Ceritas open house tasting

Ceritas facility, Santa Rosa
Tasted Saturday, April 5, 2014 by slanum with 343 views

Introduction

Open house and pick-up day featuring six 2012 vintage wines.

Flight 1 (6 Notes)

  • 2012 Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    From sandy loam soils above Occidental less than six miles from the ocean. Organically farmed 35 year old vines. This was described as having seen neutral barrels yet I thought I detected a somewhat assertive level of oak in the aromas and flavors.

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  • 2012 Ceritas Chardonnay Porter-Bass Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Biodynamically farmed 35 year old vines grown in mix of sandstone, shale, and clay. I did not detect oak in this wine, which was bright, clean, and aromatic with pit fruits. Other tasters have noted a resemblance between the Ceritas Chardonnays and Chablis but I'm not seeing that because I don't perceive the citrus/lemon and saline elements I'm used to in Chablis. Certainly, though, these are subtle wines well outside typical Californian norms.

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  • 2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Costalina

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Bam! That's how the red fruit aromas in this wine hit me. Definitely attention-grabbing. A blend of Sonoma Coast vineyards north and south of Jenner (that's pretty far up there). Even before I sipped I thought there was no way the wine was going to taste as powerfully fruity as it smells, and it didn't. Rather reserved on the palate.

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  • 2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Porter-Bass Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    From ten year old vines in shale/sandstone/clay. "Mix of heirloom clones." Much less tutti-frutti than the "Costalina" (if I can use that term without intending it to be pejorative). Deep, appealing aromas and flavors of spiced red fruit and subtle earthy elements.

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  • 2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hellenthal Vineyard Old Shop Block

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Ridge top vineyard of 30 year old own-rooted vines in sandstone and clay. Fifty percent whole cluster. No amount of swirling or aerating the one-ounce tasting portion I had made any difference--I just couldn't seem to coax anything out of this wine so I'm guessing it's shut down for at least the time being (or my senses were temporarily on the blink).

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  • 2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Escarpa Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Southeast facing vineyard west of Occidental with 35 year old vines growing in blue schist and quartz. "Coldest Ceritas site." Impressive: aromas are classically Pinot, without the usual Californian excesses. Appealing dark (I almost want to say "baritone") red fruit aromas and flavors that leave a lasting impression. Good finesse here.

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