We'll keep the summertime wines rolling with a look back at a rosé I had a couple of summers ago and enjoyed immensely, the Ojai Vineyards Rosé 2007.
This pink comes in a clear bottle that really shows off the beautiful salmon-colored contents. The diamond-shaped label shows it to be a California Table Wine at 14% abv. It's a blend of Grenache, Mourvèrdre, a touch of Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc.
A floral sense dominates the nose, with notes of cranberry and strawberry. On the palate, bone dry! That's always a pleasure. How disappointing is it to taste a rosé and find it to be a pretty little candy bar? Not this one. It sooo wants some food. This wine would be great with the usual pairings of salad and fish, but I think it would also pair well with heavier fare, like pork chops. I had mine with some crackers and extra sharp cheddar, and it scored.
Run by Adam Tolmach and his wife, Helen for more than a quarter century, Ojai Vineyards is probably best known for their Syrah. Adam writes on the website, "In the old days we used to make it dark, soft, and full to the point that it could have been confused with a Pinot Noir. The wine was a meal in itself. But I have turned away from that style; I now prefer rosés light and zippy-so much easier to slurp with lunch on an unbearably hot day." The '07 sure fit the bill. I understand their '08 rosé contained Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, while the '09 sports Roll Ranch Syrah with a spot of Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.
If you have found it difficult getting your hands on a variety of Ojai Vineyards wines, you should note that the Tolmachs plan to open a tasting room - for the first time - with a target date of July 15th. The tasting room will be in the historic firehouse at 109 South Montgomery Street in Ojai. Sounds like a jaunt to Ojai may have just popped up on the summer calendar.
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