Drew Gatekeepers Pinot Noir 2009
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There are too many words to describe this wine here but just think along the lines of these few descriptors and not in any special order: Rose stems, sandal wood, quince, pomegranates, cherry gelato, minerals, red pepper corns, carpaccio, a newly cut dozen roses, hints of fresh spearmint…. The flavors are lively with floral notes, wild red fruits, spice and sweet earth. The tannins and acid are very much in line with classic fruit weight. An elegant high altitude, coastal Pinot Noir!
Only 450 cases produced
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Wine & Spirits
Jason Drew sources fruit for this wine from two vineyards, Perli and Manchester Ridge. It leads off with scents of rose and raspberry, along with an undertone of walnuts and pumpkin. Full ripeness builds the richness and sweetness of the flavor, while tannins hold that sweetness in check. Full-bore pinot noir, this is built for steak.
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2014-
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Jason and Molly Drew started Drew eighteen years ago with a clear goal in mind: to craft small lot coastal wines that express site specificity and traditional varietal character. While the beginnings of Drew began in the Santa Rita Hills AVA in 2000, they transplanted their small operation to the Mendocino Coast in 2005 to establish their estate ranch and winery.
In 2004 they had stumbled upon an old 26-acre apple orchard for sale within the Mendocino Ridge Appellation. The Mendocino Ridge is the most westernmost AVA within Mendocino County located directly west and south west of Anderson Valley and directly north of the true Sonoma Coast. While others saw a daunting project in this old orchard property, Jason and Molly saw ancient oceanic soils, south facing slopes and a true coastal climate, with the ocean a mere 3.3 miles away. It didn't take long for them to decide to leap and leap they did.
They spent the following year drawing, planning and building their boutique winery. Spending that year living in a 19 ft Airstream trailer along with their two young boys, to ensure construction moved as planned. They eventually planted their 7-acre estate Pinot Noir vineyard, which produced its first crop in 2014. A milestone that was hard earned after 25 years in the wine industry. Jason is a true craftsman of his trade having spent many years honing his craft with his viticultural and winemaking background, having worked for several northern and central California estate winery and vineyards.
Drew continues to focus on small lot coastal Pinot Noir and Syrah from both Anderson Valley and the Mendocino Ridge. They continue their long-standing partnerships with several local vineyard growers who share their passion for sustainable and meticulous farming practices. Single vineyard sources are chosen for their climate, clonal selection and complexity of soil type. Winemaking practices remain focused on traditional methods that include whole cluster and native yeast fermentations, hand punchdowns and in most instances, no fining or filtering.