94 Points: Virginie Boone Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide - December 2021

"Beautifully aromatic, this wine has lovely layers of cherry, plum and raspberry that meet a continuum of slate and baking spice. A grippy tannin structure provides a foundation of power behind accents of sea spray and lasting acidity."

Because the 2018 growing season was one of the naturally high yields, we worked meticulously to thin the fruit and to bring each vine into ideal balance. The clusters ripened slowly, and in general, 2018 was a late harvest. The grapes from Thale’s Vineyard were harvested on five different days between September 7 and September 26, 2018. A small amount from almost every block was used to create this complex and delicious blend.

Our Thale’s Vineyard is located in the northernmost part of the Russian River Valley in an area known as the Middle Reach. Named after Steve MacRostie’s wife, Thale (pronounced Thay-lee), this has been MacRostie’s estate vineyard since 2013. The roughly 14-acre property is partitioned and planted as eleven different blocks. Each block varies in clone, aspect, soil type, and year planted, offering great complexity and blending opportunities from the site.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.40%
• cases made:

  44 Barrels
  1090 Cases

• bottling date: 08/08/2019
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 30% new, 30% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

94 Points: Rich Cook Wine Review Online - June 2023

“It might not be a stretch to surmise that the relatively new Petaluma Gap AVA became one largely due to the fruit that has come from the Gap’s Crown Vineyard. It does particularly well in the hands of MacRostie winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen in the 2021 vintage, with this combination of deep cherry and raspberry fruit, dry earth minerality and fall spice, balanced with ‘house style’ acidity and finishing long and toasty. Beautiful!”

93 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - June/July 2023

“Rhubarb and sour cherry flavors mingle with somewhat riper black cherries in this mediumbodied, mouth-watering, acid-driven wine. It’s a real palate cleanser that’s refreshing, has some textural bite and should age well through 2030.”

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes were exceptional. Our grapes from Gap’s Crown were harvested from blocks 4A and 9A4, planted to Clones 115 and 828 respectively. Fruit was harvested by hand overnight on September 14th and 16th, 2021.

Gap’s Crown Vineyard is situated on the base of Sonoma Mountain in the Petaluma Gap AVA, named for the Petaluma wind gap that allows wind and fog from the Pacific to flow further inland than almost any other place in Sonoma County. Situated just below our own Nightwing Estate Vineyard, Gap’s Crown is planted on a southwest-facing slope with elevations ranging from 320 to 820 feet, and boasts some of the most sought-after fruit in Sonoma County.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 13.6%
• cases made:

  263 Cases

• bottling date: 08/10/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 36% new, 36% once-used

• fermentation:

  Gently destemmed into open-top fermenters; three-day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

94 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide - April 2024

“Robust in texture and well concentrated in flavor, this surprisingly light-bodied wine wraps rather firm tannins around black cherries, sour cherries, rhubarb and cloves. Thanks to the tangy restraint in the mouthfeel, it will pair beautifully with roast poultry, venison and the like. "

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes were exceptional. The grapes from Klopp Ranch were harvested by hand in the cool evening hours of September 23rd, 2021.

The father-daughter team of Ted and Lauren Klopp have been farming in the Russian River Valley for over two decades. Their home ranch is on Laguna Road, where the vines are tucked away in the nook of a foggy valley. We selected grapes from three different blocks on their ranch planted to three different clones: 115, 777, and Swan. The ground here is fertile Goldridge soils, where the vines produce small, intensely flavorful clusters of grapes.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 12.6%
• cases made:

  367 Cases

• bottling date: 07/28/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 40% new, 40% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 13.8%

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in a reduction in yields from 10-30%. The growing season was temperate, keeping us on track or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. We hand-harvested the grapes for this wine in the cool evening hours of September 12th, 2022.

Planted by the Pellegrini family in 1975, today, Olivet Lane is managed by the fourth generation of the family to be involved in winegrowing. The vineyard, which is named for the mature olive trees at the property entrance, is located in the Santa Rosa Plain neighborhood of the Russian River Valley, on an undulating benchland of well-drained, gravelly, clay loam soil. The foundation of this wine is the coveted Martini selection, a heritage clone that has played a key role in some of California’s greatest Pinot Noirs.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 13.8%
• cases made:

  171 Cases

• bottling date: 08/09/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 29% new, and 29% once-used

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

Located just 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, in the cool “Deep End” of the Anderson Valley, Day Ranch is planted on an alluvial terrace that abuts a mountainside. It is a wild, rustic site that consistently yields a complex, distinctive and terroir-driven expression of Pinot Noir.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir (Dijon 667 clone)

