Welcome to the Inaugural Ladd Cellars Wine Offering

George and Abigail Ladd came to California in the 1850's where they discovered gold, helped to establish California's public school system and planted vineyards. George and Abigail were pioneers and my Great Great Great Grandparents. Their vision and spirit of adventure is the inspiration for Ladd Cellars. My goal is to honor them by producing exceptional wines that reflect a sense of place, and to release wines only when I feel they are ready.

Aromatic - Pure - Complex 

Wine that has depth and layers that evolve in interesting ways, in your glass and in the bottle. Capturing the essence of the vineyard and fruit, without any distracting elements. Delivering the intensity that California's great weather provides, without losing elegance or delicacy. This is what I am seeking.

Wines like this require cool vineyards, interesting soils and sensitive winemaking. I work with cool coastal vineyards that have well drained rocky soils to enhance the character and expressiveness of the wine. The fruit is sorted in the vineyard to minimize handling. I use a native and innoculated primary fermentation, and a long malolactic fermentation, to build complexity. Moderate fermentation temperatures balance flavor extraction with preserving complex aromatics. Most of all, the smell and taste of the fruit and wine guide my decisions, rather than following a recipe or procedure.

Thank you for your interest and patience. I'm thrilled to be offering you these wines.

  2005 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

This comes from a hillside vineyard west of Sebastopol. This cool location gives a combined Russian River and Sonoma Coast character to the wine. The 10+ year old vines are planted in Goldridge soil that gives the wine a floral character.

66% Pommard, 30% Dijon clone 115 and 4% clone 113. One third new French oak from Vosge, 3 year air dried medium toast barrels.

Fragrant and pure in a classic style. Aromas of red fruits, Damask roses and lavender. The palate follows with bright cherries, rasperries, asian spice, earth, mushrooms and roses. Refreshing acidity and a long delicate finish. This takes a few minutes to open up. It then evolves over several hours, showing different aspects of its personality.

Rated 9 to 9.5 (out of 10) and a Top Value wine by Alder Yarrow of Vinography.com and 92+ by Richard Jennings on Cellartracker.com.

 $30.00 12 bottles

2005 Gap's Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

A young but intriguing vineyard near Penngrove, in the Petaluma section of the Sonoma Coast. Situated on volcanic soils at the base of Sonoma Mountain, and cooled by ocean breezes through the Petaluma Gap. The volcanic soils gives the wine a wild and earthy character to it, which balances the abundant fruit.

A blend of Dijon clones 828 and 777, and Swan, though it's likely that the 828 clone is actually La Tache. 40% new French oak from Vosge and Allier, 3 year air dried medium toast barrels.

Sexy and lush. A nose of red and black fruits, earth and spice. A big forward palate of sweet cherries, forest strawberries, pomegranate, spice, and deep earth with some blueberries and oak. Has a lush sexy texture, in a new world style. Yet it has enough acidity to keep it balanced, and enough earthiness to keep a toe in the old world.

Rated 9 to 9.5 (out of 10) by Alder Yarrow of Vinography.com and 92 points by Richard Jennings on Cellartracker.com.

 $35.00 12 bottles

2005 Las Madres Vineyard Carneros Syrah

I love Syrah from Pinot Noir country. Las Madres is located in the rolling hills of Carneros, cooled by the San Pablo Bay. The soils are interesting and well drained...drainage is sometimes an issue in Carneros and Syrah demands well drained soils. Harvest is usually in early November. This long hang time allows complex flavors to develop, and allows the stems to ripen for whole cluster fermentations.

Clone 300 with a bit of clone 174. 30% whole cluster, with 1% whole cluster Viognier. 75% once used French oak and 25% neutral oak. No new oak was used because this wine has plenty of richness on its own.

Masculine and feminine. Rich and broad aromatics showing lavender, Indian spices, olive tapenade and some gamey notes. The palate has huckleberry, cassis, pomegranate, Indian spices, licorice and fresh herbes de provence. Refreshing acidity that pairs well with food. Definitely coastal Californian, definitely Las Madres, but has elements of Cornas as well. This opens up and evolves in interesting ways over an 8+ hour period.

Rated 92 by Erik Pounds on Cellartracker.com.

$30 12 bottles