2009 Black Kite Pinot Noir Stony Terrace |
| Vintage | 2009 |  | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Black Kite (web) | ||
| Variety | Pinot Noir | ||
| Designation | Stony Terrace | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | USA | ||
| Region | California | ||
| SubRegion | North Coast | ||
| Appellation | Anderson Valley |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2013 and 2017 (based on 36 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Black Kite Pinot Noir Stony Terrace on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 91 pts. in 29 notes) | |
| Tasted by brianofthevine on 10/31/2016 & rated 91 points: Nice wine here with wild berry and black raspberry fruit, good spice and earth notes throughout, good acidity and long finish. (1604 views) | |
| Tasted by Neverodb on 2/16/2015 & rated 89 points: Dark big fruit with cloves and all-spice. Big for a Pinot, even a Cali Pinot. Makes you crave Lebanese food. (1967 views) | |
| Tasted by Hopster on 11/11/2013 & rated 93 points: Excellent and quite distinctive. Must try for CA pinot enthusiasts. Very big pinot noir that showcases the varietal and the terroir of the Anderson Valley without being too fruit forward or acidic. Excellent structure and it is silky smooth from start to finish. Can't remember more as we consumed it two months ago. My bad... (2521 views) | |
| Tasted by BlancdeBlanc on 2/4/2013 & rated 85 points: Thick, jammy, black walnuts, cherries, licorice, a lot of alcohol. I know that there's pinot noir hidden in there somewhere. Not my style. (2659 views) | |
| Tasted by Barry Notes on 9/28/2012 & rated 92 points: Pw/30 min decant, drank over 2 hours. Light sediment/cloudy. Deep dark red/purple color. Proper & intense nose. On the big and powerful side. Good balance, long legs and finish. Not over extracted, typical Pinot flavor profile. Excellent wine, drinkable now but good for years yet. Nothing off. $51. My first BK, will buy more. (2970 views) | |
| Tasted by brianofthevine on 8/29/2012 & rated 92 points: Lush up front dark black cherry and wild berry fruit. Beautiful wine, nice long finish. (688 views) | |
| Tasted by ListenToMeWine on 7/15/2012 & rated 92 points: Spice, dark fruit and dark plum, dominate this big pinot. Only going to get better, hold another 8-12 months before trying again. A large amount of sediment in the first bottle, so be careful when pouring or decant, but don't say I didn't warn you. (1821 views) | |
| Tasted by AZWINTER on 5/4/2012 & rated 94 points: Very earthy and musty on the nose, like freshly rained on earth. Dark berries come thru on the nose. Taste of ripe strawberry, raspberry, finishing very smooth with a nice long lingering mouth feel Highly recommend! Glad we bought 2 bottles, will be buying more to share with friends. (1960 views) | |
| Tasted by rjrausch on 1/22/2012 & rated 95 points: Really good pinot noir. Floral nose with some red fruit notes and a musty aroma. Very pleasing palate. I pick up more cherry and raspberry flavors and a nice finish. Sad that I am unable to buy more. Really worth trying and buying. (1714 views) | |
| Tasted by corka on 12/31/2011 & rated 94 points: Opened and decanted for about 4 hours prior drinking. It opened up very nicely and showed many layers to include scents of floral and rich berry fruit, more of a ripe blackberry and plum flavor. The tannins were soft yet clearly have the ability to age for a number of years to come. The body was on the full side for a pinot, and the nose was very enjoyable. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this rich and elegant wine! (1734 views) | |
| Tasted by t_moderne on 7/7/2011 & rated 92 points: Pop and pour and drank out of large yellow plastic cups. I did not get the full bouquet of this wine but that's okay as the flavor was enough. A wonderful rich pinot with ripe red fruits graced by an earthy and spice core that balances it all. Smooth tannins show hints of vanilla and some pomegranate. A wonderful wine. (1526 views) | |
| Tasted by baltmaier on 6/22/2011 & rated 88 points: My least favorite of the 2009 Black Kite offerings. (1485 views) | |
| Tasted by hubas on 5/21/2011 & rated 90 points: Kraftig rätt mörk lång fruktig eftersmak (1388 views) | |
| Tasted by xtrmjoe on 4/11/2011 & rated 86 points: My system (nose mouth finish) ///, very ripe in fruit profile, dark and black berries slightly stewed and jammy, with a touch of heat and oak on the finish, lists 14.9 on the bottle but is at least a point higher. (1453 views) |
| Professional 'Channels' |
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| CellarTracker Wiki Articles |
