Light, bright, juicy red fruits with a dusting of chocolate and savory undertones. Classic, silky Pinot Noir mouthfeel. Single vineyard fruit from the Flocchini Estate in the Petaluma Gap, farmed without herbicides. True, cool climate Pinot, thanks to the Pacific breeze that is funneled inland through the Petaluma Gap. The Flocchini Brothers’ fruit is typically bound for pricey Sonoma Coast brands, but Nate & Karen got lucky due to pandemic year chaos.
Winemaking
We took twelve tons of fruit in 2020, split between 777, Pommard, and La Tache. Primary fermentation took place in two stainless steel tanks, 10% whole cluster, punched down twice a day for one week, switching to pumpovers for the second week. Both lots were then drained, pressed, and combined into one large tank where it finished malolactic fermentation over the next few weeks. The finished wine was then racked to neutral oak barrels of varying age. During fermentation, this wine had a wonderful savory, spiced-tea thing going on. Once ML was finished, the wine completely dropped its guard and a very generous cherry & light chocolatey/cocoa character began to emerge.
Vintage
Pandemic. California was on fire. The Petaluma Gap area was not heavily affected by smoke prior to harvesting this lot (August 28th). Finished wine test results (ETS) came back clean, well below sensory level (see info below):
4-Methylguaiacol: <1.0 micrograms per Liter
Guaiacol: 2.5 micrograms per Liter
Guaiacol is also a naturally occurring compound
Specs
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Sonoma Coast (Petaluma Gap)
Vineyard: Flocchini Estate
Farming: Sustainable (No herbicides)
Soils: Sandstone and clay
Elevation: 3 miles from north end of San Pablo Bay
Compsition: 100% Pinot Noir (La Tache, 777, Pommard)
Elevage: Aged 11 months in neutral French Oak puncheons
FIND YOUR GROOVE
Conveniently delicious wine.
Sustainable and organic farming.
Family owned and made
Karen & Nate’s love of wine began with food, having spent their late 20’s and early 30’s eating and drinking through New York City’s seemingly unending cadre of delicious restaurants. This budding worldview came into full bloom whilst backpacking around the world after their wedding. After 20+ years in business, Nate found himself studying wine far more than his actual career, so why not pitch the relative safety of corporate life and start at the bottom of the winery ladder cleaning tanks and scrubbing floors? Karen and Nate moved their family back to her native California, where he started working his second harvest, which eventually led to a full-time position with the Napa Valley winery where Nate met Matt Nagy.
The Winemaker
Matt is also a bit of a wine outsider, having worked his way around the world from Long Island to New Zealand and back to Sonoma and Napa, where he has worked alongside two of the best – Thomas Rivers Brown and Steve Matthiasson.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Had their Tempranillo in March and found it to be very true to the grape and very clean. You knew what you were drinking. Pure beauty. And besides, to be able to shake loose fruit form Shakeridge, as they did isn’t an easy task so, that in itself convinces me to buy from this round.
What a great surprise to receive this bottle 2 weeks ago! Couldn’t believe it was delivered this early but I gladly and strategically placed in wine rack so wife or I wouldn’t mistakenly open it. Fast forward two weeks and OMG did I miss my review!? Went to search for the bottle and its missing!! Did we open the bottle during a red wine drinking marathon? Hastily searching through all bottles it’s not there, check reserve wine rack in case it was placed there, no luck. We can’t be the only couple with a reserve wine rack?
Sadly and slowly checking primary wine rack and bingo! How did I miss it?? Any how, here we go.
Color
Between burgundy and Crimson red
Transparent when poured
Smell
Tart smell, cherries
Red plum
Red strawberries
Light earthy notes, wet twigs
Light foral
Taste
Med acidity
Med tartness
Low tanins
Light minerals
Earthy taste, maybe eucalyptus
Some form of bitterness like biting into grape stems, are these tanins?
Wine drinks very light, if that makes sense, good on a warm summer night type of feel. Not a very complex wine, more of a house wine taste and feel to it.
Overall, not my type of PN, wife was not impressed with it either.
Well of course Wine Enthusiast chimed in, reviewing the can, not the bottle. Same wine according to producer website.
86 Points. Neutral-oak aged, this can is fruity on the nose in cherry and strawberry. Clean, light and simple, it delivers varietal character in an easygoing to-go package. — Virginie Boone 3/1/22
Yes, same wine, though it spent a few more months in puncheons. To my palate, the bottles show more savory than the canned version. If you like Central Otago Pinots or Bourgognes, this may scratch your itch.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Groove Wines Pinot Noir - $45 = 23.07%
Reporting for duty! Thank you Alice and WD for the opportunity and the secret bottle.
Using Society of Wine Educators’ Wine Tasting Grid For use with the CWE Exam Sheet.
