Reviews by Jeb Dunnuck
July 2024
2021 Ojai Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard
Ripe black cherries, fresh fig, game, leather, and meaty notes all shine in the 2021 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, another absolute gem from this team. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and with a great mid-palate, it reminds me a great Hermitage from the likes of Michel Chapoutier. 97 Points
2022 Ojai Chardonnay Puerta Del Mar Special Bottling
A seven-barrel selection, the 2022 Chardonnay Puerta Del Mar Special Bottling sees a slightly longer élevage as well as a touch more new oak and offers notes of crisp citrus and ripe stone fruits as well as subtle toast, white flowers, and hazelnut nuances. Reminding me of a great Puligny Montrachet, it’s medium-bodied, has a pure, balanced, layered, mouthfeel, and a great finish. This is a brilliant Chardonnay that white Burgundy lovers should seek out. 96 Points
2021 Ojai Syrah Solomon Hills Vineyard Special Bottling
Stunning aromatics of ripe blackberries, bay leaf, ground pepper, iodine, and liquid violet all give the 2021 Syrah Solomon Hills Vineyard Special Bottling a great Cornas-like style, and it’s medium-bodied, with a pure, concentrated mouthfeel, beautifully integrated tannins, and outstanding length. This is classic Adam Tolmach brilliance in Syrah and will evolve for two decades. 96 Points
2021 Ojai Syrah Roll Ranch Vineyard
The 2021 Syrah Roll Ranch Vineyard is terrific, with a deep purple hue as well as a beautiful array of beautiful darker cherries, red plums, pepper, bouquet garni, and hints of violets. It’s beautifully textured, medium-bodied, has flawless balance, and fine yet certainly present tannins. It’s one of my favorite vintages of this cuvée. 96 Points
2021 Ojai Syrah Duvarita Vineyard
From just outside the limit of the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2021 Syrah Duvarita Vineyard is one of the richer, inkier hued Syrahs in the lineup. Cassis, ripe blue fruits, ground pepper, bay leaf, and assorted meaty notes all define the aromatics, and it’s a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated wine that has beautiful tannins, good mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It’s clearly the biggest, richest wine in the lineup and is beautifully done. 95 Points
2021 Ojai Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Special Selection
A selection of the top barrels (all new), the 2021 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Special Selection is ruby-hued (and mostly opaque) with a rocking bouquet of redcurrants, ripe mulberries, spicy wood, leather, and pressed flowers. Beautifully complex, medium-bodied, and balanced, with fine tannins, it’s an incredibly classy, layered Pinot Noir from this team that readers will love. It will evolve for well over a decade. 94 Points
2022 Ojai Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Devoto
The 2022 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Devoto comes from heritage clones (Mt. Eden and Pommard) and was brought up much like the Discipulo. It has a deeper, more complex style in its ripe black cherry, spring flowers, and leafy herb-driven aromatics, and it’s medium-bodied, with a pure, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. 93 Points
All Paseante Noir from vines just beside the estate in Ojai, the 2022 Estate Red is deeply hued with a great nose of ripe blackberries, mulberries, peppery herbs, and leather, and it’s medium-bodied, has a round, textured mid-palate, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. This interesting, complex, balanced, impeccably made red is well worth seeking out. 93 Points
2023 Ojai Sauvignon Blanc McGinley
Ripe citrus, minty herbs, and a kiss of lime zest all emerge from the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc McGinley Vineyards, another ripe, round, lush Sauvignon Blanc that has beautiful clean acidity and a great finish. 91 Points
The 2023 Rose is terrific, with beautiful savory strawberry and dried herb notes in a medium-bodied, clean, round, wonderfully textured style. It’s crisp and vibrant yet textured and incredibly pleasurable. 91 Points
2022 Ojai Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Discipulo
From a site owned by Adam, the 2022 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Discipulo (all Dijon Clones, 667, 115) reveals a translucent ruby hue as well as a pretty nose of dried strawberries, pressed rose, dried herbs, and spice. This carries to a medium-bodied, supple, elegant Pinot Noir that has supple yet still present tannins and a good finish. 90 Points
A blend of Ambulo Blanc and Caminanate, the 2023 Estate White has a pale gold hue as well as clean, classy citrus, white flowers, and a kiss of lime in a medium-bodied, fresh, clean, crisp style that’s utterly delicious. 90 Points
2023 Ojai Viognier Brick Barn Vineyard
From a site next to Buelton, the 2023 Viognier Brick Barn Vineyard is 100% varietal brought up mostly in neutral oak. It has a pretty nose of ripe stone fruits, tart apricot, and white flowers, with a kiss of salinity that emerges on the palate. It’s medium-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. 90 Points
