2014 Pinot Noir Solomon Hills

This is another stellar set of new releases from Adam Tolmach and Fabien Castel at Ojai. Tolmach describes 2014 as a year with generous yields. Despite the third year of drought, the crop was good mostly because of favorable conditions during flowering, with less of the wind and fog that can affect some areas, especially in Santa Maria. Yields are down considerably in 2015, as they are pretty much everywhere. The various appellation-level wines and the 2013 Syrahs are among the many highlights in this extensive range. I was also deeply impressed with the Sangiovese and Barbera in 2014. Adam Tolmach is known for many things. Making top-notch wines from Italian varieties is not exactly at the top of the list. And yet, the Ojai Sangiovese and Barbera are both superb. Best of all, these wines remain incredibly fairly priced in today's market. Tolmach adds he keeps prices low so he doesn't have to travel to promote and market the wines. Readers should take advantage of Tolmach's no-nonsense approach. These are some of the best wines readers will find anywhere for the money.