2019 Gap's Crown Vineyard Chardonnay

Gap's Crown Vineyard

Sonoma Coast

191 CASES MADE

In our continuing quest to make the most age-worthy, structured, vibrant, racy, white wine in all of California, we give you our very limited 2018 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay from Bill Price’s singular vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. In the not-so-distant past we mistakenly crushed enough fruit in 2014 to produce nearly 900 cases of this lovely wine, our peak production. However, we are a Cabernet house with a bad habit for noteworthy whites, and not the other way around. Our production has dropped to no more than the 300-case mark, where it will stay for the foreseeable future.

750 ml

This vintage is sold out.

"Our Chardonnay program has continued to evolve and progress as we become increasingly focused on producing greatness in each of the wines we produce. After many years of primarily stainless steel fermentations, Jason and I have decided that we like the roundness and depth provided by fermenting our Chardonnay in neutral oak instead. That will be a notable difference discovered when tasting our 2019 Gap’s Crown Chardonnay over previous vintages. Bill Price’s singular vineyard has continued to grow in fame, and not just for its highly regarded Kosta Brown pinot noir offering. When asking for more tons of chardonnay this year, I was told that there were none to be had. After a slow start in our portfolio, the Gap’s Crown Chardonnay has become highly allocated.

"The abundant rains in the winter of 2019 and cold temperatures in the spring led to full canopy development, but very slow growth and ripening. Very little irrigation was needed for the growing season, and the high acidity of the site has presented itself in the wine. Classic aromas and flavors of Gap’s Crown Vineyard emerge from the 2019 edition: smooth stream pebbles, orange rind, mint and a chalky salinity that is rarely present in domestic Chardonnays. This is a racy, vibrant wine that will benefit from cellaring, or a long decant when young, and will pair beautifully with oysters, shellfish, spicy Asian cuisine and charcuterie."

VINEYARD: Gap’s Crown Vineyard
APPELLATION: Petaluma Gap
COMPOSITION: 100% Chardonnay
CASES PRODUCED: 191

GAP'S CROWN VINEYARD, SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Gap’s Crown Vineyard is owned by Bill Price. Situated on the southern end of Sonoma Mountain on the west side, the 138-acre hillside vineyard has extremely stony soils and low yields. Known as “The Petaluma Gap,” this area is a fog and breeze pocket that is unique in the Sonoma Coast. Cool temperatures, low pH values and high natural acidity produce wines of truly stunning vibrancy.

A judicious amount of new French oak was involved to round the shoulders a bit, but this Chardonnay maintains its vibrant edge. Orange rind, smooth stream pebbles and the chalky soils of the vineyard all make an appearance in the glass. Showing beautifully now but will easily handle fifteen to twenty years in the cellar.

VINEYARD: Gap’s Crown Vineyard
APPELLATION: Petaluma Gap
COMPOSITION: 100% Chardonnay
CASES PRODUCED: 191

2019 Gap's Crown Vineyard Chardonnay

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

2019 Gap's Crown Vineyard Chardonnay

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

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