Ochota Barrels I am the owl Syrah 2017

100% whole bunch cool Syrah. Wild and alluring.

"Elevated demi-glace reduction notes refrain to bergamont infused black cherry, Dutch licorice and fennel frond. The palate’s entry has a ferrous, mineral like texture with a savoury butcher shop/gun flint element wrapped around a succulent blood plum core. Espresso bean, white pepper, florals and
cordite poke their noses in too. Long, lithe and tightly wound with a voluptuous lump of mid palate" - Taras Ochota

Ochota Barrels is a legendary winery by husband and wife team Taras and Amber Ochota, based out of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. Unfortunately, the wine world lost one of it's absolute gems in Taras in 2020 but Amber has picked it all up and plugged the giant hole with love and support like only a good wife and mother can. So much respect for that legend (both). The wines and the Ochota brand represent a turning point for Australian wines in many ways, a shift to natural philosophies but always bringing fun, laughs and freshness. I will always treasure the brief moments I spent talking to Taras as milestones on my wine journey. Not to mention the impact of the wines themselves.

All the wines are named in some way in tribute to punk rock bands and songs, see if you can pick where. Taras played in and toured in a punk rock band in Australia before becoming a rock-star winemaker.