2024 Spring

2022 Estate White

Name: 2022 Estate White
Brand: Ojai Mountain Estate
Price: 75.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Pear|Citrus|Saline

Rhône-style White Blend, a full-bodied white perfect for red wine lovers and foodies, blending Grenache Blanc's vibrancy, Picpoul's minerality, and Roussanne's elegance.

Tasting Notes Pdf.

VARIETALS

60% Grenache Blanc, 34% Picpoul, 6% Roussanne

CHEMISTRY

Alcohol: 13.8% | pH: 3.15 | TA: 6.7 | Malic Acid: 1.06

WINEMAKER'S NOTE

The 2022 Ojai Mountain White Blend is an elegantly structured, modern expression of white wine from California. Led by Grenache Blanc , complemented by Picpoul and Roussanne, this combination offers a provocative amalgam of fruit, minerality, and bracing structure, presented in an ample, yet sculpted silhouette.

The wine exhibits a balanced acidity with a lingering finish, suitable for both immediate enjoyment and potential aging.

Tasting Notes Pdf.

WINE CHARACTERISTICS

Body

Medium-Bodied

Sweetness

Dry

Acidity

Bright Acidity

Fruitiness

Balanced Fruit

94 points Vinous

93 points Wine Enthusiast

93 points Decanter

90 points Wine Advocate

87 points Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous

Tasting the 2022 White Blend (60% Grenache Blanc, 34% Picpoul, 6% Roussanne) next to the debut 2020 and sophomore 2021, you really get the sense that this site is evolving at warp speed. This is an incredibly distinctive wine, but the through-line between all three vintages is crystal clear. Today, the 2022 is open-knit and especially aromatic, leading off with floral aromas of jasmine and honeysuckle. Orange zest, chamomile and sea spray gain presence with air as the palate delves into oily viscosity. A precise phenolic build leaves behind real chew and a lick of salt that grips the tongue long past the finish. This is what terroir is all about.”

Billy Norris

Wine Enthusiast

From a very exciting mountaintop estate overlooking almost all of Ventura County, this white blend offers lively aromas of Asian pear, cherimoya and melon rind on the layered nose. The palate's firmer texture hints to its rough soils, as flavors of citrus, Asian фpear and hints of banana flower converge.”

Matt Kettmann

Decanter

From Ventura County near Los Angeles, Ojai Mountain is only 16km from the Pacific at over 850m. This white blend is 60% Grenache Blanc, 34% Picpoul, and a splash of Roussanne. This wine soars on brilliant acids and is far from flabby. Aromas of poached pear and honeysuckle are balanced by bright yet concentrated candied orange peel. The palate delivers a consistency of stone fruits, clover honey, and a touch of grilled pineapple with a brilliant acidity that carries a citrus-hewn finish.”

Clive Pursehouse

Wine Advocate

The 2022 Estate White is waxy, floral and round on the nose, developing a subtle citrus-tinged lift with aeration. The palate is broad and polished, transitioning to a subtly lifted finish that lingers with an oily undercurrent. A blend of 60% Grenache Blanc, 34% Picpoul and 6% Roussanne, it aged for eight months in neutral barrels without malolactic fermentation.”

Matthew Luczy

Jeb Dunnuck

Starting with the 2022 Ojai Mountain White Blend, it's based on 60% Grenache Blanc, 34% Picpoul, and the rest Roussanne. Meyer lemon, orange, and some herbal, exotic, and honeyed notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with a reasonably well-balanced mouthfeel and a good finish. The aromatics here are a little so-so, but this is solid on the palate.”

Jeb Dunnuck

Production

209 cases 100% estate

Vinification

Whole cluster pressed

Aging Process

Fermented and aged for 8 months in 100% neutral French oak barriques.

Key Dates

Harvested: August 15, 2022 Bottled: March 10, 2023 Released: February 2024

Winemaker

Erich Bradley

Key Principles

Vineyard health and timing over cellar correction
Native fermentation with close monitoring
Minimal additives (sulfur only, used sparingly)
Vintage variation as a feature, not a flaw
Wines built for the table with food compatibility

Winemaking Process

Our process emphasizes native yeast fermentation, minimal additives, and selective use of neutral French oak. We monitor closely but intervene sparingly, allowing vintage character and site expression to shine through. The result is transparent, food-friendly wines with natural acidity and layered complexity.

Our Winemaking Philosophy

We farm biodynamically at high elevation and intervene minimally in the cellar. The goal isn't to make wine—it's to let the vineyard speak for itself.

Learn About Our Approach

PAIRING

Poached halibut with citrus and herbs; grilled shrimp with lemon and fennel; spring pea risotto; aged goat cheese with honey and crusty bread.

The 2022's Asian pear and jasmine character and bracing structure suit the richness of poached fish and creamy risotto equally well. Higher alcohol and body than the 2021 give it the weight to stand up to goat cheese and citrus-dressed preparations.

Perfect Pairing

Poached halibut in citrus herb broth. The wine's pear and jasmine weight matches the delicacy of the fish without overpowering it, while the bracing structure keeps each sip fresh.

The origin of the vintage

Unique Ojai Mountain Terroir

Ojai Mountain rises at 3,000 feet, just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The valley's rare east-west orientation opens a direct corridor for marine air, allowing coastal winds to moderate heat and slow ripening. Ancient Monterey shale—fractured rock from a prehistoric seabed—drains quickly and forces shallow rooting, naturally limiting vigor and berry size. Farmed organically, the site produces wines of tension and clarity rather than broad ripeness. Elevation, wind, and ocean influence create a cool-climate profile uncommon this far south in California, yielding concentrated flavors with firm structure and lift.

Learn About Our Terroir

The 2022 vintage

2022 was a hot, fast-moving year on the ridge. Early heat pushed the Syrah blocks toward concentration, with small berries and naturally low yields. Steady mountain winds kept the fruit firm and healthy despite higher temperatures. Vines struggled in the arid conditions, especially following two severe drought years. Harvest took place just ahead of late-August heat spikes. The resulting wines are round and vivid, with dense fruit, high energy, and a broad, resonant structure.

Read the Full Vintage Story