Wine Tasting – Ochota Barrels

We are excited to invite you to our next tasting event, featuring wines from Ochota Barrels! Join us on Thursday, September 12 at 6 p.m. when Brian Jewell with Vine Street Imports will lead us through five different wines from this fantastic Australian producer.

Taras and Amber Ochota started Ochota Barrels in 2000, and their wines have achieved cult status internationally and have helped give rise to South Australia’s new wave. The concept was to create vivid, highly textured, small batch, single-vineyard wines in McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley. Over the years, the regions and vineyards have evolved slightly, but the focus has remained the same.

Ochota Barrels is known for its grungy, punk ethos and boundary-pushing, minimalist, small-batch wines. After Taras’ untimely death in 2020, Amber has continued to make the same minimalist, single-vineyard wines, honoring Taras’ dying wish.

TASTING LINEUP

2023 ‘Slint’ Chardonnay
A crisply coiled chardonnay from a brisk climate, opening with tantalizing notes of zesty grapefruit and succulent nectarine. Honeysuckle spice and hazelnuts form the base for a sleek texture reminiscent of delicate nettles. Minerality leads to a refreshing finish.

2023 ‘The Green Room’ Grenache Noir
Shimmering garnet color. Aromas of blueberry, white strawberry and lemon-blueberry juice waft with a stalky characteristic and notes of orange peel and bitter spice elements. A thirst-quenching finish.

2023 ‘A Forest’ Pinot Noir
A captivating blend with a floral nose, showcasing crushed petals and stems. Garrigue and Nordic forest notes intertwine with damson fruit, pain d’épice, and subtle peaty elements, creating a rustic allure.

2023 ‘Where’s The Pope’ Syrah
This Syrah is light in alcohol yet rich in flavor, with a slight reduction that blows off and leaves behind dark fruit and olive tapenade. The tannins are gentle, and the motif more savory than fruity before a svelte finish.

2023 ‘Out of My Head’ Grenache
Reminiscent of the nervy essence found in Fugazi but with slightly more meat on its bones. It’s got a great blend of red and black fruits, creating a wine with gravitas and edge. The added richness on its bones imparts a substantial, satisfying depth.