VINEYARD Gap’s Crown, Sonoma Coast AVA
CLONES 667, Swan, 114, 115, 828
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Loam and clay
FERMENTATION 87% stainless steel, 13% wood ferment, 14% whole cluster
ÉLEVAGE 48% new French oak for 15 months, 4% new Austrian oak for 15 months, prior to bottling 7% aged in wood cask for 12 months
ALCOHOL 14.1%
pH 3.62
TA 5.75 g/L
AROMA
Busting notes of blueberry, McIntosh apple, savory pie crust, and crème fraîche.
PALATE
Appealing, with a dynamic palate, balanced by texture and an enjoyable tension of acid and tannins.
Gap’s Crown is considered by many to be one of the best representations of what the Petaluma Gap AVA, which spans an area of more than 200,000 acres, is all about. Since we began working with this site in 2006, its meteoric rise into the pantheon of great Pinot Noir vineyards has been extraordinary.
Sweeping vineyards with dramatic elevation changes and clonal variety define this celebrated site. Each year, this wine appeals to Burgundy fanatics and California Pinot lovers alike. From its pleasing tension to its generous flavors of blueberry, baking spices and crème fraîche, this is a classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir with playful acidity and fresh, balanced richness.
Fact of Note: Vineyard harvested over one month with varying ripeness levels, which afforded opportunities to fine-tune ferment styles.
THE SONOMA COAST, WHICH OVERLAPS with the Russian River Valley and stretches all the way to the windswept edge of the Pacific Ocean, has emerged as a hub for cool-climate wines. The vineyards are planted using the finest modern clones and viticultural techniques and have rapidly earned the region acclaim for producing some of the world’s most extraordinary Pinot Noirs.
A deserving pitstop along the Sonoma Coast is the picturesque town of Bodega. Made famous by Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” this little town is also known for incredible food from talented chefs focused on local, seasonal brilliance.
