I simply had to post this note. I have been very impressed with the 2007, 2008, and now the 2009, Ceritas Porter-Bass chardonnays. John Raytek is really lighting it up with this vineyard.
2009 Ceritas Chardonnay Porter-Bass Vineyards- USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (12/29/2011)
This is undoubtedly one of the finest California chardonnays I’ve tried. Beautiful white fruit and flowers on the nose, with a nice dose of lovely lemon chiffon and cream. The structure and balance are impeccable, the racy, crisp fruit coating the palate with a soft lemony creaminess. Flat out terrific!
Hi Xavier, thanks for popping one of these. I have a few of these thanks to the word spreading here and was wondering how soon to try one. The Escarpa Pinot was probably Lori’s WOTY.
Thanks for the note – I plan to pop both the chard and the pinot in the coming weeks. It’s very exciting to see such high praise on here, as well as cellartracker.
I’m assuming it was the 2009? I haven’t popped one yet, but will soon. I’ve picked up three bottles of each wine over the past few vintages, and I typically wait a few months before opening one. I might start in on the second bottles of the 2007s soon (unless someone out there says, “No! You must wait!”)
Steve, picking drinking windows is always difficult. This is so pleasurable right now that if you have a few bottles, by all means pop one (see my approach in my response to Larry). I’m exploring the Ceritas wines, so I’m very ready to pop one early and then gauge for the future. If it’s any help, I imagine with another two to three years this will really be shining, and might hold for another two or three after that. Does it have what it takes to go for 12+ like a Mt. Eden Vineyards chardonnay? I wouldn’t bet on it, but that’s just because I think Mt. Eden is so very special – in my book the best California chardonnay. Bottom line, however, is that I think it’s often a crapshoot to guess too far out on drinking windows without a track record. That said, I’m very encouraged by the impeccable structure of the wine. By the way, I wasn’t as wowed by the Ritchie Creek chard, fairly ripe and a bit tropical on the nose, though nicely structured.
Finally, I should mention that part of the reason I’m so impressed with the Ceritas P-B and Escarpa is that I’m not a huge RRV fan, yet they seem to resonate with me – so fresh, elegant and pure. For California pinot and chard I generally gravitate more to the Sonoma Coast (you know, the part that’s actually close to the ocean!), the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Anderson Valley (maybe not so much the chardonnays in AV). I do sometimes enjoy the RRV and Carneros (I think Carneros can be very nice), but I think the real heights are achieved in the first three appellations mentioned. As has been mentioned on other threads (e.g., the potential Rhys project), there are still plenty of places to explore!
Yes sorry I wasn’t clearer. This recent shipment of the 2009 Escarpa PN & P-B Chard were my first Ceritas. I know it was early to pop the Pinot but I wanted to get a gauge on this producer.
Thanks Xavier for the early look. I went in for a mixed case of this and the Escarpa and it sounds like it was a smart move. I’ll be popping my first of the '07 P-B and Escarpa over the long weekend so I’ll return the favor and let you know how they are showing.
I decided to pull the cork last night and although my wife said she was going to pass on joining me, she quickly surrendered that idea upon taking a sip. We had this with sauteed chicken thighs and a combination of kale and swiss chard slow cooked with shallots, bacon fat and chicken stock. Needless to say the meal and wine were delicious. If you have more than 1 bottle I would highly recommend opening one and enjoy watching it evolve over several hours. If you are not on this list you should be. The '07 Escarpa is on deck.
2007 Ceritas Chardonnay Porter-Bass Vineyards[/url] - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (12/30/2011)
Clear yellow straw in color. On the nose lemon oil, white flowers, and a very subtle hint of butterscotch which in this case is a positive. Palate coating and a touch flabby, but only for a second as the acidity rises up on the finish and leads to a long mineral, sea shell, saline and meyer lemon infused finish that goes on and on. Brilliant chardonnay. After being open 3 hours the flabbiness is gone and the mineral, sea shell notes are really shinning with a touch of white pepper spice. Just a great chard that will probably peak with another couple of years in the cellar.
Visited Ceritas 2 weeks ago and had the wines for the first time.
Thought I would mention that he pulled a coup and starting last year picked up a new Chard vineyard… the old, (40-70 year old?) Martin Ray (Santa Cruz Mtn Vineyard) Chard vines up in the Santa Cruz mountains. I tasted it from barrel and it was very unique. I think Ceritas followers have something to look forward to.
The mouthfeel, for one. It was…different. And in a good way. Not sure how to describe it. It did stand out. It is hard to get one’s mind around the idea of very old vine Chard vines in the North Coast because there is so little of it.
Russ, thanks for taking the hit and posting the note. I think you’ve convinced me to wait awhile before pulling the cork on a second bottle of the 2007.
We were just a slight bit rushed but was still there an hour. They were among the more Burgundian styled Pinots and Chards I have had from round these parts. The alcohols were astonishingly low and the acids were very high. I slightly preferred the Chards over the Pinot, with the Ritchie being my favorite of them. I suspect that one may age 20-30 years and might need a decade to evolve, unheard of for whites round these parts. I think they would be ridiculous food wines (I kept thinking the Ritchie would be amazing with lobster in some kind of butter sauce.) I am well known for liking a bit more ripeness than these, but can fully appreciate what he is doing, as he has a certain point of view and is doggedly pursuing it. I would like to go back and spend more time there when I get the chance. I think he is going to quietly and consistently build a deep following from like-minded collectors.
Wine continues to show very well indeed. Lighter than benchmark domestic Chardonnay but still packs a wallop with real taste and exquisite mouthfeel. Fantastic with really sweet, late-season Dungeness crabs.
One bottle left and I’ll take that out to the ten-year mark.