• alcohol: 14.9%
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in new French oak (medium-plus toast, tight grain)

Donnelly Creek is located in a slightly warmer part of Anderson Valley and composed of creek side blocks of vines. The vineyard was planted by renowned winegrower Mary Elke in 1991.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir (Eliot Masa clone)

• alcohol: 14.5%
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in new French oak (medium-toast, tight grain)

95 Points: Michael Franz The Tasting Panel - July 2023

“This wine shows notably more depth and structure than this producer’s phenomenal 2021 from the Soberanes Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and those who value Pinots that are just a bit meatier will likely prefer it. Still, along the continuum of current California Pinots, this is still on the silky and subtle side of center, with much more expressiveness than weight. Red berry fruit is joined by a suggestion of black cherry, with lovely spice notes and a gentle tannic grip.”

94 Points: Decanter - September 2023

93 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - June/July 2023

“Black-fruit flavors crowd this well-saturated, well-built wine that wraps the fruit in rather firm tannins. Black cher¬ries, blackberries, and hints of mint give it great promise for drinking in the future. Best from 2026- 2032.”

93 Points: Rich Cook Wine Review Online - June 2023

“This wine shows the full throttle side of this winery’s Pinot Noir portfolio. It’s made in a big style that serves the ripe fruit well, playing deep black cherry fruit off layers of fall spice. It is fleshy, but maintains the signature long finish that marks the whole line. A light touch with the new oak (30%) was the perfect choice.”

91 Points: James Suckling JamesSuckling.com - November 2023

91 Points: Wine Spectator

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. Nightwing is planted to many small blocks, each with unique topography and soil type, thus different clones. The majority of this wine is Clone 115 Pinot Noir from Block 23, with fruit from three other blocks planted to Pommard and clone 828 contributing complexity. We hand-harvest the grapes exactly when we wished in the cool evening hours of September 6 and 10 of 2021.

2021 marks the inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard, which is named after the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nighwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amid the vineyard. Located in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA, Nightwing Vineyard is perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, where it basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• bottling date: 07/25/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 30% new, 14% once-filled

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

95 Points: Michael Franz The Tasting Panel - July 2023

“This wine shows notably more depth and structure than this producer’s phenomenal 2021 from the Soberanes Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and those who value Pinots that are just a bit meatier will likely prefer it. Still, along the continuum of current California Pinots, this is still on the silky and subtle side of center, with much more expressiveness than weight. Red berry fruit is joined by a suggestion of black cherry, with lovely spice notes and a gentle tannic grip.”

94 Points: Decanter - September 2023

93 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - June/July 2023

“Black-fruit flavors crowd this well-saturated, well-built wine that wraps the fruit in rather firm tannins. Black cher¬ries, blackberries, and hints of mint give it great promise for drinking in the future. Best from 2026- 2032.”

93 Points: Rich Cook Wine Review Online - June 2023

“This wine shows the full throttle side of this winery’s Pinot Noir portfolio. It’s made in a big style that serves the ripe fruit well, playing deep black cherry fruit off layers of fall spice. It is fleshy, but maintains the signature long finish that marks the whole line. A light touch with the new oak (30%) was the perfect choice.”

91 Points: James Suckling JamesSuckling.com - November 2023

91 Points: Wine Spectator

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. Nightwing is planted to many small blocks, each with unique topography and soil type, thus different clones. The majority of this wine is Clone 115 Pinot Noir from Block 23, with fruit from three other blocks planted to Pommard and clone 828 contributing complexity. We hand-harvest the grapes exactly when we wished in the cool evening hours of September 6 and 10 of 2021.

2021 marks the inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard, which is named after the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nighwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amid the vineyard. Located in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA, Nightwing Vineyard is perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, where it basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• bottling date: 07/25/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 30% new, 14% once-filled

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

95 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - November 2023

“Super well structured, with lip-smacking acidity and bright, ripe fruit flavors, this wine is a vibrant, palate-cleansing mouthful. Fragrant cinnamon and cloves are lifted by almost electric red cherries, sour cherries and cranberries that light up the palate. The wine is so nervy and fresh despite a full body.”

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. We hand-harvested the grapes exactly when we wished in the cool evening hours of September 6, 7, and 10 of 2021.

2021 marks the inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard, which is named after the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nightwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amid the vineyard. Located in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA, Nightwing Vineyard is perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, where it basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days. First Flight is a unique selection from specific blocks and clones that were showing as distinct and special. 40% of this wine is Pommard clone from block 17, 60% is a mix of 667, 777, and Swan clones from blocks 10, 11, and 16.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• cases made:

  523 Cases

• bottling date: 08/10/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 42% new

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs