Three Sticks Wines
This small winery produces exceptional wines from estate vineyards owned by Bill Price including Durell,
Gap’s Crown, Walala and William James. The winery’s hospitality home is the Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe
located in the town of Sonoma. The Adobe was originally built in 1842 by Salvador Vallejo and has been
restored as a Sonoma landmark.
Winemaker Ryan Prichard joined Three Sticks in 2015 alongside former Wiliams Selyem winemaker consultant
Bob Cabral. He crafts both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Three Sticks’ estate vineyard sites.
Most of the wines are sold through a mailing list at www.threestickswines.com.
2020 Three Sticks Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., pH 3.50, TA 0.64, 490 cases,
$75. Released August 2022. Clones 115, 667, 943, and Swan and Calera selections. 10% whole cluster. Aged
15 months in French oak barrels, 55% new.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Invigorating aromas of
dark pie cherries, garrigue, and complimentary oak. The palate echoes the nose with added flavors of black
grapes and brown spices. No rough edges with refreshing acidity leading to a satisfying finish that lingers
appealingly.
Score: 92
2020 Three Sticks William James Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., pH 3.52, TA 0.65,
424 cases, $75. Released August 2022. Clones Swan, Calera and 943. 20% whole cluster. Aged 15 months in
French oak barrels, 52% new.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Bright aromas of darker cherry, graham,
toast, and dried thyme. A well-spiced love letter with a long kiss of cherry on the mid-weight palate. Good
acidity, calm tannins, with a lengthy finish. Plenty of oak sheen in this wine will determine your pleasure
depending on your preferences.
Score: 91
2020 Three Sticks Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., pH 3.48, TA 0.66, 872
cases, $75. Rochioli and Swan selection, and 115, faux 828, 667 and 777 clones. 20% whole cluster. Aged 15
months in French oak barrels, 56% new.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. The aromas of darker cherry and
berry and earthy flora arrive over time in the glass. The gorgeous core of deeply-flavored dark cherry and berry fruit
has a slightly confected tone. Richly fruited, reflecting the typical Gap’s sine quo non, yet with refined backing
tannins. Not as big as some vintages of Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir but a solid wine in its own right.
Score: 93
2020 Three Sticks Walala Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., pH 3.49, TA 0.66, 432 cases,
$75. Always a stunning wine from a vineyard perched high in the northwestern Sonoma Coast, six miles from
the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline. The most isolated of the Three Sticks Estate vineyards. Released August
2022. Clones 115 and 113. 20% whole cluster. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 52% new.
·
Moderate
garnet color in the glass. The welcoming aromas of black cherry, cocoa and sous-bois lead to a mid-weight
melange of black cherry and boysenberry fruits that are flamboyant. A glamorous wine with inviting finesse and
cool-climate refinement. Better and better when sampled over the following two days from a previously opened
bottle. This special vineyard always delivers outstanding wines.
Score: 95
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