Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop
Ojai Vineyard Rancho Ontiveros - Chardonnay 2022 750ml
SKU: 011091

Ojai Vineyard Rancho Ontiveros - Chardonnay 2022

  • we91
  • jd91
  • v87

750ml
$0.00
$34.00

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Category White Wine
Varietal
Brand Ojai Vineyard
Origin California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
Alcohol/vol 13%

Adam Tolmach of Ojai Vineyard is one of the pioneers of the Santa Barbara County wine scene. He founded Au Bon Climat with Jim Clendenen, then moved on to start Ojai in 1983. To this day, he has never grown past the 6000 cases he makes each year in three makeshift, temperature-controlled barns in the backwoods of Ojai. By choosing to work strictly with cool climate vineyards and paying growers by the acre, Adam ensures himself control of the farming and the yields. He makes elegant, aristocratic wines and has been at the forefront of the growing movement of American winemakers to make more balanced wines, prizing finesse over power. Ojai Vineyard is one of California's best kept secrets, though one Corkscrew customers have known for many years!

Rancho Ontiveros is a cool, windswept site in the Santa Maria Valley at an elevation of over 700 feet. The Chardonnay vines are the Wente clone, planted on Garey soils (a deep and sandy loam). The grapes were fermented in mostly neutral oak barrels (with a small amount of new wood), then transferred to stainless steel tanks to age on the lees. The result is a vibrant Chardonnay with aromas and flavors of nectarine, dried apples, wet stones and raw nuts. The palate has a wonderful broad texture and mouthfeel with a taught mineral core complemented by crackling acidity that flow into a persistent finish accented by mint and white pepper notes. Enjoy with seared trout or grilled pheasant.

Wine Enthusiast
  • we91

Dried citrus pith, hot sandstone, lemongrass and stone-fruit aromas converge on the nose of this bottling. It's bright on the palate with blasts of lime-like acidity that evolve into toasted cashew and orange-peel flavors.

Matt Kettmann, December 1, 2023
Jeb Dunnuck
  • jd91

Coming from a site in the Santa Maria Valley, the 2022 Chardonnay Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard has a big, musky nose of ripe orchard fruits, honeyed melon, and exotic, tropical notes to go with a rounded, fleshy, mouth-filling style on the palate. It shows the riper style of the vintage, with medium to full-bodied richness, yet it stays balanced and light on its feet. I think it's a step back from the 2021, but it's nevertheless a beautiful Chardonnay.

August 30, 2023
Vinous
  • v87

The 2022 Chardonnay Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard is a soft, pleasant wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Apricot, tangerine peel and white flowers are nicely lifted. For me, this was bottled too early and perhaps for that reason appears to be lacking some depth and complexity.

Antonio Galloni, July 2023

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