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Kessler Haak
Sta. Rita Hills · 360 ft · 12 mi to the Pacific
The lowest point in the Sta. Rita Hills: frost risk, excellent diurnal shift.
The data
- Appellation
- Sta. Rita Hills
- Elevation
- 360 ft
- Acreage
- 22 acres
- Distance to ocean
- 12 mi
- Geology
- Temescal formation
- Soils
- Sand and chalky sandstone
- Varieties
- Gamay, Syrah
- Clones
- Gamay: 358 · Syrah: Estrella
- Row orientation
- North to South
- Spacing
- 8 x 6
- Vine age
- 20 years
What this means in the wine
At 360 feet and 12 miles from the water, Kessler Haak ripens on its own schedule. Temescal formation underneath keeps the vines lean and the wines tight through the middle; the sand and chalky sandstone holds just enough water to get through a dry September without stress.
Rows run north to south, planted 8 x 6. Vine age: 20 years. Older wood here gives smaller clusters and more concentrated, more savoury fruit than the young blocks, which is why we keep the lots separate in the cellar and usually bottle them that way too.