93 Points - Wine Spectator
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
93 Points - International Wine Report
93 Points - Owen Bargreen
A pleasure to drink now. Will further reward with 5-6 years in your cellar.
You'll want to grab as much of this gem as you possibly can!
Winemaking
A warm 2022 summer brought one of the earliest harvests on record in the Sonoma Coast, with a September heat wave influencing some picking decisions. Cooler pockets of the Sonoma Coast fared well through the heat and the resulting wines offer depth and finesse. Yields were miniscule, with many vineyards breaking records on the low side for cluster weights. The resulting wines have concentrated flavors with tension and length. This 2022 blend offers depth and layers of complexity. The variety of vineyard sites came together with exceptional balance and harmony this vintage, with the Sangiacomo Vineyard blocks featuring more prominently.
Vineyards
This wine is a blend of eight unique lots produced from Sonoma Coast vineyards ranging from Annapolis to Occidental, to the Petaluma Gap. Gap’s Crown, Sangiacomo, Walala, and Dorothy Cameron Vineyards represent key components used to produce this blend. Pinot Noir clones 115, 828, 667, Pommard, and Swan add unique elements creating a complex Pinot Noir with a myriad of textures and flavors. Each vintage, this blend offers balance and vibrant, lush textures that are characteristic of the Gap’s Crown and Sangiacomo vineyard components.
Analysis
Appellation: Sonoma Coast
Varietal Composition: 100% de-stemmed Pinot noir
Fermentation: Open-top fermentation, Native yeast
Aging: 50% New French Oak
pH: 3.57 TA: 5.8 g/L
Bottled: unfined and unfiltered August 2023
Release date: Spring 2024
Cases Produced: 1500
Alcohol: 14.4%
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
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