Dec 30, 2022
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Ceritas
| Owner(s) | Phoebe Bass, John Raytek |
| Web site | www.ceritaswines.com |
| Link to this site |
A newer producer of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Escarpa Vineyard and Chardonnay from Porter-Bass Vineyard. The owners are winemaker John Raytek and spouse Phoebe Bass. Raytek is also the assistant winemaker at Copain and helped plant some of the Rhys vineyards. The wines have received very favorable reviews from blog postings and I was very impressed by the Pinot Noir.
The wines are available primarily through a mailing list (not functional when I tried). Sign up now as production is tiny.
Articles About Ceritas
Elite California Pinot Noir Vineyards Part I: North Coast - Sonoma Coast (12.20 8/2/2021)
Historic California Old Vine Pinot Noir Vineyards Pulled Out or Planted Shortly After 1980 or Lacking Verifiable Planting Information (12.8 8/30/2020)
Part IV: Tasting Pinot Noir from the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA (9.28 8/14/2013)
Small Sips of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (8.11 2/15/2010)
Reviewed Wines
2018 Ceritas Old Shop Block Hellenthal Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., $85. Ceritas
(“sara-toss”) is Spanish for mineral expression of the soil.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Lovely
aromas of dark cherry, red rose in bloom, spice and burnt pipe tobacco. Light to mid-weight in style, with darker
red cherry and berry fruit flavors annotated with herbal notes and framed by moderately vigorous tannins that
lead to some astringency on the finish. Clearly whole cluster inspired and showing the lighter color and
elegance typical of old vine Pinot Noir.
Score: 92.
Reviewed July 28, 2021
ARTICLE »
2014 Ceritas Old Shop Block Hellenthal Vineyard Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $72.
·
No other
grape variety can give you a nose like this one. Soaring
aromas of black cherry, sous-bois, spice and toast. Very
silky on entry with perfectly ripened flavors of dark cherry
and raspberry with just a hint of dried herbs. Beautifully
balanced with pliant tannins and bright acidity, and a,
taunting, orgasmic finish that goes on and on. This wine
has all the things you look for in a Pinot Noir.
Score: 96.
Reviewed August 27, 2020
ARTICLE »
2014 Ceritas Old Shop Block Hellenthal Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $72.
·
Only Pinot
Noir can give you soaring aromas of black cherry, sous-bois, spice and toast. Very silky on entry with perfectly
ripened flavors of dark cherry and raspberry with a trace of dried herbs. Beautifully balanced with pliant tannins
and bright acidity and a taunting, orgasmic finish that goes on and on. This wine has all the good things you
look for in a Pinot Noir. Reviewed August 2020.
Score: 96.
Reviewed July 28, 2021
ARTICLE »
2007 Ceritas Escarpa Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 130 cases,
$54, wax seal. The name Ceritas is Spanish for “mineral expression of
soil.” My first experience with this newer label from winemaker John Raytek and his spouse
Phoebe Bass.
·
Deeply colored in the glass. Bright cherry cola, wild berry,
and sawed wood aromas come at you. Hard to resist. Dark red fruits sing
on the palate. Rich, but with admirable finesse and a good cut of acidity.
This wine really aims to please with a pillowy texture, fine tannins, and a
lingering finish. You get well-structured fruit, lively acidity, and low alcohol to
boot: any whiners? Order online at www.ceritaswines.com or www.klwines.com.
Reviewed February 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2018 Ceritas Old Shop Block Hellenthal Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., $85. Ceritas (“sara-toss”) is Spanish for mineral expression of the soil. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Lovely aromas of dark cherry, red rose in bloom, spice and burnt pipe tobacco. Light to mid-weight in style, with darker red cherry and berry fruit flavors annotated with herbal notes and framed by moderately vigorous tannins that lead to some astringency on the finish. Clearly whole cluster inspired and showing the lighter color and elegance typical of old vine Pinot Noir. Score: 92. Reviewed July 28, 2021 ARTICLE »
2014 Ceritas Old Shop Block Hellenthal Vineyard Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $72. · No other grape variety can give you a nose like this one. Soaring aromas of black cherry, sous-bois, spice and toast. Very silky on entry with perfectly ripened flavors of dark cherry and raspberry with just a hint of dried herbs. Beautifully balanced with pliant tannins and bright acidity, and a, taunting, orgasmic finish that goes on and on. This wine has all the things you look for in a Pinot Noir. Score: 96. Reviewed August 27, 2020 ARTICLE »
2014 Ceritas Old Shop Block Hellenthal Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $72. · Only Pinot Noir can give you soaring aromas of black cherry, sous-bois, spice and toast. Very silky on entry with perfectly ripened flavors of dark cherry and raspberry with a trace of dried herbs. Beautifully balanced with pliant tannins and bright acidity and a taunting, orgasmic finish that goes on and on. This wine has all the good things you look for in a Pinot Noir. Reviewed August 2020. Score: 96. Reviewed July 28, 2021 ARTICLE »
2007 Ceritas Escarpa Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 130 cases, $54, wax seal. The name Ceritas is Spanish for “mineral expression of soil.” My first experience with this newer label from winemaker John Raytek and his spouse Phoebe Bass. · Deeply colored in the glass. Bright cherry cola, wild berry, and sawed wood aromas come at you. Hard to resist. Dark red fruits sing on the palate. Rich, but with admirable finesse and a good cut of acidity. This wine really aims to please with a pillowy texture, fine tannins, and a lingering finish. You get well-structured fruit, lively acidity, and low alcohol to boot: any whiners? Order online at www.ceritaswines.com or www.klwines.com. Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »