This wine represents the essence of Pinot Noir. It is one of the most concentrated and well-balanced Pinots I have ever tasted. This wine possesses the extract level one expects from a Domaine Leroy Richebourg or Romanee St.-Vivant. Obviously produced from extremely ripe fruit and low yields, this is a mammoth, yet unbelievably harmonious Pinot Noir. The opaque ruby purple color is followed by scents of kirsch, jammy cherries, and spice that are unmistakably Pinot, but leaning toward the black fruit side of this varietal (Cote de Nuits). The wine is full-bodied and saturates the palate with layers of glycerin, ripe fruit, and a sumptuous texture. Beautifully balanced, awesomely rich, and dazzlingly pure, this is one of the most extraordinary expressions of New World Pinot Noir I have ever tasted. I would not be surprised to see this wine evolve magnificently for a decade. Moreover, my score may look stingy with another several years of bottle age.I have been impressed by the quality of Pinot Noirs emerging from the Pisoni Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands (readers may recall that Peter Michael produces a Pinot from this vineyard).Over the last several years, there has been considerable evidence that Adam Tolmach's Ojai Vineyard is among the leading candidates for Santa Barbara's top winery. The brilliance of these wines over the last several vintages has been uncontestable. Ojai's new releases include many stunning wines, particularly the Pinot Noir and Syrah offerings. This is not to say the whites are uninteresting.Tel. (805) 649-1674