2011 vintage. Last tasted 5.1.24 (9.3). 2011 vintage. This effort laying out a larger arsenal. 100% Tempranillo. Medium-heavy bod. Definitely brooding. Enjoying this more than the 2007 now. No rush to crush as this has staying power. 7.23.24. — 3 days ago
2016 vintage. Last tasted 6.15.24. Still too fleshy for me. Prob need to decant (or open and put back in the reefer for a day or two) for 3 hours to draw out the tannins that, theoretically, should be there. Enjoying the 2006, 2018 and 2019 vintages a bit more currently. **UPDATE**Came across an opened (2/3rd left from last night's party) bottle and retested. Tannins out and looking for nightlife. Upgraded to 9.3 (7.21.24.) 7.20.24. — 6 days ago
2021 vintage. Great producer and rarely see such an esteemed one with availability/affordability. Had to pounce. $120 on the local bistro list and was worth every penny. Medium/medium-heavy body. Chilled it down for 15 mins and pounced. Consistent palate representation with a harmonious, zippy cracked black pepper exeunt. Hit the spot perfectly. Didn't pair perfectly with the pork chop (bone in) avec fig/port reduction sauce but didn't care about grub at that point. 7.23.24. — 3 days ago
2020 vintage. Tasted 2.5 weeks ago (9.3). This go round was a little prettier vs knuckle dragging but bottle wasn't open as long and juice had zero chance of hitting its stride with too many glasses to fill. Still...it didn't suck. 7.23.24. — 3 days ago
2019 vintage. Underbrush and certain amount of weediness on the nose. Medium body. Full color. That Graves/Pessac-Léognan milk chocolate texture. Flush and full mouthfeel. Gliding finish. Unexpected balance of fruit and tannins in a pop and pour price range. More oomph (generally) than Malartic Lagravière but less than Chevalier. Drink now? Yes. Drink in 25 years? Probably not. Likely has a end game of 15 years with the sweet spot in the (shocker) 5-8 year range. Picked up at Costco and price was $32 USD. Affordable Graves/P-L not the easiest BDX to source. This was firing from the get go. 7.22.24. — 4 days ago
2023 vintage. New concept for Ojai. They ditched the Santa Barbara County Cuvées (which lacked any singularly great characteristic-it was just juice) and going into this Clima Frío game. Slightly less brusque than the old SBCC pinot efforts but less body and quite delightful. Echoes of a red sangria here. Wouldn't exactly be opposed to dropping a few chunky ice cubes into a glass of this during those triple digits days in the SYV (versus a rosé or white). Cheers! 7.23.24. — 3 days ago
2021 vintage. Last tasted 4.3.24 (9.4). Medium/medium-heavy body. Über-dark color. Some good graphite and went through the motions but approx 10 degrees too warm. Critical structure in absentia due to said warmth. Still pretty nice. 7.23.24. — 3 days ago
2021 vintage. Last tasted a week ago (9.3). Everything I said then + a caviar bump this tasting episode. Unexpected lushness hand in hand with likes to fight guy...er...tannins. Ridiculous juice now. Dunno where it'll land in a 5-spot but guessing it'll be a pretty perfect landing. 7.23.24. — 3 days ago
2020 vintage. 7.20.24. — 6 days ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2020 vintage. So if the 2018 vintage of this wine (didn't taste the 2019 effort) was the Galactus-destroyer of (known) worlds-with otherworldly tannins (it is/was), this is the (initially) compliant Silver Surfer version with raspberry, sandalwood and milk chocolate covered almonds in the mix. Day and night. Night and day. Cole Porter was onto something there. Opened and tasted after 30 mins. Medium body. Pleasant. Balanced. Agreeable. Slightly dryish but able to easily link a noun and a verb without first responder assistance. Hint of Chambord/old-school leaden wine neck capsule/foil/metallic accent on the finish. Drinking great already but enough development already to hold onto a few to trace over the next decade and a half. Should be found under $36 or so USD. 7.23.24. — 3 days ago