Medium gold color; yellow apple, key lime, lemon, pear, quince, minerality, oak spice on the nose and palate.
Dry; no tannins, vibrant acidity. Good complexity and depth, especially with nicely integrated French oak that does not insist on attention. Medium body. Impressively long finish. The 2022 vintage experienced drought, which reduced quantity of grapes but enhanced quality, always a vexing tradeoff for winemakers. Harvest began in mid-August, which is earlier than normal, but was not complete before a heat wave. Fortunately, there were grapes that needed more time on the vine and got it. 14% ABV
The website notes: “The newest vintage from our Heritage vineyard, Gap’s Crown, is another showstopper chardonnay. This vineyard, located on the western slope of Sonoma Mountain within the Petaluma Gap, has unique weather conditions characterized by a persistent blend of wind and fog that create an environment that supports to near-perfect ripening.”
Three Sticks owns, farms, and produces every grape and every drop of wine from its own estate vineyards. The operation specializes in chardonnay and pinot noir. Ryan Prichard is the director of winemaking. Rob Harris is vice president in charge of vineyards. Prema Kerollis is the co-founder and general manager. Bill Price III is the proprietor, which reflects his ownership interests in Three Sticks Wines, Kistler Vineyards, Gary Farrell Winery, and Head High. The “three sticks” name comes from the nickname Price’s surfing buddies gave him when he was growing up in Hawaii—referring to the III at the end of his name.
Three Sticks wines are estate bottled, which is not a common thing. Three Sticks does so in order to control the entire process, from vine to bottle. According to the U.S. Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau: “Estate bottled means that 100 percent of the wine came from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery, and both the winery and the vineyard must be located within the boundaries of the labeled viticultural area.” The majority of U.S. wineries are not allowed to put “estate bottled” on their labels.
Three Sticks Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2022 is higher-end chardonnay from one of Three Sticks Heritage Vineyards. Refined, clean, vibrant, mouthwatering. Generous flavors. Superb integration of French oak. Grapes from iconic vineyard in Petaluma Gap area of Sonoma Coast AVA. Pair with grilled of roasted fish—sea bass, halibut. Pan-seared scallops, oysters. Lobster, garlic butter shrimp. Crab cakes. Roast chicken or turkey. Pork tenderloin with light fruit sauce. Fettuccine Alfredo, mushroom risotto, roasted root vegetables. Cheese—triple-cream cheeses; chevre, humbolt fog, fresh goat cheese; semi-hard cheeses; brie, comté. $60-70
