Beautiful, vibrant cherry red color. Intoxicating nose of flowers and cherries. Precise on the palate, cherry, strawberry, bit of tart cranberry. Firm but not overbearing tannins, great acidity and balance. Becomes smoother on the palate with a bit of air. Finishes long and deeply flavored, strawberry. This may improve for another 3 to 4 years.
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A lovely, deep scented black cherry nose. Bright, expressive fruit on the palate, black cherries, bright highlights of strawberry. Smooth, firm tannins, could use 1-2 years more. Great acidity, fabulous balance. Finishes long with rich red fruits. Great wine and drinking beautifully now but probably better in 3 to 4 years.
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A Sonoma pinot with the flavors of a tarted up Cotes du Rhône and the structural integrity of a lean-to. There’s cherry, followed closely by intrusive vanilla and cola notes, then some sourness and tannic grit. Viscous and hot. Over twenty four hours the character of this wine did not change.
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Solid Pinot noir. Drank it against Saxon Brown and Kosta Gaps. It was good, not as clean and balanced as Kosta but far smoother and refined than Saxon. Solid gaps Pinot for the money.
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While I get “Likes” and have followers on Social Media sites like Facebook and Instagram, those are no guarantees that people actually “read” the full text of my posts. For those of you that do read them, this isn’t meant for you. That in and of itself is not that disconcerting to me. After all, I started writing about wine mostly for myself and to keep myself active in my retirement and as I enjoy writing. Mind you I’ve never said that I’m good at it, which, like wine, is left up to the reader or drinker in the case of wine.
So what’s this “proof” I’m talking about?
An e-mail I received about a recent post (Three Sticks Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir “Walala Vineyard” 2017) and the reader's comment that she had the same wine on the same night as I. Now you know that’s too specific to be anything but “conclusive” remarks that she reads my post. If you think that’s it’s almost TOO much of a coincident, consider that the reader is none other than the Marketing and Events Manager for Three Sticks Wines, Maral Papakhian.
Now Maral being an admirer of mine (wait, that may be too much), how about an avid reader (no, I wouldn’t want to make that sweeping of a statement either), okay, she reads my blog (I can live with that). Similarly, I am a huge admirer and fanatic of Three Sticks, both their Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs (read my recent upcoming post titled “Changing Palates” and a number of wine specific reviews I’ve already published).
Anyway, the e-mail got me to a thinkin’ which wine from their recent released allocation she liked the most; so I asked. No hesitation, at least none that I can derive from an e-mail exchange, she proclaimed the
Three Sticks“Gap’s Crown” Pinot Noir 2017
“Wonderful,” I remarked; setting the stage for my next Three Sticks wine to review. Ah, it gets even better!
On a roll, I also asked if she had any recommendations for what to serve with the wine. Maybe coincidentally (I’m choosing it to be due to the fact she does read my posts), but her first suggestion is Mushroom Risotto! Come on, I’ve had more Mushroom Risotto (and written about it) than a Lombardan (home of Risotto) making Risotto ai Funghi (that’s Mushroom Risotto).
Enough proof? I think so!
So it’s time to move on to the center stage. The wine and the food, or more accurately, the food and the wine.
Mushroom Risotto; except for the endless hours of prep, well a good two hours as I get things ready and then still hand stir my Risotto for about an hour, it is as enjoyable a meal for a nice evening with a slight chill in the air and fond memories of the last year and the expectations for the coming year.
Since Maral was so kind as to recommend this scrumptious food, I thought it only befitting that I make it as she mentioned. Vegan. As you can tell with my posts that regale the various meats that I have enjoyed, you might think that would be a stretch for me. Not at all, although truth be told, I did have to break down on one lone item that I just couldn’t not use (is that a double negative?). Parmigiano Reggiano. Sorry Maral, that would be blasphemous, and I’m not even Italian! I also tried to make it a little more festive by adding both a Pea Puree and Red Pepper Sauce. Christmas colors don’t you know.
I can understand why Maral chose Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir. Now part of the Three Sticks Estate Vineyards, it represents one of the most illustrious vineyards in the Sonoma Coast. Situated on the Western Slope of the Sonoma Mountains and what is known as the Petaluma Gap, a region that represents some of the most idealistic conditions for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and it showed in this Pinot Noir! Much like the Walala Vineyard I reviewed recently, the wine is well balanced and eases you into its dried red fruit flavors that are accompanied by that slight earthiness and roundness that great Pinots often display. Fresh and lively with a touch more subtleness, softness and less spiciness than the Walala Pinot on the long finish. Both excellent wines, and me likey, but sorry Maral, my nod goes to the Walala, a touch bolder and a little more spice notes.
I must be pretty confident that Maral actually reads my blog since I’m addressing her in a post, right? There you have it, conclusive proof, or what most politicians would consider calling it!
Cheers
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Very sultry and multidimensional, this possesses a panoply of nuances, such as dark raspberry, wild plum, porcini mushroom, fried duck skin, cranberry and camphor. Exquisitely long and full-bodied, this offers a forward manner, with lots of layers and a solid backbone. Even better on day two. Drink 2021 - 2031.
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2/21/2023 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
took a bit to open up but was very good when it did.
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11/18/2022 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
Simple pop n pour, very approachable now, slight tension in the mid to end, will improve with a year or 2 in the cellar.
Drink now thru 2025/7
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9/5/2020 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful, vibrant cherry red color. Intoxicating nose of flowers and cherries. Precise on the palate, cherry, strawberry, bit of tart cranberry. Firm but not overbearing tannins, great acidity and balance. Becomes smoother on the palate with a bit of air. Finishes long and deeply flavored, strawberry. This may improve for another 3 to 4 years.
