Our second release from this famed vineyard on the western side of Sonoma Mountain, produced from the old vine block, 828, 777, and La Tâche clones. This is a stunning example of age-worthy yet elegant California Pinot. Sourced from this cool, western-facing vineyard on Sonoma Mountain just at the end of the Petaluma Gap, vinification was done in open-top tanks, and the wine was whole cluster fermented with native yeasts. Aging was in 100% neutral French oak barrels.

This magical land, located at an elevation of 1,500 feet on a north-facing bench of Sonoma Mountain, has a long history of superb cultivation. The site was considered a sacred place by local Native Americans who believe the top of Sonoma Mountain is where the world began, and our family has produced top-quality wine from this vineyard for over four decades. This is one of California’s oldest Pinot Noir vineyards, with current plantings from 1952.

Ulysses van der Kamp walks the vineyard daily and embraces his father’s belief that “the best fertilizer for a vineyard is the shadow of the farmer”. These dramatically sloping vineyards are farmed organically, with a focus on environmental sustainability and the unique needs of each individual vine. The patchwork of soil types includes loam with volcanic material and decomposed river bed. The topsoil is very thin, leading to a more structured wine and a very unique terroir.