July 22, 2018 - Offers a gorgeous and rich coating on the palate, with currant and brandied cherries. Quite powerful.
November 15, 2015 - Raspberry and vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied and still very much a black raspberry black cherry show. Retains the nice mineral qualities on the finish and the length was still good. My only complaint was that the alcohol and the oak shone through slightly in this bottle where they almost totally hidden in the prior three. I suspect it was just negative bottle variation as nothing in the prior three made me think it would reach this point for at least another two years. That said, I think it best to drink these sooner rather than later based on how well my last few bottles showed - I wouldn't want to miss that. I don't see any upside to holding this longer.
April 26, 2015 - This showed noticeably better than the 2009 Redwoods Edge I had on Friday. Black raspberry, backed with black cherry with good density through the middle. Good structure throughout along with mineral notes and acidity on the finish. A bit more acidity and a bit more stony/mineral notes and you might mistake this for Oregon - there's that much balance and elegance to the fruit. I have just one bottle left and really wish I had bought more. This is near peak (if not at it), but based on the structure and fruit, should still be rewarding for several more years.
March 21, 2015 - Red raspberry and strawberry. Caramel notes on the finish.
November 21, 2014 - Still showing exceptionally well. Needs to be open for about an hour as it opens up and showcases wonderful black raspberry and black cherry flavors. Good depth and complexity and very nice length on the finish. All in all, the bottle showed complexity, balance and integration. I hope it continues to develop along this trajectory.
August 31, 2014 - Medium bodied with wonderful blackfruit notes on the nose. Lots of black raspberry fruit along with a bit of black cherry and a streak of redfruit/wildberry through the middle. Very round, smooth and balanced throughout, adding in mineral and earth notes on the finish. Good structure and very good acidity on the finish. This wine is showing quite well now and may have room to improve slightly, but in either case, should have several more years left in this very nice drinking spot.
February 25, 2013 - PnP. Clear, deep dark purple color. Nice CA Pinot nose. A wonder wine with deep/proper flavors. Nothing off. $52.
February 2, 2013 - Consistent with other bottles. A great vintage of Black Kite.
January 20, 2013 - Silky tannins, ripe strawberry, juniper and a light caramel note.
November 22, 2012 - Lovely black cherry. Fruit notes and amazing smoothness. The star of the Thanksgiving dinner, which featured beer can chicken vice turkey, but still....