The meaning of "entering the belly of a whale" is "jumping into an unknown adventure", and this wine was named so because the vineyard "Sun Chase Vineyard" where this wine is made is a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that has never been experienced before. Southeast of Sonoma Coast, on the eastern end of Petaluma Gap, on the west-facing slope of a high hill, the cold fog does not rise to the vineyard, so it is warm during the day and cold winds blow in at night. Excellent acidity is retained and the wine is fully ripe. Aged for 18 months in French barrels (75% new barrels). Excellent acidity and fine tannins with a voluminous texture set this Pinot Noir apart from other Pinot Noirs.
Belly of the whale
Owner and winemaker Viviana asks, "Do you dare to enter the belly of the whale?" This means, "Are you brave enough to jump into an unknown adventure?" The Pinot Noir from Sun Chase Vineyard, located in the newest AVA, Petaluma Gap, southeast of Sonoma Coast, has an unknown flavor that makes you jump into an adventure, making it a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir like you've never experienced before. We chose this name because we are very excited to see how this wine will develop in the future. Jump into unknown territory with Viviana!
Technical information
Clone: A perfect blend of 667 and 777
Winemaking: The 2021 harvest took place at night from September 3rd to 10th, and after rigorous selection, all unripe fruit was removed by hand. The grapes were transferred to small open stainless steel tanks, and fermentation was allowed to begin slowly using only natural yeast. To ensure proper extraction for these grapes, punchdown was performed twice a day by hand (returning the lifted skins, grains, and seeds to the juice), and fermentation took place in a low-temperature environment for 21 days. After alcoholic fermentation, the wine was aged for 18 months in French barrels (75% new barrels).
Tasting Comments
This is the best Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir you can enjoy. It has aromas of fig jam, dark berries, sandalwood, and Asian spices. The taste is full of vital acidity and supple tannins. It has an elegance that can be enjoyed young. However, the excellent acidity and texture of the tannins suggest that it will mature even more wonderfully in the next few years.
Production volume: 164 cases per year
Field Information
Sun Chase Vineyard
Located on the southeast of Sonoma Coast, at the eastern end of Petaluma Gap, on the west-facing slope of a high hill, overlooking Sonoma Coast from the east. The cold fog does not rise to the fields, so it is warm during the day and cold winds blow in at night. Excellent acidity is retained and the grapes ripen fully.
Vintage: 2021
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Medium bodied
Main variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Sonoma Coast
Vineyard: Sun Chase Vineyard
Winemaker: Bibiana Gonzalez Rave
Brewing: Fermented using only natural yeast
Aging: 18 months in French barrels (75% new)
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 14.4%