2014 Ojai Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County.
Delicate and beautifully textured with impressive aromatics the 2014 Ojai Santa Barbara Pinot is a class act from Adam Tolmach and team. Ojai has been a guiding light to many up and coming talents and an inspiration to the lower alcohol and balanced wine crowd, coming off a decade of high scores and huge market success, Tolmach took a brave turn in 2005 and changed almost everything to follow his heart and his own path, to focus on lighter and age worthy wines, this led to some awkward moments with critics, but he was proven right and has watched as wave after wave of winemakers have joined him, and importantly the market has approved wholeheartedly and his wines are just as desired as they have always been, if not more. The latest set of Ojai wines looks really exciting and while I adore his Syrah wines, it was the basic Santa Barbara 2014 Pinot Noir that caught my attention most recently, this is gorgeous and pure stuff, perfumed and heavenly in mouth feel. The 2014 Santa Barbara starts with a whiff of morning violets and summer roses, sweat pea and spiced tea as well as fresh picked raspberry, bing cherry, plum and strawberry fruits that unfold in silken layers on the lively palate. The satiny mouth feel and light to medium body makes for sublime Pinot Noir that has energy, finesse and length, this is graceful, soulful and sexy wine. Mostly from the cool Kick On Vineyard as well as having fruit from Puerta del Mar, Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills, the complexity of sites shines through, with hints of chalk, earthy notes, pepper and cedar adding contrast to the elegant fruit, this is a wine that drinks great now, but should reward further over the coming decade, look for this brilliant Pinot and all of the Ojai wines!
($40 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
