Lone Oak Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey

Our “Paris Mountain” Pinot Noir is sourced from Lone Oak Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH), Monterey. The SLH is small and has only a handful of vineyards. However, its reputation for Pinot is huge. Among Pinot Noir fans, it is regarded as one of the best - perhaps the best - Pinot Noir producing regions in California. Lone Oak Vineyard is planted on an east facing slope near the center of the SLH (between the highly regarded Garys’ and Rosella’s Vineyards).

It was planted in 2001 to 6’x 6’ spacing. Clones 115, 667 and 777 were grafted onto a mix of 5C and 101-14 root stocks 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 retain much of the palate weight of the warmer southern part of the Highlands balanced with the vibrant acidity and spice of the northern part of the Highlands. We source our fruit from a special block within Lone Oak that is intensively maintained for the highest quality.

Split Rock Vineyard, Sonoma Coast

Our "Liberty Bridge" Pinot Noir is sourced from Split Rock Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. This sustainably farmed vineyard is a special block within Gap's Crown, a larger highly regarded vineyard that also supplies fruit to some of the very best Pinot Noir winemakers, Kosta Browne and Harrington being two examples. We are pleased to share fruit with such wineries.

The location on the west side of Sonoma Mountain combines extremely rocky soil (the consulting geologists who examined the site before planting to Pinot Noir called it “the rock quarry”) with winds from the Pacific Ocean that funnel through the Petaluma Wind Gap to create a challenging growing environment but one that consistently produces great fruit. The vineyard is managed at the highest viticultural level and has a mix of Dijon clones including 115, 667, 777 and 828.

Most of the vineyard has optimal southwest exposure and is densely planted with over 2,000 vines per acre. The blocks are planted between 320 and 820 feet above sea level and are primarily situated on Goulding-Toomes Complex soil. The viticulture is state of the art and the dedication to quality is unsurpassed.

This southern section of the Sonoma Coast AVA has become one of the most prestigious Pinot Noir growing regions in California. It is truly a unique microclimate (look for this area to receive alot more attention in the future). The vineyard is typically enveloped in early morning coastal fog, bathed in intense mid-day heat and then cooled by late afternoon Pacific breezes. The cooling effect slows maturation to allow flavors to develop to their full potential. The long hang time adds intense flavor with a smoky, earthy quality, in addition to concentrated fruit and dark berry flavors. Split Rock Vineyard wines are dark, featuring black cherry notes, and have an excellent tannin and acid backbone required for aging.

Reverence Vineyard, Napa Valley

Our 2008 "Charles Towne" Cabernet Sauvignon was made primarily with fruit from Reverence Vineyard, located in the slightly cooler southern part of Napa Valley. Reverence is a 12+ acre vineyard sitting on shallow, rocky-gravel soils and is solely focused on growing cooler climate Cabernet Sauvignon. The microclimate, influenced by the breezes and fogs off San Pablo Bay, help grapes ripen slowly and develop rich flavors while maintaining the classic Cabernet acid/tannin profile.

Reverence Vineyard was planted to a variety of clones primarily on 110R rootstock in 2002. The meticulous sustainable farming techniques and obvious care that have gone into the property's development have us truly excited about working with this vineyard.

Hayley Vineyard

The 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 with whom we are proud to be affiliated.

La Encantada Vineyard

Located on the cooler west side of the 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.

Doctor's Vineyard

Marine 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.