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2004 SYRAH ROLL RANCH
California - Upper Ojai

Roll Ranch is planted with five acres of syrah and two acres of viognier. From the beginning in 1995 we've blended a small portion of viognier (2%) with the syrah, as is done in the northern Rhone appellation of Cote Rotie. In this case the exotic aromatics of viognier lift the otherwise heavy syrah scents and give the wine a whole new dynamic spin. I have a profound fondness for cooler climate syrahs, but this one is always the exception to my preference-it is so delicious.

In 2004 the growing conditions were perfect at Roll Ranch, and vineyard manager Martin Ramirez achieved a new level of outstanding quality. This allowed us to make one of the finest wines we have made from this vineyard. There is the usual voluptuousness that Roll displays, but in the 2004 there are lovely tannins that have a wonderful texture and give the wine a great sense of balance. It is one of those wines that is easy to enjoy now, yet has everything needed for aging gracefully for many years.

Press Reviews:

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate #172 Aug 2007

“The stunningly full-bodied, rich, opulent, ripe 2004 Syrah Roll Ranch offers lovely aromas of melted licorice, creme de cassis, blackberries, violets, and underbrush. It is deep, full-bodied, velvety-textured, and as always, the most forward and evolved of the Ojai Syrahs. Enjoy it over the next decade or more.

A recent vertical tasting of all the Thompson Syrahs offered some wonderful surprises. The sensational 2003 (93 Points) was a powerful, opulent, nearly over the top Syrah (the type of wine Tolmach supposedly despises). It’s a great wine in the making. The 2002 (rated 89?) seemed somewhat monolithic and closed, but the 2001 (rated 95) was fabulous, with great intensity, and notes of charcoal, tapenade, blackberries, and creosote. The 2000 Thompson Special Bottling (rated 94+) behaved like a spicy, leather and black fruit-dominated Pauillac, with huge structure, fabulous concentration, and a long finish. The 1999 (rated 93) offered a beautiful nose of flowers, black fruits, espresso beans, and licorice. Rich, broad, savory, and long, it was stunning. The 1998 (rated 91) came across like a top-notch French Hermitage. Herbal with black olive notes intermixed with black cherries and cassis, it could easily be mistaken for a top vintage of Jaboulet’s Crozes-Hermitage Domaine Thalabert. The 1997 Syrah Henry David (named after Adam’s son) was rated 94. At ten years of age, it is a fabulous wine exhibiting notes of licorice, creosote, plum sauce, blackberries, and smoke. This meaty, chewy, full-bodied, fleshy Syrah coats the palate, stains the teeth, and is still a youngster in terms of development. It should drink well for another 10-15 years or more.” (94 Points)

Wine Advocate #166 Aug 2006

“From Ventura County, I always like the suppleness, accessibility, and velvety tannins of the Roll Ranch Syrah. The inky/purple-colored 2004 possesses plenty of tannin, but it is such an opulent, fleshy wine that the tannin is well-concealed. Adam Tolmach kindly conducted a mini-vertical, going back to 1995, of his Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah, and it was good to see how well they all performed. My favorites included the 1996 (93 points), 1998 (91 points), 2000 (93 points), and 2002 (93 points). The only wine that did not show as well as I would have hoped was the 1997 (88 points), which was much lighter and on a faster evolutionary track.” (90-92 Points)

Wine Spectator

“Supple-textured, smooth and harmonious, with zesty wild berry and blackberry fruit that's focused and lively, ending with ripe, integrated tannins. - JL (90 Points)

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

“Deep ruby. Lush boysenberry and blueberry on the nose, with subtle florality adding complexity. Stains the palate with ripe dark berry liqueur flavors but possesses impressive chewy texture, clarity and precision, and finishes with outstanding clarity and sweetness. It's rare to find this much fruit power with such balance. Tolmach noted that he seeks to make wines "that are balanced and complex, and that don't need to beat you up to make their point." (92 Points)

High Resolution Bottle Shot