Pinot Noir
Amber Ridge Vineyard
Russian River ValleyThis hillside site is located immediately adjacent to the famed Gary Farrell Starr Ridge Vineyard in Windsor. Amber Ridge was planted in 2000 with clones 115, 667 and 777 on 101-14 rootstock and was adopted by several high-end wineries for its inaugural harvest in 2003. This cool climate vineyard, now under the ownership of Far Niente, is farmed by seasoned veterans who practice sustainable agriculture in conjunction with other viticultural techniques that put us at ease.
Bohemian Vineyard
Russian River, Sonoma CoastOne of our goals is to provide very cool climate Pinot sources that extend the hang time of this traditionally early-ripening varietal. We found the vineyard we were looking for in the Freestone area on the border of the Sonoma Coast and Russian River AVAs. Contrasted to some of the warmer, "in your face" Pinot regions, Freestone produces more refined and subtle Pinot Noirs favored by Burgundy fans. The 7-acre vineyard is planted with Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777 on 101-14 rootstock adjacent to vineyards planted by Marimar Torres and Joseph Phelps.
Brosseau Vineyard
Chalone (Monterey)This vineyard is located at an elevation of some 1600 feet in the Gabilan (AKA Gavilan) Mountain Range and produces tremendous Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Located next door to the vineyard planting that helped make California famous in the 1976 Paris tasting, Chalone features limestone soils which results in stressed vines that produce concentrated, long-lived wines. We have a very small allocation of clone 115 from this steep hillside property.
Doctor's Vineyard
Santa Lucia HighlandsMarine influenced mornings and afternoon breezes coming off Monterey Bay are the foundation for Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot. This year, we were thrilled to secure fruit from this eastern-facing site that sits near Pisoni Vineyard on the western side of the Salinas River Valley. The 194 acres of Pinot Noir are situated just above the fog line to take advantage of ripening morning sun. Doctor's Vineyard features a variety of clones, spaced at 7' x 10', and planted in sandy-loam top soils with extremely rocky, well-draining subsoils. The loose, nutrient depleted foundation makes vines struggle to produce wonderfully complex fruit flavors with vibrant acidity.
Hook Vineyard
Santa Lucia HighlandsNext to Doctor's Vineyard and two miles north of the famed Pisoni Vineyard stands Hook Vineyard. This is our southern-most grape source in the Highlands. We get 100% clone 667 from a 5-acre block in this vineyard. The vines were planted in 2002 with 5' by 8' spacing in rocky, sandy soils that are further devigorated with 101-14 rootstock. Wines from this site emphasize darker fruit and a full-bodied mouthfeel characteristic of the southern Highlands.
Floodgate Vineyard
Russian RiverFloodgate vineyard is located near the town of Forestville, right where the Russian River heads west out to the Pacific. Originally planted 35 years ago, our section was replanted to clone 777 in 2002 and enjoys a steep, west-facing exposure that makes it one of the earliest ripening parts of the vineyard. Well-drained, alluvial soils and the early morning fog of Russian River make this an exciting new site for us.
Hayley (Annahala) Vineyard
Anderson ValleyThe fog and cool temperatures that push in from the Pacific make Hayley Vineyard an ideal location for growing Pinot Noir. Located halfway between Boonville and Philo in Anderson Valley, this 34-acre site is planted to Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777 along with small amounts of Pommard and Martini. In 2007, management of the vineyard was taken over by Premier Pacific Vineyards, a spare-no-expense viticulture team we are proud to be affiliated with.
La Encantada Vineyard
Sta. Rita HillsLocated on the cooler west side of Sta. Rita hills, La Encantada was planted in 2001 by Richard Sanford – the "Godfather" of Santa Ynez Pinot Noir. Here, the mountains run east to west, funneling troughs of chilly temperatures and fog in from the coast. La Encantada, the first certified organic site in Santa Barbara, is planted to a range of Dijon clones on devigorating rootstock that produce tiny clusters with yields hovering around 2 tons per acre. The result is dark cherry, earth and spice – everything you'd want out of Sta. Rita Hills Pinot.
Lone Oak Vineyard
Santa Lucia HighlandsThis 146-acre vineyard is planted on an east-facing slope near the center of the Santa Lucia Highlands (adjacent to Rosella's). It was planted in 2001 to 6' by 6' spacing. Clones 115, 667 and 777 were grafted onto a mix of 5C and 101-14 rootstocks in Chualar Loam soils with a bit of clay that helps retain warmth during the brisk mornings and chilly evening winds off Monterey Bay. Pinots created from Lone Oak will retain much of the palate weight of the warmer, southern part of the Highlands balanced with the vibrant acidity and spice of the north.
Split Rock (Gap's Crown) Vineyard
Sonoma CoastSplit Rock is located within the larger Gap's Crown Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast growing region on the west side of Sonoma Mountain. Its rocky soils combine with winds from the Petaluma Gap to create a challenging growing environment, but one that consistently produces great fruit. Most of the vineyard has optimal southwest exposure and is densely planted with over 2000 vines per acre. Wines from this cool climate site are very dark, feature dark cherry and have an excellent tannin and acid backbone required for aging.
