Winemaker Notes
Ojai's aim with their Santa Barbara County Syrah is to capture a precociously drinkable expression of the region's cool-climate vineyards. This wine is just that. The 2022 vintage gave us a hot September, so there's a deep and ample ripeness to this bottling. Still, the coastal vineyards held onto their earthy and savory Syrah qualities. The varietal fragrance is striking and pungent. There's a complex profile of incense, suede leather, balsamic, and spicy root beer botanicals, while a deep layer of mocha and plum promises rich pleasure for the mouth. It for the mouth. It works out that way, too. The palate is suave and easy, with front-loaded dark fruits that glide into peppery game and chocolate.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Syrah pours a vibrant, electric purple in the glass. Fleshy, resonant and loaded with character, the 2022 delivers a wealth of complex berry fruit, mineral depth and exotic spice richness. Boasting a flush of balanced acidity and racy, engaging textures, this is such an impressive wine. I'm taken aback by how much this already feels like it has its own voice. The future is very bright at Ojai Mountain.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Syrah Santa Barbara County combines several notable vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills. The nose is classic and understated, combining meaty, leathery, herbal aromas with a dark-fruited undercurrent and beautiful purity. The palate is plush and borders on full-bodied, with a savory, tense and lifted finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Always a smoking value, the 2022 Syrah Santa Barbara County comes from a mix of sites throughout Santa Barbara County and was brought up mostly in used barrels. Its deep purple hue is followed by a Saint-Joseph-like perfume of vibrant red and blue fruits intermixed with peppery, violet, and floral nuances. It's medium-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and nicely integrated acidity.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.