2021 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Structured and substantial in earthy, forested notes, the 2021 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard is made from a selection of multiple clones, 6% whole-cluster fermented in stainless steel, concrete, and oak, and aged in new French and Austrian oak for 18 months. Subtle layers of crisp red fruit adorn a palate of underlying elegance beneath a graceful layering of chalky tannins and floral aromatics. Age through 2041. This well-known Sonoma County-based collectible wine brand was started by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne in 1997, and both led and rode the considerable Pinot Noir wave of fame during the following decades. Bought by Duckhorn Wine Company in 2018, the winery continues to focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from some 40 vineyards along the Oregon and California coast, working with several Anderson Valley sites since the beginning. It purchased the Cerise Vineyard in 2016. Julien Howsepian worked as a harvest intern at KB in 2012 and was named winemaker seven years later.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard is super spicy: Red Hots cinnamon candy, aniseed and Angostura bitters complement a core of red and black cherries and violet. The medium-bodied palate pairs concentrated fruit with velvety tannins and juicy acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish. It will benefit from 3-5 years in the cellar.
East Ridge neighbourhood. Clones 23, 37, 115, 777, Pommard and Martini. Fermented in a combination of stainless steel, oak and concrete with 6% whole clusters. Aged for 18 months in oak, with 46% new French, 5% new Austrian and the remainder neutral French. 1,100 cases produced. Aromas of sweet oak and brown sugar. Juicy raspberry and cherry flavours have faint gauzy tannins and excellent acidity and freshness. Notes of fresh and dried herbs linger in the finish, as the tannins get slightly grippy. There's a nice stoniness here underneath the ripe fruit. (AY)