Winemaker Notes
The 2019 vintage of the Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot noir continues to demonstrate that this is the premier vineyard within the Sonoma Coast appellation. It sits at a windy 800 feet with volcanic soils that deliver intense, concentrated wines. Moderate temperatures and foggy nights in 2019 allowed the grapes to retain their natural acidity while developing complex flavors. Much of the wine’s intensity derives from vine stress caused by the site’s steep slopes, rocky soils and windy conditions. This wine offers dark berry and cherry aromas, baking spice, and layers of texture enhanced by 10% whole cluster fermentation.
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesI continue to just love the wines from this site, and Sojourn’s 2019 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard is a beauty. Lots of plums, darker raspberries, leather, sous bois, and burnt herb notes emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium to full body, a long, elegant, balanced texture, ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. A seriously good Pinot Noir, it should be better with another year in bottle and keep through 2029 or beyond. Rating: 95+
This site has been a constant for the producer since 2007 and it consistently sources from one block of the vineyard at some elevation. Intensely built in a rich, layered and full-bodied style, it offers firm, structured tannins and powerful, juicy waves of dark cherry and berry, with additional notes of crushed rock, dried herb and black tea.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of boysenberries and cranberries with touches of watermelon and red flowers. The palate is medium-bodied, silky and deeply fruited with a layered, spicy finish.
An expressive nose of plum, redcurrant, rose hip, sandalwood and cinnamon. It’s full-bodied with soft tannins. Ripe and creamy with a juicy, sweet core of blue fruit. Delicious finish with good length. Drink or hold.
Based in the town of Sonoma, Sojourn Cellars is a highly acclaimed winery specializing in the production of artisan Pinot noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
We source fruit from celebrated vineyards in both Sonoma and Napa Counties, and we help direct farming operations to assure that our grapes are produced using world-class growing techniques. We consistently produce remarkable wines with a hands-off natural winemaking style that showcases the character and personality of the individual vineyards.
Sojourn feels passionate about creating high-quality wines and always being accessible to the people who buy and enjoy our wines. Sojourn offers seated tastings in a casual, yet sophisticated environment and prides itself on always putting the customer first.
A vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”