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8/15/2020 - SMZ wrote: 93 Points
Great wine...big and brooding, with beautiful flavors
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7/17/2020 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
A lovely, deep scented black cherry nose. Bright, expressive fruit on the palate, black cherries, bright highlights of strawberry. Smooth, firm tannins, could use 1-2 years more. Great acidity, fabulous balance. Finishes long with rich red fruits. Great wine and drinking beautifully now but probably better in 3 to 4 years.
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7/5/2020 - colorflavorlocking wrote: 75 Points
A Sonoma pinot with the flavors of a tarted up Cotes du Rhône and the structural integrity of a lean-to. There’s cherry, followed closely by intrusive vanilla and cola notes, then some sourness and tannic grit. Viscous and hot. Over twenty four hours the character of this wine did not change.
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2/14/2020 - mwiley Likes this wine: 93 Points
Notes of cherry and vanilla. Very light on the palate.
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2/2/2020 - Deutsch Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid Pinot noir. Drank it against Saxon Brown and Kosta Gaps. It was good, not as clean and balanced as Kosta but far smoother and refined than Saxon. Solid gaps Pinot for the money.
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1/3/2020 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Conclusive Proof!
While I get “Likes” and have followers on Social Media sites like Facebook and Instagram, those are no guarantees that people actually “read” the full text of my posts. For those of you that do read them, this isn’t meant for you. That in and of itself is not that disconcerting to me. After all, I started writing about wine mostly for myself and to keep myself active in my retirement and as I enjoy writing. Mind you I’ve never said that I’m good at it, which, like wine, is left up to the reader or drinker in the case of wine.
So what’s this “proof” I’m talking about?
An e-mail I received about a recent post (Three Sticks Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir “Walala Vineyard” 2017) and the reader's comment that she had the same wine on the same night as I. Now you know that’s too specific to be anything but “conclusive” remarks that she reads my post. If you think that’s it’s almost TOO much of a coincident, consider that the reader is none other than the Marketing and Events Manager for Three Sticks Wines, Maral Papakhian.
Now Maral being an admirer of mine (wait, that may be too much), how about an avid reader (no, I wouldn’t want to make that sweeping of a statement either), okay, she reads my blog (I can live with that). Similarly, I am a huge admirer and fanatic of Three Sticks, both their Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs (read my recent upcoming post titled “Changing Palates” and a number of wine specific reviews I’ve already published).
Anyway, the e-mail got me to a thinkin’ which wine from their recent released allocation she liked the most; so I asked. No hesitation, at least none that I can derive from an e-mail exchange, she proclaimed the
Three Sticks“Gap’s Crown” Pinot Noir 2017
“Wonderful,” I remarked; setting the stage for my next Three Sticks wine to review. Ah, it gets even better!
On a roll, I also asked if she had any recommendations for what to serve with the wine. Maybe coincidentally (I’m choosing it to be due to the fact she does read my posts), but her first suggestion is Mushroom Risotto! Come on, I’ve had more Mushroom Risotto (and written about it) than a Lombardan (home of Risotto) making Risotto ai Funghi (that’s Mushroom Risotto).
Enough proof? I think so!
So it’s time to move on to the center stage. The wine and the food, or more accurately, the food and the wine.
Mushroom Risotto; except for the endless hours of prep, well a good two hours as I get things ready and then still hand stir my Risotto for about an hour, it is as enjoyable a meal for a nice evening with a slight chill in the air and fond memories of the last year and the expectations for the coming year.
Since Maral was so kind as to recommend this scrumptious food, I thought it only befitting that I make it as she mentioned. Vegan. As you can tell with my posts that regale the various meats that I have enjoyed, you might think that would be a stretch for me. Not at all, although truth be told, I did have to break down on one lone item that I just couldn’t not use (is that a double negative?). Parmigiano Reggiano. Sorry Maral, that would be blasphemous, and I’m not even Italian! I also tried to make it a little more festive by adding both a Pea Puree and Red Pepper Sauce. Christmas colors don’t you know.
I can understand why Maral chose Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir. Now part of the Three Sticks Estate Vineyards, it represents one of the most illustrious vineyards in the Sonoma Coast. Situated on the Western Slope of the Sonoma Mountains and what is known as the Petaluma Gap, a region that represents some of the most idealistic conditions for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and it showed in this Pinot Noir! Much like the Walala Vineyard I reviewed recently, the wine is well balanced and eases you into its dried red fruit flavors that are accompanied by that slight earthiness and roundness that great Pinots often display. Fresh and lively with a touch more subtleness, softness and less spiciness than the Walala Pinot on the long finish. Both excellent wines, and me likey, but sorry Maral, my nod goes to the Walala, a touch bolder and a little more spice notes.
I must be pretty confident that Maral actually reads my blog since I’m addressing her in a post, right? There you have it, conclusive proof, or what most politicians would consider calling it!
Cheers
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12/10/2019 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
I love 3sticks. Their Pinot's are amazing. Well balanced, great wine. Enjoyable now.
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7/6/2019 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very sultry and multidimensional, this possesses a panoply of nuances, such as dark raspberry, wild plum, porcini mushroom, fried duck skin, cranberry and camphor. Exquisitely long and full-bodied, this offers a forward manner, with lots of layers and a solid backbone. Even better on day two. Drink 2021 - 2031.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment