Cracked this one open last night:
1. OjaiVnyd Syrah BienNacidoVnyd/SBC (14.5%) 2002: Very dark color w/ little bricking; strong some pungent/smokey/toasty/pencilly/Fr.oak strong black cherry BN/blackberry/Syrah some peppery/spicy slightly alcoholic bit Cornas/Rhonish lovely nose; soft slight tangy/metallic/drying strong pungent/smokey/roasted/bit Rhonish strong black cherry/blackberry/Syrah/bit peppery some complex flavor w/ light drying tannins; very long bit tangy/metallic strong smokey/pungent/toasty/Fr.oak bit Rhonish/Cornas-like strong black cherry/blackberry/Syrah/peppery complex finish w/ light drying tannins; a classic Ojai Syrah & a classic BienNacido Syrah but starting to dry out a bit on the palate; drink up.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I find that Syrahs from BienNacido typically have hints of black cherry in them. Must be a terroir thing I suppose. This was/is a classic Ojai-style of Syrah and a bit on the rustic/Cornas-like side. Over the last few yrs, Adam has been lightening up the style of his Syrahs & using less oak and showing more fruit. Still one of my very favorite Caalif Syrah producers.
Tom