Growing Conditions

The 2019 vintage was in many ways reminiscent of 2018 in that it started late and stayed on track for a late harvest. The extremely wet winter of 2019 helped the health of the canopies in the vineyard while filling our reservoirs with water for the season before, we enjoyed a remarkably long summer all during harvest. Identical in degree growing days, a measure of how warm the season has been, we enjoyed a very pleasant harvest with gorgeous, dark fruit for the reds and forward, pleasing whites.

We’re quite taken with the wines from this vintage. Pinot Noir yields were short and concentrated from our vineyard, while the Chardonnay bounty was more typical in yields. They shall be a bit more generous and earlier drinking than the previous, cooler vintage.

Winemaking

Sun Chase Vineyard sits high in the Petaluma Gap and derives its trademark concentration from the steady breezes and well drained soils that define this rocky perch. Our 2019 Pinot Noir, Sun Chase displays beautiful black and blue fruit giving way to a sensation of fresh crushed berries and notes of Damson plum, hints of allspice and black tea. This full-bodied Pinot Noir has lovely concentration and supple, broad tannins to support the bright fruit-forward, savory finish.