2018 Fulcrum Wines Block 8 Gaps Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir - SoCo Barrel Auction Lot

Fulcrum Wines has produced a vineyard designate Pinot Noir from Gap’s Crown Vineyard for 12 years, but never has Winemaker David Rossi made a wine solely from Block 8. This special wine was crafted as a once-in-a-lifetime Pinot Noir exclusively for the Sonoma County Barrel Auction.

Nestled on the western hillside of Sonoma Mountain, Gap’s Crown presents an amazing location to capture both the complexity and intensity that define world-class Pinot Noir. The site’s distinctive microclimate is predominantly influenced by summer fog rushing in from the Pacific Ocean through the Petaluma Gap. The soils are rocky and well drained, ideal for Burgundian varietals.

A “Fulcrum” is the point on which an object balances — a fitting tribute to Block 8, which sits mid-way up Gap’s Crown Vineyard. The block is planted to Clone 667, and its vines produce abundant lush, dark fruit, creating wines that are consistently among the richest and most voluptuous of the Fulcrum offerings. This 2018 Block 8 Pinot is a deep, dark purple hue, with earth, desert sage, anise and berry compote on the nose. Mouth-filling blackberry, spice and earth fill the palate. The wine is full bodied with excellent acid and tannin balance and a long intense finish.