CA Riesling. Perfectly balanced with a hint of earthyness. My favorite Riesling at the moment — 6 years ago
Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.
It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.
Inaugural vintage for this wine. Fruit is coming from Petaluma Gap. This seems to have a Burgundian flair, but the fruit won’t allow it to go fully there. Fairly ripe black cherries, crunchy cranberries, underbrush, black tea and slightly green. Mellow on the palate with more tannin than acidity right now (which seems unique), and a definite dried floral, dried black fruit and herbal streak down the middle of the palate. Needs some time. — 6 years ago

Hot off the Press. Always one of Australia’s better Rieslings over decades. Dried white flowers on the nose. On the palate bracing citric acid with the tension you would expect from a young Riesling. A long life ahead as always. I still have a couple of the 2002 left. — 7 years ago
Petaluma Gap sounds windswept and barren but this is rich and as full a domestic Pinot as I can handle before I say, "fu*k this give me Burgundy". Hits classic notes of sweet red cherry, cinnamon spice and orange peel with good length and just enough acidity to balance 14.2% ABV. This is the perfect middle ground for California Pinot maybe, right between those who shoot for 'tastefully underripe' and the Martinelli/SeaSmoke/GuyFieriFlavortown contingent. — 9 years ago
At the top of its game. Released direct from the winery's cellar. — 10 years ago
The 2010 La Cruz is a classic example of Petaluma Gap wine from the always stellar Keller Family. Dark cherry, spice and a umami character that may come from the soil being composed of former seabed — 11 years ago
Brilliant. For $90 — 12 years ago
This is the new Calera Clone, a mighty fine effort for 1st bottling. Petaluma Gap — 5 years ago
Just in from Jersey, $22.00 no tax free shipping. Buy it by the case all day long. Skip the Bevan & buy this
Retail notes,
There’s a sweet-spot for domestic Sauvignon Blanc found in a special part of Bennett Valley that experiences a strong maritime influence as it flows through the Petaluma Gap to Sonoma Mountain. Within that funnel of cooling coastal air, the Dry Stack Vineyard is in a prime location at 550 feet elevation at the base of Mt. Taylor. I’m continually drawn to Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Stack and the vineyard produces fruit with detailed notes of fresh guava, rocky minerals, ripe tangerine and mineral infused citrus. You might be familiar with Russell Bevan’s version from Dry Stack, and Grey Stack has been a pillar on our tasting list in Yountville.
With Grey Stack, everything begins in the Vineyard with exceptional quality fruit, but from there, the wine is given a voice by winemaker Patrick Sullivan, whose experience includes making wine at Peter Michael, Paul Hobbs, Lewis Cellars and Rudd. This is absolutely one of the finest examples of California Sauvignon Blanc with its superior focus and incredibly vivid, distinctive flavors. If you love Sauvignon Blanc, or better yet, even if you don’t… Try this one and you’ll probably never look back. — 5 years ago


Light, lemony flavour, slightly oaky. Nice to drink on a summer afternoon $39. — 6 years ago
I could drink this everyday! Stunning drop! Intense gold robe, hazelnuts, roast nuts, butter, lemon. Great balance, the fruit is still there and the acidity is straight. Could age another 5/10 years. Superb — 6 years ago

This wine has so much going on. It’s like a life-form amalgam of animal/vegetable/mineral. Color is like plasma. Nose has raw grass-fed beef, liquid stones, and mentholic Ben-Gay thing, resinous herbs, lime, charcoal ash, and tangy boysenberry. Seriously. Lots of shit happening. It is mouthfilling and loaded with clingy, soft tannin, and has bloody, minerally, dark berry skin flavors for miles. Long finish and good acids. Only 13.9%, which, these days, passes for low alcohol. Terrific wine. — 7 years ago
Notes of dusty mulberries and blackberries - also olive. A beautiful balancing act of 60%Cabernet Sauvignon and 31%Merlot and 9% Shiraz. Very different to the 1996 Moss Wood had recently because of the Merlot in the blend. Good density and concentration. A class act. — 8 years ago
Not your average Pinot Noir. Very fruity with a bit of funkiness. Insanely drinkable. — 10 years ago
Just a hint of kerosene on the nose, her palest of apple fruits and a touch of acidity. This has aged very well and with some good weight in the mouth, a fine example of mature Aussie Riesling. — 11 years ago
Stainless steel located in the Petaluma gap — 11 years ago
North Block Hotel Pizzeria, Petaluma gap crown, Sonoma coast, crisp nights, long growing season, minerally, Burgundian — 13 years ago
v13. Very good. Lengthy decant. Soft, candied cherry and smoked meat nose. Rich, blackberry and black cherry fruit. Full round, black pepper and earth finish . The legs on the glass never end!!!! — 5 years ago
Impressive #hamiltonfamilywines — 5 years ago
Winery notes, Sun Chase Vineyard is planted on the west-facing hillside where the cool Petaluma Gap collides with Sonoma Mountain, this site overlooks a broad sweep of the county from the San Pablo Bay to north Santa Rosa. Our Chardonnay block with an east-west row aspect sits on a sun-drenched, rocky incline at 1000' where fruit yields are naturally limited with small clusters and aromatic fruit. Technical Notes: 76 clone, Whole-cluster pressing, 100% native yeast primary fermentation, 100% wild malolactic fermentation, 11 months in low toast, air-dry 3-year-old French oak, 25% new."
My notes , Aubert style without Aubert price. — 5 years ago


I look forward to seeing where this goes in the next 5 years. Jammy and berries all over. — 7 years ago
Buttery and smooth! Classic charddy — 7 years ago
Think it's a new release, Incredible texture, teeth staining, inky purple, planted in 2000 on a west facing hill over the San Pablo Bay, Southern Petaluma Gap, constant afternoon wind. Intense, amazing structure, violets, raspberries, pepper, meat, funk. 50% WC, Viognier co-fermented, Feels like it's going to age for a long time, has everything, alcohol, acid and tannin, probably coming back to the next bottle in 2024. Ridiculous wine. — 9 years ago
Beautiful. Great first course sparkling wine. — 10 years ago
Great, dry aromatic white for the springtime! White flowers, citrus aromas. Fresh oranges and nice acid. Some dairy notes too. Excellent with my salmon too. #petaluma #petalumawindgap — 11 years ago
reppin' Petaluma. Fave Lagunitas after Lil' Sumpin' Wild. — 12 years ago
Daniele Veronelli
Very good for an entry level... — 4 years ago