The Ojai Vineyard "Clima Frio" 2023 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County

The inaugural 2023 “Clima Frío” Pinot Noir from Ojai Vineyard quietly announces itself. It’s built from cool-climate fruit off Presqu’ile and Yellow Foxtrot, and it wears that lineage with clarity and poise. 

On the nose, you’ll find sweet red cherry alongside dried flowers—rose petals, maybe—and that subtle spice lift of mint and pipe tobacco, all grounded by cedar’s savory pull.  The palate follows: medium-bodied and exotic, leaning gracefully into savory-mineral territory more than overt fruitiness. Nice balance, low acidity, with a fine salty finish that invites another sip. 

What strikes me is how deliberately composed it is. There’s no shouty ripe fruit or overkill oak here—just pull and precision. Floral spice, freshness, and savory underpinning feel in perfect sync, ending clean and nuanced.

“Clima Frío” doesn’t try to be bold. It leaves space—in structure, flavor, and presence. Elegant, honest, and underpinned by cool-climate detail.