The 2019 Hatton Daniels Pinot Noir is a love letter to one of the Sonoma Coast's most prestigious sites. While most Robert's Road fruit is polished and tucked behind oak, winemaker Dan Fishman (Donum Estate) chooses a different path: Pure, unadulterated expression. 91 Points, Wine Advocate
Imagine this alongside roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, or even a simple plate of aged Gruyère. With its fine-grained tannins and long, nuanced finish, it's the kind of bottle that starts a conversation and finishes far too quickly.
Enjoy this bottle now through 2028.
The Pedigree
100% Sangiacomo Robert’s Road fruit (the gold standard of the Petaluma Gap Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir).
The Craft
Zero added sulfites. Native yeast. No makeup.
The Vibe
Think savory black tea, flinty minerals, and juicy acidity that makes your mouth water for another sip.
The Verdict
"At 6 years old, the 'edge' of youth has softened into elegant, earthy complexity. It’s a $70+ Pinot experience for only $35. Period."
Sangiacomo Vineyard, Robert's Road
Located at the base of Sonoma Mountain at the far northern edge of the Petaluma Gap, the Roberts Road Vineyard experiences long, slow, and even growing seasons, perfect for Pinot Noir – rich yet delicate. For nearly half the day the vineyard is shrouded in fog. The vineyard is influenced by coastal breezes, lending itself to slow, even growing, and fruit development. The block of Pinot Noir for this bottling is in the flatlands at the base of Sonoma Mountain (on the western side) and features well-draining, silty gravel soils.
Vintage
The 2019 vintage for Pinot Noir from the Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard is widely regarded as exceptional, characterized by a long, cool growing season that allowed for slow ripening and complex flavor development. Experts note that Pinot Noir was particularly successful across California in 2019, yielding wines with strong acidity and deep fruit concentration.
The Maker: Dan Fishman
From PhD Candidate to Pinot Specialist. Dan Fishman doesnt just make wine; he translates terroir. After walking away from a PhD program to follow a "gut feeling" for the vine, Dan cut his teeth at the legendary Donum Estate, where he became obsessed with the nuances of high-end Pinot Noir. Dan has shed the "textbook" rules. He is a purist and a risk-taker, favoring native yeasts and zero added sulfites. His philosophy is simple: if the farming is perfect (and at Sangiacomo, it is), the winemaker's job is to stay out of the way. The result is a 2019 vintage that is raw, elegant, and intellectually stimulating—just like the man who made it.
Winemaking
After a decade of working with Robert’s Road fruit, Dan decided to push the boundaries. In 2019, he moved to 100% stem inclusion (whole bunch fermentation). This isn’t just a technical tweak—it's a transformation. The stems provided a natural 'rounding' of the palate, trading sharp acidity for a plush, velvety texture. More importantly, it added a sophisticated 'grip' and firm tannin structure that makes this vintage the most cellar-worthy to date. By excluding the press wine and focusing only on the free-run juice, Dan ensured the final blend remained elegant, pure, and flawlessly balanced.
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Sangiacomo Roberts Road (Established 1999)
AVA: Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast
Clones: Heritage Swan & Pommard
Soil Type: Deep, well-drained loamy soils (ancient creek bed)
Fermentation: 100% Native Yeast
Barrel Aging: 16 months in French oak
Sulfites: Zero Added (Unadulterated Grape Juice)
Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2028
Alcohol: 13.2%
Temperature Control Shipping
All Central, Midwest & Eastern orders ship via temp control truck.
93 Points
Deep red hue and hints of violet teasing the senses with seductive aromas of dark fruits, wild berries, cocoa, baking spices, leather, and cigar box. Filled with saturated flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, cassis, cherry cola, ripe plum, chopped mint leaves, while the palate unfolds with rich tannin, juicy acidity, and flavors of cherry gastrique, berry coulis, herb mélange, and licorice.
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.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
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.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
95 Points
Lofty aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, and plum mingle with hints of baking spices and a touch of violet. The palate reveals luscious flavors of ripe berries, complemented by notes of black pepper and a subtle earthiness. With well-integrated tannins and a long lingering finish.
94 Points
Deep red-purple with aromas of black currents, blackberry, plum, chocolate, earthy forest floor, licorice, graphite, and subtle floral notes of violet, spice and cracked pepper. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry fruit with notes of earth, firm acid and silky tannins. Finishes big with blackberry fruit and peppery spice.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
