Vineyards
Doctor's
Marine influenced mornings and afternoon breezes coming off Monterey Bay are the foundation for Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot. We secured 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.
Vintages: 2009
Galleron Road
As in Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc tends to do extremely well where Cabernet grows. Rutherford, in the heart of the Napa Valley, has sustained many of the region's most renowned wineries and produces some incredible Cabernet. The soils are a mosaic of gravelly loam and sand along with volcanic and marine sediments that provide excellent drainage. This vineyard was the source of our inaugural Sauvignon Blanc back in 2006. The wines display crisp citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon-lime, combined with minerality and herbaceous hints.
Vintages: 2008
Hayley
The fog and cool temperatures that push in from the Pacific make Hayley Vineyard an ideal location for growing Pinot Noir. Located within the larger Annahala Vineyard, 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.
Vintages: 2010
La Encantada
Located 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.
Vintages: 2009, 2010
Split Rock
Split Rock is located 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. Pinots from this cool climate site are very dark, feature dark cherry and have an excellent tannin and acid backbone required for aging.
Vintages: 2007, 2008
Two Pisces
This 10-acre biodynamically farmed vineyard sits on the southwestern edge of Petaluma. In this section of Sonoma, very chilly ocean breezes and fog are funneled through the Petaluma Gap, keeping temperatures up to 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the county. The moderate rainfall totals and cooler weather conditions are idyllic for growing high-quality Pinot Noir. This rolling hillside property features a variety of Dijon clones planted on 101-14 and SO4 rootstocks.
Vintages: 2008