The sensational 1999 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard boasts a saturated ruby/purple color as well as classic Pinot Noir aromatics of smoky black fruits. This cuvee always possesses characteristics similar to a grand cru Vosne-Romanee. Floral notes mix with black fruits as well as a distinctive earthiness. This superb, full-bodied Pinot possesses outstanding concentration and a long finish with nicely integrated acidity as well as alcohol. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.Tel. (805) 649-1674; Fax (805) 649-4651

The 1997 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard may not be as thick or massively-extracted as it was in 1996, but it is a beautifully made Pinot with this varietal's black fruit character offering a complete contrast to the Bien Nacido. The wine's saturated ruby/purple color is followed by a seductive nose of blackberries and raspberries. Full-bodied, with rich fruit, more power, viscosity, and body, and a long, silky-textured finish, the this wine should drink well for 7-10 years.Pinot Noir yields were higher in 1997 than in 1996. While neither of the 1997 offerings equal their 1996 counterparts, they are well-made and merit attention. Ojai's Pinot Noirs are destemmed, fermented at relatively hot temperatures, and kept in barrel, on their lees, until assembled prior to bottling. As with all the winery's reds, there is no fining or filtration.All the wines made at Ojai are naturally made products - no fining or filtration, barrel-fermentation, malolactic in barrel, aggressive lees stirring, virtually no racking until assembling for bottling, and no acid additions.Tel. (805) 649-1674; Fax (805) 649-4651

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