Keller Estate La Cruz Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003

Keller Estate Winery and Vineyards, owned by the Keller family, is nestled in the Sonoma Coast, Northwest of the Carneros region on Lakeville Highway east of Petaluma not far from the edge of the county. They are the southernmost winery in the Sonoma Coast appellation and the first to establish itself in the Petaluma Valley. The San Pablo Bay lies immediately to the south. To the Northwest lies the Petaluma gap where an opening in the coastal hills allows masses of fog to flow freely towards the Petaluma Valley. This geographical signature is unique and creates a cool and long growing season for Keller Estate's vineyards.

The winemaking philosophy at Keller Estate is simple: they respect the terrior that is characteristic of this vineyard estate and they minimize the handling and manipulation of the grapes to preserve the quality. They have pursued a blueprint of clonal diversity based on the altitude, orientation and soil composition of each vineyard block that is best for each individual clone. This clonal diversity provides the textures, flavors and aromas with which to build complexity into the wines. Winemaker Michael McNeill spends considerable time in the vineyard, assessing crop levels, canopy management and irrigation timing. However, his most important decision comes from tasting the ripening fruit over and over again – the optimal time to harvest.