Typicite
2023 Gaps Crown Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Gaps Crown Vineyard - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Pinot Noir from Gaps Crown Vineyard, located in the Sonoma Coast AVA, benefits from the region's cool, maritime-influenced climate and challenging growing conditions. The vineyard's proximity to the Pacific Ocean exposes it to frequent fog and breezy conditions, which help to moderate temperatures and extend the growing season. This allows the Pinot Noir grapes to mature slowly, developing complex flavors and maintaining vibrant acidity. The well-drained soils, often a mix of volcanic and sedimentary origins, contribute to the vineyard's distinctive character. The combination of these factors results in Pinot Noir with bright red fruit flavors, nuanced earthy undertones, and a balanced structure, capturing the essence of the Sonoma Coast's unique terroir.
Profile
Palate: The palate is vibrant, layered, and beautifully structured, delivering concentrated red fruit flavors framed by savory complexity and bright acidity. Tart red cherry, cranberry, and tangy raspberry flavors are at the forefront, showcasing the cool-climate site. The earthy, savory, and peppery notes from the nose carry through beautifully, adding depth and complexity that balance the fruit sweetness. The oak is seamlessly integrated, providing a subtle backdrop of spice and texture. A defining feature is the bright, refreshing acidity, which provides energy and length, balancing the wine's richness and alcohol making it incredibly lively on the palate.
Visual: Medium ruby core with vibrant cherry and garnet hues extending to a slightly lighter, luminous rim. The color is transparent yet shows good intensity for Pinot Noir, indicative of concentration from slow ripening. It appears brilliantly clear and bright, with moderate viscosity and persistent, stained tears on the glass.
Nose: The aroma is intense, lifted, and highly complex, a beautiful expression of cool-climate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. It opens with pure, bright notes of red fruit: think tart red cherry, wild strawberry, and juicy cranberry, potentially with a hint of sun-ripened raspberry. Classic earthy and savory notes are prominent, reflecting the vineyard's terroir: forest floor, damp soil, crushed rock, and a subtle mineral edge. The 30% whole cluster inclusion adds significant layers of complexity: distinctive black pepper and white pepper spice, a captivating floral lift (violet, rose petal), and a subtle savory or green stem note. The 50% new French oak is well-integrated, contributing elegant notes of warm baking spice (clove, cinnamon), vanilla bean, and a refined touch of cedar or toast. The overall nose is harmonious and deeply intriguing.
Winemaker notes
Hand harvested
Sorted and destemmed with 30% whole clusters added to fermenters
Fermented in open top stainless steel tanks with gentle pumpovers 2-3 times daily
This 2023 Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir is a compelling and highly successful expression of this renowned Sonoma Coast site. It beautifully captures the essence of cool-climate Pinot Noir, offering a complex tapestry of bright red fruit, earthy depth, savory spice, and elegant structure. The combination of the vineyard's unique terroir, the judicious use of whole cluster, and careful oak aging results in a wine that is both intensely flavorful and remarkably balanced. It is a vibrant, sophisticated, and age-worthy Pinot Noir that stands out for its purity, complexity, and refined character.
Wine specs
- Vintage 2023
- Varietal Pinot Noir (100%)
- Aging Aged 10 Months in 100% French Oak, 50% New
- pH 3.59 pH
- Acidity .54 TA
- Winemaker Collin Cranor & Craig Ploof
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