Clarity: almost see through clear
Hue: Ruby
Legs: slim and thin
Condition: Clean
Intensity: Between light and medium
Aromas and bouquests: Initially at pop and pour, just a wisp of strawberry and wild berry. Muted and dull. No alcohol burn and calm. Nothing disturbing nor exciting.
Taste: Very much aligned with the initial nose. Light and fluffy but not flabby. Smooth texture and body, almost like grape smelling water… unsweetened… Very humble so that I decided to let it rest for the day.
Day 2: Ripe cherry, mild heat, still good balance and very much live. Now it tastes like burgundy ish. I am also getting muted oak. Lingering backend taste of strawberry which I can appreciate.
Overall, I will drink this gladly without hesitation. What an interesting bottle.
2020 Groove Wines Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap
Tasting Notes
Winemaking
Vintage
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $336.00/case MSRP
About The Winery
Family owned and made
The Winemaker
Matt is also a bit of a wine outsider, having worked his way around the world from Long Island to New Zealand and back to Sonoma and Napa, where he has worked alongside two of the best – Thomas Rivers Brown and Steve Matthiasson.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 31 - Tuesday, Aug 1
2020 Groove Wines Pinot Noir
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $149.99 $12.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
11.9% AbV!?
Not seen that in a coons age…
So, bottles are now un-cool and it’s all cans for the future? (visiting the producers’ web site)
@rjquillin not uncool at all. Bottles aren’t going away!
Had their Tempranillo in March and found it to be very true to the grape and very clean. You knew what you were drinking. Pure beauty. And besides, to be able to shake loose fruit form Shakeridge, as they did isn’t an easy task so, that in itself convinces me to buy from this round.
@Leatherchair thanks for the comment! Glad you like the Tempranillo. Ann is a legend!
2020 Petaluma Gap - Pinot Noir
What a great surprise to receive this bottle 2 weeks ago! Couldn’t believe it was delivered this early but I gladly and strategically placed in wine rack so wife or I wouldn’t mistakenly open it. Fast forward two weeks and OMG did I miss my review!? Went to search for the bottle and its missing!!
Did we open the bottle during a red wine drinking marathon? Hastily searching through all bottles it’s not there, check reserve wine rack in case it was placed there, no luck. We can’t be the only couple with a reserve wine rack?
Sadly and slowly checking primary wine rack and bingo! How did I miss it?? Any how, here we go.
Color
Between burgundy and Crimson red
Transparent when poured
Smell
Tart smell, cherries
Red plum
Red strawberries
Light earthy notes, wet twigs
Light foral
Taste
Med acidity
Med tartness
Low tanins
Light minerals
Earthy taste, maybe eucalyptus
Some form of bitterness like biting into grape stems, are these tanins?
Wine drinks very light, if that makes sense, good on a warm summer night type of feel. Not a very complex wine, more of a house wine taste and feel to it.
Overall, not my type of PN, wife was not impressed with it either.
@i8dacat
@i8dacat you guys coming to the concert Saturday? Haven’t seen you in ages!
@klezman wish we could, we have house projects to complete. Almost done getting house in order, possible we will host a gathering this year.
@i8dacat That’d be excellent!
Well of course Wine Enthusiast chimed in, reviewing the can, not the bottle. Same wine according to producer website.
86 Points. Neutral-oak aged, this can is fruity on the nose in cherry and strawberry. Clean, light and simple, it delivers varietal character in an easygoing to-go package. — Virginie Boone 3/1/22
fwiw
@kaolis
Yes, same wine, though it spent a few more months in puncheons. To my palate, the bottles show more savory than the canned version. If you like Central Otago Pinots or Bourgognes, this may scratch your itch.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Groove Wines Pinot Noir - $45 = 23.07%
[squeak, squeal]
Reporting for duty! Thank you Alice and WD for the opportunity and the secret bottle.
Using Society of Wine Educators’ Wine Tasting Grid For use with the CWE Exam Sheet.
Clarity: almost see through clear
Hue: Ruby
Legs: slim and thin
Condition: Clean
Intensity: Between light and medium
Aromas and bouquests: Initially at pop and pour, just a wisp of strawberry and wild berry. Muted and dull. No alcohol burn and calm. Nothing disturbing nor exciting.
Taste: Very much aligned with the initial nose. Light and fluffy but not flabby. Smooth texture and body, almost like grape smelling water… unsweetened… Very humble so that I decided to let it rest for the day.
Day 2: Ripe cherry, mild heat, still good balance and very much live. Now it tastes like burgundy ish. I am also getting muted oak. Lingering backend taste of strawberry which I can appreciate.
Overall, I will drink this gladly without hesitation. What an interesting bottle.
Hi Everyone. Nate here, from Groove. Let me know if you have any questions - I’ll check back, periodically.