Three Sticks Gap's Crown Chardonnay 2023 (750ml) *
Product price
$64.99
Description
The Petaluma Gap is a 15-mile wind funnel through the coastal mountains, pulling Pacific air from Bodega Bay toward San Pablo Bay, and that constant wind leaves its mark on the fruit. Three Sticks has farmed the Gap's Crown Vineyard here since 2012, a large site in the Sonoma Coast with a modest share planted to Chardonnay. The relentless breeze and afternoon sun encourage thicker skins and more phenolic structure, and the 2023 growing season was long and cool, the kind of stretch that rewards patience in the glass.
This is a brisk, nervy style, more about tension than weight. Citrus peel and pith lead the way, joined by lemon curd, white flowers, a whisper of roasted nuts, and a mineral streak that reads as slate and wet stone. The palate carries real energy: bright, ripe acidity, a saline edge, and a fresh herbal lift that recalls thyme, all framed with a translucent purity. Almond and toasted spice trail the finish. Well built and finely delineated, it drinks beautifully now and holds over the next several years.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Sonoma Coast |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Producer | Three Sticks Winery |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
The 2023 Chardonnay Gap’s Crown Vineyard is another impressive wine in this range from Three Sticks. Citrus peel, white flowers, mint, slate and chalk are all beautifully delineated in this brisk, nervy Chardonnay. All the elements are so well balanced. I especially admire the wine’s translucence and mineral-driven purity. (Vinous)
Three Sticks has been farming the well-known Gap’s Crown Vineyard since 2012, a fairly large site in the Petaluma Gap - a 15-mile wind funnel through the coastal mountains that pulls Pacific air from Bodega Bay through Petaluma toward San Pablo Bay. The vineyard is a little over 161 hectares (400 acres), with about 55ha (137 acres) planted to vines, including roughly 11ha (27 acres) of Chardonnay. Constant wind and afternoon sun push the grapes to develop thicker skins and greater phenolic structure, a signature of the vineyard. The 2023 vintage of this Chardonnay is quite vibrant. The long, cool growing season really did something here. It opens with forward aromas of citrus pith and citrus peel, a bit of lemon curd, sweet white flowers, and a subtle hint of roasted nuts. There’s real tension on the palate, but also a stimulating texture - still very citrusy and salty, and a fresh herbal edge that reminds me of thyme. A really nice, well-balanced Chardonnay. (Decanter, March 2026)
Pouring a slightly deeper but bright yellow color, the 2023 Chardonnay Gap's Crown Vineyard brings forward more intensity, with notes of smoky wet stones, pineapple, lemon balm, and toasted spice. The palate has a good deal of energy, with an elegant, full-bodied frame, driving with vibrant ripe acidity, salty earth, and hints of almond on the finish. It’s a solid wine to drink over the coming 6-7 years. (Jeb Dunnuck, July 2025)