2010 Ojai Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard
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Beautiful, with the richness and minerality of the vineyard, the 2010 Chardonnay Bien Nacido is classic Chardonnay through and through. Offering of rich apple, musky peach, brioche, lavender, crushed stone and hints of toast, it hits the palate with a medium-bodied, rich texture that stays beautifully focused and clean. From vines planted in 1973, it’s a serious Chardonnay that has loads of class. It should drink well through 2019 and most likely, beyond. Drink 2014-2019. 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
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Ojai's 2010 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard comes across as rich, round and supple in this vintage. Lemon, floral-infused honey and Chamomile are some of the nuances that appear over time, but the 2010 is mostly a wine of texture. Floral and mineral notes reappear on the finish, but overall this is a fairly bold style for Ojai. Ideally, readers will give the 2010 another year or two of bottle age as today it is a bit tightly wound despite its considerable depth.
Pale gold. Highly aromatic bouquet evokes pit fruits, orange and anise, with a floral overtone. Deeply pitched nectarine and citrus zest flavors show a suave blend of richness and energy, picking up spiciness and an herbal nuance with air. Finishes with very good intensity, focus and citrussy persistence, leaving a spicy note behind.