th, 20252019 vintage. Last tasted 1.8.24 (9.4). Yeah, that. Lots of love and complexity. 5.26.25.
2019 vintage. Last tasted 1.8.24 (9.4). Yeah, that. Lots of love and complexity. 5.26.25.
May 27th, 20252022 vintage, Medium body. Definite back-end spices afoot. Missing the stuffing from the same effort 2019 vintage. Still, a vineyard to keep an eye on. 01.15.25.
2022 vintage, Medium body. Definite back-end spices afoot. Missing the stuffing from the same effort 2019 vintage. Still, a vineyard to keep an eye on. 01.15.25.
Jan 15th, 20252019 vintage. Medium body initially, then dwindling to light-medium body on the finish. Perfumed nose a mix of green Chartreuse and Chambord along with lavender. Grapey, tobacco flavors with splashes of said lavender, white pepper and some pink peppercorns waay back at palate’s end. Opened (not decanted but should have) and enjoyed over the course of an hour. Newer vintage Côte-Rôtie doppelgänger/ringer. Already trending towards an aged style with a Burgundian texture at the end. More lithe and fanciful than the usual plodding (yet fantastic!) Ojai Syrahs. 13.5% ABV. 1.8.24.
2019 vintage. Medium body initially, then dwindling to light-medium body on the finish. Perfumed nose a mix of green Chartreuse and Chambord along with lavender. Grapey, tobacco flavors with splashes of said lavender, white pepper and some pink peppercorns waay back at palate’s end. Opened (not decanted but should have) and enjoyed over the course of an hour. Newer vintage Côte-Rôtie doppelgänger/ringer. Already trending towards an aged style with a Burgundian texture at the end. More lithe and fanciful than the usual plodding (yet fantastic!) Ojai Syrahs. 13.5% ABV. 1.8.24.
Jan 9th, 2024
Ringing in 3 years of marriage with @Caroline Graham and had to open something from Ojai. This did not disappoint. Smooth, silky, nice acid and mild black pepper.
Ringing in 3 years of marriage with @Caroline Graham and had to open something from Ojai. This did not disappoint. Smooth, silky, nice acid and mild black pepper.
Oct 5th, 2017
