The Ojai Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley

The Ojai Vineyard · California › Santa Maria Valley › United States of America

White · Chardonnay
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LWIN 1438743
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
90 /100
Reviews
24
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

27
27
Reviews
90.1
Avg Score
95
Highest
Taster #0534 · Apr 9, 2025
84/100
Aroma: green apple, vines Low citric acidity, orange blossoms, full bodied, lemon zest
2022 vintage
Taster #6166 · Nov 26, 2024
90/100
Medium greenish yellow color, medium+ thickness. Dense quince, cantaloupe, lemon, pineapple, orange blossom, toast/butter, and very subtle touch of brandy on the nose. Thick slow moving acidity in round shape. Dry honeyed finish a touch of roasted chestnut. I tend to like old world wines, but this winery’s lineup consistently hits my spot. 90-91.
2022 vintage
Taster #7825 · Jan 15, 2024
88/100
Eye: Medium translucent gold. Nose: Apple, peach, pear, cream. Light toastiness and green grapes. Palate: Orchard fruit. Malo. Crisp acid. Light minerality. Finish: Short. Apple core, lemon-acidity. Overall: The wine was very pleasant after taking some time to open up.
2022 vintage
Taster #7523 · Nov 25, 2020
90/100
This lovely Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County was slightly diminished by its age. Now dark gold but we’ll balanced tho’ more acidity would have helped. Pear and caramel notes with some citrus. This was not a big, oaky, buttery Chard but in my opinion the better for it. Glad I drank it now, maybe held a bit too long but the age on this wine was very appealing.
2009 vintage
Taster #3056 · Apr 27, 2020
Good
2009 vintage
Taster #6912 · Jan 30, 2017
95/100
This wine is so fantastic! I wish I had another case. Last bottle and each was better than the last. Very Burgundian. Crisp, complex, wonderful fruit.
2010 vintage
Taster #8375 · Sep 8, 2015
91/100
This took 5 or 10 minutes to come together after PnP, but boy it really delivered a nice experience when it did. Creamy oak tones have integrated nicely with pear compote and pineapple. Held up well. Drink.
2009 vintage
Taster #0944 · Aug 7, 2015
93/100
The wife and I were very impressed with this lovely, balanced Cali Chardonnay last night at dinner. It had the acid and minerals and nice lemon notes to rock with the raw oysters! Great wine
2010 vintage
Taster #6733 · Oct 4, 2014
90/100
Gold color. Light-medium body. Lemon prominant.
2010 vintage
Taster #5142 · Aug 11, 2014
91/100
Well balanced, with just a hint of vanilla/butterscotch
2010 vintage
Taster #2738 · Aug 9, 2014
91/100
Summer cabin weekend; 8/8/2014-8/9/2014 (Cleveland, GA) : Not decanted. Lovely Chardonnay that is initially a bit alcoholic on nose and palate, but with more air it calms down to be nicely sophisticated, with creamy, ripe citrus and peach notes and a good amount of stony mineral. White honeysuckle flower notes carry over from nose to palate. Obviously Californian but with plenty of restraint. Drink now-2018.
2010 vintage
Taster #1248 · Dec 19, 2013
91/100
This chardonnay can almost pass for Old World in that it highlights aromatics of flowers, crushed stones, and slight smokiness. The palate is more in line with coastal California in its display of denser citrus outlined by some richness in flesh. Solid effort, great value, and quite enjoyable.
2010 vintage
Taster #5664 · Sep 21, 2013
90/100
On the nose flowers, lots of flowers, orange and minerals. On the palate medium+ body with ripe orange, spice, minerals and no detectable oak. Medium-long, green finish. Really good stuff.
2010 vintage
Taster #8894 · Jun 18, 2013
89/100
Lemon apricot and honeysuckle is on the nose. Mineral spicy finish.. This is a lean clean chard.. No new oak
2010 vintage
Taster #0373 · Jun 18, 2013
87/100
This wine seems to be fading already, it was a bit flabby, and the fruit faded a bit in the glass with each pour, in other words, in only 10 or 15 minutes. Drink it now. Tropical fruits, a bit of creamy oak but not too much. Low in acidity. Nose had good spice.
2009 vintage
Taster #0373 · May 20, 2013
Bitter backbone, caramel flavors suggest this bottle is either past or got baked. Cork got stuck but did come out clean eventually. Tropical fruits were muted. An opulent style, honeyed, oak in the background. Low acidity. Perhaps another bottle will show better, but this wine could be aging quickly.
2009 vintage
Taster #3908 · Sep 8, 2012
91/100
Leesy and well focused. Good acidity carries flavors of lemon, apple, and honey. Would buy again.
2009 vintage
Taster #0542 · Aug 14, 2012
89/100
middle of the road ... nothing spectacular but nothing to disappoint ... drink and enjoy
2009 vintage
Taster #0542 · Jun 23, 2012
90/100
not quite as good as the Melville ... just a bit less interesting; very drinkable and enjoyable, but not much to differentiate it from others
2009 vintage
Taster #0542 · Apr 26, 2012
90/100
just a great Sonoma Chardonnay ... happy hour drink with peanuts ...
2009 vintage
Taster #8980 · Apr 18, 2012
Fermented in older oak, vines from the 1970's. Good bit of juiciness on the palate - very Santa Maria in its rounded, ripe-ish style. 87
2009 vintage
Taster #0542 · Mar 21, 2012
91/100
had at dinner and both my daughter and i loved it ... crisp, clean but yet enough complexity to keep it interesting ... '09 is a year for CA cool / high altitude chardonnay ... pick your favorites and buy them; i'm sure they won't last
2009 vintage
Taster #2546 · Mar 19, 2012
90/100
2012 In Pursuit of Balance Tasting (Julia Morgan Ballroom, Merchants Exchange Building, San Francisco, California) : Light yellow color; apple, tart pear nose; apple, tart pear palate; medium-plus finish
2009 vintage
Taster #8375 · Jan 20, 2012
91/100
Excellent restrained style but characterful Chardonnay. A touch of tropical flavor with minerally acidity beneath. My first Ojai white, but I would certainly re-buy.
2009 vintage
Taster #0316 · Jan 17, 2012
90/100
Enjoying this.....smooth, very slightly buttery, great after taste
2009 vintage
Taster #2143 · Dec 31, 2011
90/100
Bright, lively, a very good Cali Chard.
2009 vintage
Taster #4543 · Nov 16, 2011
90/100
Pear, stone fruit, bright acidity
2009 vintage