94 Points - The Tasting Panel
Publisher’s Pick. Black-peppered cherries in aspic, with brilliant earth tones and tobacco leaf. Deep-rooted and velvet-lined, spiced with clove, nutmeg, and cedar. A great holiday wine.

This Pinot Noir from the Petaluma Gap offers a more muscular, full-bodied, and rich expression of the variety from this cool-climate sub-appellation of the Sonoma Coast. Candied red cherry fruits, toffee spices, and sappy tannins frame a generously expressive palate teeming with sweet spices and blue fruit compote, complemented by plenty of earthy tones and brown baking spices. The finish is marked by an umami richness and a dried herb character. Winemaker Julien Fayard has dialed it up to 11, delivering a full-throttle expression of the Petaluma Gap that should be enjoyed in its youth for its extravagance.