The Ojai Vineyard "Puerta Del Mar" Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2023

Vin Chicago: 95 Points

(4/2026) Made by The Ojai Vineyard's legendary Adam Tomlach, this single-vineyard Chardonnay hails from a site owned by Screaming Eagle owner Stan Kroenke. We tasted it with Adam and his wife Helen under a tent on a rainy morning at their welcoming, woodsy winery in the rolling green Ventura mountains. Viscous, rich and velvety, it knocked our socks off. We asked to keep the bottle and, four days later, it emerged even more spectacularly, tasting as good as any 1er Cru Puligny we've tried in the last two years. Deeply viscous, intensely mineral and deliciously complex, this is one of the best California Chardonnays we've ever tasted. Bright, taut and lifted with juicy yellow fruits and a silky, velvety texture, this plump, sexy and wonderful wine is worth aging for another 10+ years, but no need to wait. Wow!