The Icon Adam Tolmach and Three New Wines
A
Little History
Adam
Tolmach started The Ojai VIneyard in 1983 when there were just
13 wineries in Santa Barbara County.
Adam
studied viticulture and enology at UC Davis, graduating in
1976, then returned to his family’s Ojai property to farm
sweet corn and melons before deciding to work in wine
full‑time.
His
first winery job was as an enologist at Zaca Mesa in Santa
Barbara County (many of the great winemakers started at Zaca
Mesa including Jim Clendenen). In fact the two of them were
co-founders of Au Bon Climant in 1982.
By
1991 Adam moved on to concentrate on his wines. Over more
than four decades, he has become known as a quiet but
important pioneer of cool‑climate Santa Barbara wine,
particularly for Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon
Blanc.
We
had the opportunity to taste the wines pictured above last
week and were fairly blown away. Quality here is impeccable
across the board.
The
Wines:
2023
Ojai Chardonnay Special Bottling Puerta del Mar
$58
$58
Orchard
fruit with great clarity, excellent structure and energy,
focused, and deep. There's a hint of salinity, citrus, and
white nectarine. Quiet acidity, mineral-driven structure, and
an electric finish.
As the label says, this is Special Wine.
2023 Ojai Pinot Noir Discipulo Fe Ciega Vineyard
$65
We
have one great Pinot Noir here. Excellent depth, great
texture, everything in balance, lots of red and dark berry
fruit. Juicy and savory with an awe-inspiring finish.
2023
Ojai Syrah Yellow Foxtrot Vineyard
$58
$58
From
vineyards in Santa Barbara County's Purisima Hills, this Syrah
showcases notes of bright berry fruit, pepper-spice, sage
(subtle), violet, and hints of blood orange along with more
blue and bosen fruit as the wine develops in the glass.
There's a savory structure here with fine tannins and a
lingering finish.
Superb!
Waiting
for the 3-Pack Special? Here we are:
And
while you are always welcome to purchase the wines
individually, we do have a rainy day 3-Pack Pricing for your
weekend:
$160
for the 3 bottles (reg 181)
Reach
out if you're curious and would like to order.
