Ojai Vermentino Camp 4 Vineyard Santa Barbara 2023 750ml

This Vermentino comes from the rolling, oak-studded hills at Camp 4 vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. The warm and sunny climate is ideal for Vermentino, a grape native to both Italy and the south of France (where it is known as Rolle). In this patch of Santa Barbara County it makes for a summery wine that crackles with minerality and coats the palate with textural breadth—a perfect rut buster for both Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay devotees.

This 2023 bottling has an airy and enticing perfume; scents of citrus blossom, green banana, and sweet almond flesh mingle with other teases of tropicality and smoky lees. It hits the palate with a burst of citrus and minerals, then roundness emerges with creamy white guava and almond. You find a unique combo of textural substance and weightlessness as it tapers out—there's leesy richness, mineral grit, citrus rind, and a bit of salinity. It’s easy-going and delicious on its own, but it’s food-friendly as can be (just perfect with bright and fennel-y seafood dishes).