How good is Taras but — 6 years ago
Mid Crimson in colour with a slight cloudiness. Fresh plummy skinnsy aromas - also notes of freshly cut Guava said the wife. Stems and stalks have been included in the ferment with 88 days on Skins. A 92/8 Grenache/Syrah Blend. Light to medium bodied palate of jubey fruit pastilles - like grape juice. Medium intensity with almost zero tannins. Designed to be drunk young with gusto.! The Green Room being a surfing term for being under the lip in the Barrel - Taras Ochota being a keen surfer would have been in the Green Room many times in Barrels off Mexico. A delicious natural wine - no need to cellar. — 6 years ago
Like many I opened a bottle of ochota last week to toast the life of Taras Ochota who passed on Monday. I have long loved the Ochota wines and have felt lucky to have them in the Charleston market, but this “A Forest” Pinot was a gift from afar and one I have held onto for a year knowing the right time would come to open it. Well, last week seemed perfect time to celebrate a person who was a leader in making natural wines that were vibrant, beautiful, and sound. Any article about Taras and his wife Amber brimmed with their positive energy, and I loved this quote from him that appeared in a Imbibe tribute:
‘We could make more,’ he said to a room full of journalists, sitting round his enormous kitchen table last year. ‘But then I’d have to work harder, and then I wouldn’t be drinking wine with you guys.
‘I just want to make wine and have a nice life.’
Here’s to a life well lived! ❤️
— 4 years ago
I always thought of Taras as a smart winemaker. Technically brilliant, with a lo-fi philosophy. It really shows in his wines - real crowd pleasers with the ability to satisfy the most VA-sensitive winemakers to the biggest natty freaks. No different here! This was destroyed on the table. Crunchy, nervy red blend (Pinot Noir, Grenache, Gamay, Gewürztraminer, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay) that is built for glugging. Mix of bright red and black fruits, spicy, herby, plain delicious. — 6 years ago
Let’s face it. Taras does not make a bad wine. Love this. Not his best but still bloody great — 4 years ago
Fragrant, juicy, charismatic. Taras in full flight. — 4 years ago
Yummy. From Costco, brought to Taras house. Smoky. — 6 years ago
Peter Wassam
RIP Taras. First experience with the 2020s. Wonderfully aromatic. Rose, cherry, fruit by the foot, some black licorice and something I smelled when hiking in the smoky mountains. Only 11%, if you got good friends you should be able to go through a case between the three of you in one night — 4 years ago