2019 Vivier Pinot Noir Gaps Crown

2019 Vivier Pinot Noir Gaps Crown

Gap’s Crown, tucked on the western hillside of Sonoma Mountain, is fanned by the cool ocean breezes that push through the Petaluma Gap. This is a favorite of Stéphane because of the long growing season, rocky soil and inhospitable weather. Floral, subtle and minerally perfumed aromas: light spice, violet, and vibrant red fruits loft on the perfect frame giving way to a dense, elegant the palate. Racy yet elegant, it shows texture and refinement with fresh raspberry, floral elements with violet, rose petals and spice underneath.

I tasted this wine earlier this week and there is no question this is a Pinot Noir that has reached the mountain top of California Pinot Noir. When you think of great wines, you associate them with great vineyards. If you know Cult Napa Cab, you know many of the greatest in the last ten years have come from Beckstoffers To Kalon, and have been made by different Wineries and winemakers who buy access to the vineyard annually and the cost changes every year. The cost to do so is massive making Tokalon grapes the most expensive in all of Napa. When is comes to Pinot Noir the most expensive site that most believe makes the finest Pinot Noir in California is Gaps Crown in the Petaluma Gap in the Sonoma Coast. Todays wine comes from this vineyard.   ‘Gaps Crown’. The Pinot Noirs from Gaps Crown are exceptional. The vineyard is located in the cool and windy Petaluma Gap, with twenty top Pinot Producers making wine from the vineyard including Sojourn, Patz and Hall and Kosta Browne. The vineyard was recently purchased by stand-out businessman Bill Price who owns Kosta Brown, making it the most expensive Pinot Noir acreage in the USA. Gap’s Crown is a Grand Cru caliber vineyard.

Today we have a tiny amount of the 2019 Vivier Pinot Noir Gaps Crown Vineyard to offer you. Vivier is a husband and wife team Stephane Vivier originally from Burgundy and Dana Sexton Vivier an American who combined who two passions wine and finance. They met in Napa and their journey began. Stephane Vivier is a big time proven commodity when it comes to making world class Pinot Noir. After obtaining degrees in viticulture and enology from Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, he worked in Switzerland, Sonoma and New Zealand. There, he discovered the difference between Old World and New World winemaking. In 2002 Stephane became the winemaker for HDV in Napa (Hyde de Villaine). HDV is owned by the Hyde family of Napa and the Aubert de Villaine family of Domaine de la Romanee Conti. The Hyde family own one of California greatest single vineyards for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. California’s greatest Winemakers: Kistler, Marcassin, Hobbs, Aubert, Ramey make single vineyard designates wines from this great vineyard. DRC are the most collected and expensive red wines on the planet. Stephane found himself under the great tutelage of the winemaker of DRC Mr. de Villain.

Todays wine is becoming one of the hottest and hardest to get Pinot’s coming out of California. Vivier’s regular bottling of Pinot Noir got 94pts Parker. Gaps Crown has not been rated yet and will be sold out when it does. I have tasted both wines and the Gaps Crown is on another level.  We have a tiny amount to proudly offer