2022 Ojai Vineyard Puerta del Mar Chardonnay Santa Barbara County, USA

Winery Notes

"Puerta Del Mar is a level six-acre vineyard way out near Lompoc, and here we have Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that gives a fantastic expression of climate and soil. The vineyard sits in protected little depression, adjacent to the Santa Ynez River’s last bends toward the ocean (even further west than the Sta. Rita Hills). The influx of Pacific air up the riverbed makes for mild days here when it is warm just a short drive inland.

The site rests on the confluence of that river and Salsipuedes Creek, which drains the hillsides south of Sta. Rita Hills. The accumulative overlays of ancient floods make for a soil composition that weds those southern hillsides with all that’s been ferried down the Santa Ynez River watershed, which begins just west of Ojai. These deep, gravelly Mocho soils are strewn with calcareous rock, making the soil chemically similar (if not structurally) to the chalky soils of Burgundy. The vines are densely planted with narrow rows and tall canopies, just as Adam would've designed it himself."

Press from previous vintage
Rated 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Made in tiny quantities, the 2020 Chardonnay Puerta Del Mar Vineyard Special Bottling is a deeper, richer, more serious Chardonnay that warrants serious attention. Offering classic Chardonnay stone fruits, toasted brioche, and chalky minerality, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, high yet integrated acidity, subtle oak, and a great finish. It brings another level of depth and complexity and is a brilliant Chardonnay.

Rated 90 Points Vinous Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard is delicate, floral and nicely lifted. Hints of lemon peel, savory herbs and mint are nicely delineated. In this tasting, the Bien Nacido comes across as a bit austere and lacking the mid-palate textural and flavor profile that are typical of this site. The 2020 is an attractive wine, but it feels a bit skeletal today.