Ojai Sebastiano Vineyard Syrah 2020
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard comes from a site on the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills and displays a darker purple/plum hue that’s followed by a gorgeous nose of bright red cherries, blueberries, exotic spring flowers, ground pepper, camphor, and hints of game. I always find a certain Côte Rôtie-like wildness from this site, and this beauty has it in spades. It's medium to full-bodied, has a deep, layered mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and an outstanding finish. This awesome Syrah marries remarkable richness and depth with a rare sense of purity and elegance
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark and inky in the glass, this is a wildly shape shifting Syrah, offering a range of aromas from charred lamb and roasted berries to lively violets and fresh cherries. The palate is equally complex, offering lush flavors of boysenberry, baking spice, more violets and even fudge.
Other Vintages
2017-
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
Adam had planted a vineyard in Ojai to Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc and had begun producing wine from that fruit in 1983. When the collaboration with Clendenen ended he concentrated all his attention on The Ojai Vineyard to further explore the infinite details of his craft.
Looking back over the last 25 years, one can see the development of The Ojai Vineyard came in three distinct phases. In the beginning it was lots of fun discovering the budding Santa Barbara County, experimenting with new plantings, new areas, and a wide selection of varietals; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and other Rhone varietals. Back in 1983 the vines were grown without much care in what was called a California sprawl. It took years to get growers to move towards progressive practices like drip irrigation and vertical trellising to improved wine grape quality.
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.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.