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2006 SYRAH ROLL RANCH
Ojai, California

Roll Ranch is located beneath the dramatic face of Topa Topa Mountain in upper Ojai--a hanging valley 700 feet above Ojai Valley proper. The soil at Roll Ranch is a decomposition of the mountain itself and is poor in nutrients, which makes it perfect for vigorous syrah vines, the poor soils allow the vines to spend more of their energies on the fruit rather than on shoot and leaf production.


Because it is a rather warm site, we always start with very ripe grapes. The fermentation is done in three-ton open top tanks using native yeast, and the fermenting grapes are punched down (mixed) by hand. About two percent viognier grapes from Roll Ranch are added (a la Côte Rôtie); this gives aromatic lift to the brooding warm climate fruit. The wine is pressed off into French oak barrels (one fifth of which are new) and basically the wine is not touched until August, at which time we rack (decant) the wine off its yeast lees and put it back into the barrel for another eight months. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration. The studied lack of intervention in the winemaking process helps preserve the wine's character.


From the start this syrah has had a very beguiling aroma, and with time in the bottle the wine has developed layers of toasty and earth toned complexities. The floral and red plum aromas predominate and the flavors that follow are rich and hedonistic. In the finish there is refreshing acidity (all natural, and surprising for a warm climate syrah) and a bite of silky tannins. This wine drinks very well right now (5/24/12) and will continue to evolve positively for another decade or more.

(390 Cases)

Adam's Notes Upon Release:

A bit young to drink now--though I did serve it recently at a dinner party and caused quite a controversy when I said I preferred it to our 2003 Thompson syrah, which I'd also served. Yes, the Thompson is more resolved and ready to drink, and it is richer and more concentrated, but I liked the way the Roll was livelier and worked with the roast chicken we were having that night. As always, it humbled me to realize we all have different palates, and when it comes to things of taste there is no right or wrong. It's not much of a consolation, but being in this business for 27 years I have the confidence to predict that my friends will really enjoy this wine when it has been properly cellared for another seven years.

2006 Syrah Roll Ranch One Sheet

High Resolution Bottle Shot