Square, Plumb & Level
Overview
Estate
Square, Plumb & Level is a small-production wine brand focused on vineyard-designate wines. The project emphasizes site expression, restrained winemaking, and limited production. The wines are from two regions: Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County, California, and Yamhill-Carlton in Oregon.
Soil
The Peterson Vineyard has alluvial soils and sits at an elevation of approximately 650–1,250 feet. The Libra Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton has a mix of alluvial, loam, and volcanic soils: approximately two-thirds Willakenzie marine sedimentary soil and one-third Jory volcanic soil, at 330–430 feet.
Vineyards
SPL's California wines come from Dry Creek Valley, a warm inland Sonoma appellation. The Peterson Vineyard is located above the summer fog line on Bradford Mountain, while the Biglieri Vineyard sits in Dry Creek Valley. The Oregon Pinot Noir comes from the cooler Yamhill-Carlton AVA, where the brand highlights the area's ability to produce Pinot Noir with deep color, lower acidity and substantial mouthfeel.
Cultivation
Peterson Vineyard is dry-farmed, and its vines are cane-pruned. The Biglieri Zinfandel comes from approximately 55-year-old vines and is hand-harvested.
Winery
SPL's stated philosophy is to avoid over-extraction and excessive oak in order to preserve varietal and vineyard character. The Peterson Vineyard Red Blend is aged 18 months in French oak, with 30% new oak. The Dry Creek Zinfandel is aged 20 months in French oak, with 40% new oak. The Libra Vineyard Pinot Noir is aged 10 months in French oak, with 15% new oak. Production is deliberately small.
Winemaker
The winemaking team is split by region. William (Bill) Knuttel is the winemaker for the Dry Creek Valley wines. His career includes Saintsbury, Chalk Hill Winery, and Dry Creek Vineyards, with a long focus on premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Bordeaux varieties. Patrick Taylor is the winemaker for the Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir. He studied at Oregon State University and has worked in winemaking since the 1990s.
Focus Point
• Vineyard-designate, small-production wines.
• Strong emphasis on site expression and restraint rather than power or volume.
• French-oak aging with deliberately limited new-oak percentages.
• Collaboration between specialized growers and experienced regional winemakers.
Marketing materials
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Square, Plumb & Level logo
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