Ojai Mountain
Citrus-bright and refined — key lime, stone fruit, and grapefruit on a precise, energetic palate with a clean snap on the finish. Lifted aromatics and high natural acidity from a cool ripening window on the mountain. Vinous 93 Points. Drink now–2031.
Top Review
93Vinous
Drinking Window
2023 – 2031
Production
132 cases
Whole-cluster pressed and fermented with native yeast, then aged 8 months in neutral French oak, the 2021 Estate White comes from a cool ripening window in one of the driest years on record, the source of its defining lift and acidity.
Green apple skin and pear settle in behind the citrus, with tangerine rind and star fruit adding brightness through the mid-palate. A trace of almond oil and exotic spice lingers on a finish more linear than broad, precision and site expression over richness.
2021 was one of the driest years on record for the region, just 6.52 inches of rainfall with no heat spikes to compound the deficit. Cool temperatures and steady marine influence let young, three-year-old vines ripen slowly and evenly through the season.
Just 6.52 inches of rain fell in the 2021 water year, but cool temperatures and steady marine influence gave Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and Roussanne time to ripen evenly. The fruit was picked in a single pass on August 26, producing a clear, citrus-led white with naturally high acidity.
One of the driest years since 1906. Cool, steady season; young vines ripened slowly and evenly.
From Our Journal10 min read
A precise vintage shaped by restraint, balance, and one of the driest years on record.
The 2021 Estate White introduces Roussanne to the blend for the first time, a 7% addition that rounds the Grenache Blanc-Picpoul core without softening the vintage's defining acidity. The near-even split of the two lead varieties makes this the most citrus-driven expression of the range.
| Vintage | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Blend | 49% Grenache Blanc · 44% Picpoul · 7% Roussanne |
| Rootstocks | SO4 (6 rows) / 1103 (Grenache Blanc); 1103 (Picpoul, Roussanne) |
| Clones | 01/TVA (Grenache Blanc); Wonderful Nurseries (Picpoul, Roussanne) |
| Estate Fruit | 100% |
| Appellation | Ventura County |
Cellar work is deliberately restrained. Whole clusters are pressed gently and only free-run juice is carried forward. Fermentation is initiated by native yeasts in neutral French oak barriques, with no malolactic conversion, and the wine ages on its lees in the same neutral oak before bottling without fining.
| Pressing | Whole cluster pressed |
|---|---|
| Fermentation Vessel | Neutral French oak barriques |
| Yeast | Native yeast |
| Oak Aging | Fermented and aged 8 months in 100% neutral French oak barriques |
| Fining & Filtration | Unfined, gently filtered |
From Our Journal10 min read
Erich Bradley's journey in winemaking spans more than 25 vintages, from early cellar work in Sonoma to leading Ojai Mountain's high-elevation vineyard project.
The coolest ripening window of the early vintages produced the lowest-alcohol white in estate history: 12.8% on a 3.09 pH with 7.8 g/L of acidity. The chemistry is the wine: aromatic elevation and a driven finish rather than weight.
The lowest-alcohol, highest-acid expression of the early whites; precision over breadth.
Lifted and energetic. Lime blossom, grapefruit, and key lime open into stone fruit and exotic spice, with melon, pear, and tangerine rind on a precise frame that finishes with a clean snap.
Wine Characteristics
“You don't have soil up here — it's all eroded, worn down to rock. The only soil we have is really what Martín creates through composting and conscientious farming.”
| Production Count | 132 Cases |
|---|---|
| Harvest Date | August 26, 2021 |
| Élevage | 8 months |
| Bottled Date | April 9, 2022 |
| Released Date | August 2023 |
Bright acidity makes this the vertical's most versatile match. Dungeness crab with lemon aioli and sushi or sashimi both play to its citrus lift, while grilled halibut with herbs takes the wine's structure without overwhelming it. Burrata with heirloom tomatoes and a classic Greek salad mirror its saline, herbal edge. For something unexpected, its acidity handles the lime and herbs of a Thai green papaya salad beautifully.
Fractured Monterey shale at 2,800 feet, ten miles from the Pacific and above the fog line. Almost no topsoil, so roots dig deep and berries stay small.
Hand-farmed block by block on steep mountain terrain. Organically grown, regeneratively farmed, planted at 1,800 vines per acre to keep yields low.
Native yeast, free-run juice only, neutral French oak. No fining on any wine, and the reds go to bottle unfiltered.
Storage, serving, and what makes this wine what it is. For visiting, booking, and policy questions, see our full FAQ.
It is the most citrus-driven and lowest-alcohol white of the range, from the coolest ripening window of the early vintages. The 2020 is leaner and more mineral, the 2022 broader and more textural, the 2024 the most tension-driven.
Its high natural acidity supports the drink now through 2031 window above. Store it on its side, in a dark, cool space, away from temperature swings.
Serve at 46 to 50°F. Its lifted aromatics reward a slightly cooler pour than the broader 2022; let it open in the glass rather than decanting.
The most food-flexible of the estate whites: grilled sea bass, scallops with fennel and citrus, fresh goat cheese with honey, spring vegetables. Its delicate fruit steps alongside citrus-touched preparations without competing.
