Cormorant Cellars
Healdsburg, California
Cormorant wines are 100% vineyard sourced and grown without synthetic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Charlie only works with growers that go through the organic certification process, and uses mainly seven-year-old French barrels and some stainless drums to make his wines. Once the juice is in the barrels and drums, he does not pump, freeze, or use machinery to manipulate these wines.
Charlie Gilmore in the vineyard.
“When I started Cormorant in 2018, my winemaking focused on creating a great Sauvignon Blanc with some traditional sur lie aging. There is a tiny bit of sediment in each bottle because I do not filter any of my wines. In 2021 I brought in some more varietals to the winery. Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, and Marsanne are treated very similarly to the Sauvignon Blanc, with one difference. Stainless Steel Drums are not for the other varietals. Sauvignon Blanc can be very delicate, so I want to use the drums in 45-35% of the wine. Older oak or neutral oak barrels are perfect for Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, and Marsanne.”
- Charlie G.
Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc
Matorana Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley
This Sauvignon Blanc comes from Martorana Family Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. The wine is fermented in a few drums and a couple of French oak barrels. Stirring the barrels a few times each year enables the wine to build mouthfeel.
Sierra Foothills Vermentino
Fenaughty Vineyard, El Dorado County
Grenache Blanc-Marsanne
Preston Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
64% Grenache Blanc & 36% Marsanne
Chardonnay
Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
The Chardonnay comes from Zabala Vineyard in Arroyo Seco, Monterey county. I first worked with Zabala fruit almost twenty years ago. The sand and river-rock at Zabala give an acid profile I love. The wine is fermented primarily in seven-year-old barrels. 2021 is the first year I made this wine.
Gamay
Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
We picked it early in the morning on October 21st, 2023. The fruit was cool and ready to go. I felt these vines produced fruit that needed to be harvested on the earlier side. I wanted to protect the floral notes and bring in the grapes when the fruit flavors were their brightest. This is an easy drinking red wine with a light color, appropriate for Gamay.
Santa Cruz Mountains Red
Black Ridge Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains
72% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon & 4% Petit Verdot
The Red Wine comes from Black Ridge Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The first time I walked this vineyard, I knew I could make a great wine. I dove right in, focusing on making a wine like the great Santa Cruz Mountains red wines from years past. The wine is fermented in small containers and aged in seven-year-old barrels. 2021 is the first year I made this wine, and I am really happy with what it turned into.