2022 Crosby Roamann - Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap (750ml)

Crosby Roamann began as a bicoastal dream. Husband and wife Sean and Juliana McBride started making wine in Tribeca in 2006 with a single barrel of grapes purchased from renowned Napa vineyard manager Andy Beckstoffer. Bitten by the bug, Sean moved west to learn hands-on winemaking at White Rock Vineyards, and by 2010 both had relocated to Napa Valley full time to pursue winemaking as their focus. Today the winery is dedicated to handcrafted, minimal-intervention wines sourced from small, family-owned vineyards farmed organically, biodynamically, or sustainably.

This Pinot Noir comes from the Rowan Vineyard, occupying a steep, south- and southwest-facing hillside on the northern edge of the Petaluma Gap, where the soil carries a higher percentage of limestone than is typical for the area. The grapes were fully destemmed and fermented in stainless steel for 14 days on native yeasts, then aged 17 months in 40% new French oak with minimal handling.

Expect fresh, ripe strawberry and rhubarb up front, joined by a touch of dark cocoa and crushed red pepper, leading into notes of black tea and black olive tapenade on the finish. This is a savory, food-friendly style of Pinot Noir, more herb and spice-driven than fruit-forward, reflecting the cool, wind-swept character of the Petaluma Gap.

With only around 600 cases produced, this is a small-batch bottling best paired with roast duck, mushroom dishes, or grilled salmon.