The 2010 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido sees a touch of stem inclusion and roughly 20-30% new French oak. A balanced, rich effort, with notions of wild strawberry and black cherry fruit, lavender, spice and forest floor, it hits the palate with a rounded, supple texture, excellent mid-palate depth and juicy acidity that focuses the finish nicely. Richer and fuller than the Kick-on Ranch, it should benefit from short-term cellaring and have 10-12 years or more of longevity. Drink 2015-2022.
This was one thrilling lineup of wines by Adam Tolmach and assistant winemaker Fabien Castel and this is always one of my favorite visits during my trip through the region. After making wine for close to 30 years, Adam continues to push for improvement and is subtly tweaking his wines to get more freshness, focuses and elegance out of them. Minimal new oak, low SO2 and few rackings are all the norm here, and these 2009s, 2010s and 2011s are some of the strongest wines I’ve tasted from this estate. They’re all highly recommended.
Tel. (805) 798-3947; www.ojaivineyard.com