The Gap’s Crown Vineyard is nestled in the west-facing slopes of Sonoma Mountain, where the high winds and cool fog of the Petaluma Gap exert their influence. This is a high-end, hillside vineyard project that has really taken off and outperformed expectations. Our fruit came from two distinct blocks within the vineyard. The 828 block was planted in 2002 at 800 feet elevation. The 115 block was planted in 2005, perched on the face of a bluff at 1200 feet in extremely rocky soil. Both of these blocks have pure western exposure and benefit from the cool micro-climate of the site. Paired with the rocky soil and severe terrain, these conditions naturally stress the vines and impart additional minerality.
At first glance, this wine stands out by its color, a lovely, deep violet sheen that has an almost fluorescent quality. It draws you in. Hints of clove and root spice up dark cherry and plum aromas. Flavors and textures are very concentrated, yet the wine remains silky and lush on the palate. This is an intense Pinot noir with incredible structure and class.