2022 Keller Estate Pinot Noir La Cruz 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 me 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 me. We placed an order that day, and when we finally popped the cork on their Keller Estate Pinot Noir La Cruz Vineyard—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 I’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.