2022 Keller Estate Pinot Noir El Coro Vineyard Petaluma Gap Sonoma County 750 ml

“You know Keller Estate, right?”

We’ll never forget how we first discovered the standout Pinots of Keller Estate—now one of the most popular Sonoma wineries in Wine Access history.

It was a Monday. We were chatting with a friend who works for David Ramey, and we’d spent the morning talking Burgundy when he brought up Keller Estate. He clearly expected us to know the winery well, so he couldn’t hide his disappointment when we told him we hadn’t yet had the pleasure.

“They’re one of the greatest Pinot producers in Sonoma County! You gotta get on this!” he admonished us. We placed an order that day, and when we finally popped the cork on our first bottle of Keller Estate Pinot Noir—wow.

Succulent red fruits and heady spices, all framed by savory tannins, led to an attention-grabbing mineral finish. It was one of the most delicious California Pinots we’d had in years. We were hooked, but we shouldn’t have been surprised: Not only is Keller making beautifully ethereal California Pinot Noir, but they also helped put the Petaluma Gap AVA on the map.

Some of the most respected California winemakers—like David Ramey, Phil Titus, Helen Keplinger, Morgan Twain-Peterson MW, and Pax Mahle—think of the Petaluma Gap as a source of Grand Cru–quality California grapes. One of the primary reasons is the wind: Salty, powerful breezes off the Pacific funneled through the 15-mile-wide inland valley buffet the vines, which then develop small grape clusters sporting thick skins and packed with profound flavor.

Certified sustainable, Keller Estate’s El Coro vineyard is planted to Pommard and Dijon clones rooted in mineral-rich clay soils, where the relentless coastal wind pushes the grapes to achieve full, concentrated ripeness. Hand-harvesting takes place at night, then the grapes are destemmed, cold-soaked for five days, and aged in fine French oak.

Keller Estate has become a shooting star in the AVA, thanks to wines that match impeccable balance with aromatic, savory spices. The 2022 El Coro Pinot is proof that their bottles stand shoulder to shoulder with the best.