Black KiteProducer websiteBlack Kite Cellars is an Anderson Valley, California winery dedicated to Pinot Noir. The 40 acre site is in proximity to the Navarro River in a section of Anderson Valley know as “Deep End”. The site was purchased in 1995 by Donald and Maureen Green and three generations of the Green family are involved in winery operations. In 1999 12 acres were planted to Pinot Noir. Vineyard management is handled by Paul Ardzronni who started in 2004. Wine making is handling by Jeff Gaffner who began duties with the 2005 vintage. The vineyard is divided into three blocks of 4 acres each. Redwood’s Edge planted with 114 and 115 clones, Stoney Terrace planted with Pommard. River Turn planted with Pommard. While Black Kite released their first wine in 2003, it was the 2005 vintage when Jeff Gaffner made the wines that brought the winery notoriety. Reviews were extremely favorable with most publications scoring the three releases in the low 90's. Pinot NoirVarietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success. Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage. Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France. The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina". Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins. The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases. Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled. In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge. In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand. With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness. Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting. Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy. Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid. As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries. A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced. In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid. If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor. Stony TerraceElevation: 217 feetExposure: North facing/5-10% bench Soils: Gravel/loam Clones: Pommard on 3309 Row Orientation: East/west Trellising: Vertical cordon Yield: 2-2.5 tons/acre Signature Character: Earthy/mushroom USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-PetersonNorth CoastThe North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) in California, covering more than three million acres, includes Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties, and portions of Marin and Solano counties. (see The Wine Institute for more information)Anderson Valleyhttp://www.avwines.com/anderson-valley-appellation-map/Anderson Valley stretches from Yorkville Highlands (located in a highland meadow straddling the upper Rancheria Creek and upper Dry Creek watersheds) through Boonville (located on Anderson Creek) and Philo (located on Indian Creek) to Navarro (located on Soda Creek). Rancheria, Anderson, Indian and Soda creeks are tributaries to the Navarro River, which flows north and west through the coastal range to the Pacific Ocean; Dry Creek flows south into the Russian River watershed in Sonoma County. The main stem of the Navarro River begins less than a mile south of Philo at the confluence of Anderson Creek and Rancheria Creek. The mouth of the Navarro is 10 miles (16 km) south of Mendocino, California. Encompassing 315 square miles (816 km²), the Navarro River watershed is the largest coastal basin in Mendocino County. Such unique geography results in a wide diurnal range, with daily high and low temperatures occasionally diverging 40 or 50 degrees. This enables Pinot Noir growers to keep acid development in line with sugar and flavor formation through long, warm Indian summers. It also makes for superb Gewurztraminer and Riesling, giving rise to the valley’s annual Alsatian Varietals and Pinot Noir festivals. The climate in the Anderson Valley appellation is tempered by cool marine air. Steep hills and mountains surround rolling to nearly level alluvial terraces. The dominant natural vegetation is a mixed forest of Coast Redwood, various native oak varieties, and Douglas-fir. Elevation ranges from sea level to 2,500 feet (760 m). The average annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 80 inches (900 to 2000 mm). The average annual temperature is about 53 °F (12 °C), and the average frost-free season ranges from 220 to 365 days. Towards the coast the summers are cool and moist with frequent fog, while the interior Anderson Valley proper features a warm to hot summer climate similar to nearby interior regions, with daytime highs occasionally in excess of 100 °F (38 °C). Visitors to the Valley should come prepared for cool evenings and warm days. Locals dress in layers year round. |