Dec 30, 2022
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Kesner Wines
| Owner(s) | Jason Steven Kesner |
| Web site | www.kesnerwines.com |
| Link to this site |
Owner and winemaker Jason Steven Kesner has lived in the Napa Valley since 1979 where he and his family have been involved in the wine business for the last 30 years. From 2000 to 2008 Kesner managed Hudson Vineyards in Carneros and in the summer of 2008, joined Kistler as an assistant winemaker and vineyard manager. In 2014, he became the winemaker at Kistler.
In 2007, Kesner released three wines totaling less than 700 cases: Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay, Napa Old Vines Chardonnay, and a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir ($60, 55 cases) is from a hillside vineyard just outside the town of Occidental farmed by Ulises Valdez.
Kesner Pinot Noir is on many prestigious restaurant wine lists including The French Laundry, Per Se in New York, Spago Beverly Hills, Alex at Wynn Las Vegas and Boulevard in San Francisco.
The limited production wines are sold through an allocated mailing list and to restaurants.
Articles About Kesner Wines
Reviewed Wines
2014 Kesner Halfmile Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $60. Release spring 2016.
·
Moderately dark
reddish purple color in the glass. Complex aromatic profile, featuring scents of black cherry, blackberry, black
currant, purple grape, spice cake and earthy flora. Heavily endowed with oak flavor at present, becoming less
evident over time in the glass. The mid weight core of darker stone and berry fruits pick up weight and
presence over time. Modest tannins, lively acidity and a welcome finish. This wine is not yet ready for prime
time, explaining the future release.
Score: 88-90.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.2% alc., $60. The proximity to the coast and
the cool microclimate of the site make this the last harvested fruit of the year as time was needed for the acids
to calm in the cool coastal evenings leading up to the picking. Native fermentation in barrel, natural acids, aged
in 20% newer French oak barrels.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. A tightly wound wine with aromas
of lemon oil, lees and peeled bark along with flavors of lemon, grapefruit and white peach. Acid-driven on the
palate, with a refreshing hi-pitched finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner King’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., $60. Whole berry, native yeast
fermentation. Only free-run juice. Aged 16 months sur lie in 20% newer French oak barrels.
·
Moderate reddish
purple color in the glass. A charming wine with aromas and flavors of dark red cherries, cranberry, spice and
toasty oak. Discreetly concentrated, with modest tannins and good acid verve. Unchanged the following day
from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.
Score: 90.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner Rockbreak Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
13.7% alc., $60. Sourced from Idell Vineyard exposed
to cool Pacific Ocean winds and fog. Native fermentation in barrel, natural acidity, aged in 20% newer French
oak barrels.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. A bit of matchstick reduction upon opening which
dissipates, leading to aromas of grilled lemon, stone fruit and smoky, toasty oak. Lovely fruit flavors including
lemon, yellow peach, brioche, spice and light caramel with an appealing flinty note. Noticeable length on the
finish which offers a refreshing cut of acidity.
Score: 90.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner Vadim’s Watch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.8% alc.,
$65. Whole berry, native yeast fermentation. Only free-run juice. Aged 16
months sur lie in 25% newer French oak barrels.
·
Moderately dark
reddish purple color in the glass. The nose leads off with aromas of
cherry, baking spices and complimentary oak. A lovely wine with great
purity of fruit and refinement, offering plenty of black cherry and plum
flavor touched by toasty oak. Very charming and silky on the palate with
juicy acidity that lifts the fruit. The aromas and flavors changed
considerably over time. More delicate than the 2012 version of this wine,
but equally inviting.
Score: 92.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2012 Kesner King’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $60.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the
glass. The nose offers a pleasant marriage of black raspberry and black cherry fruit and sweet oak aromas.
Impressive attack of blueberry, black raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors underlain with a compliment of
integrated oak and spice. Well-composed with balanced tannins and admirable acid integration creating a
seamless drinking experience. Curiously, when re-tasted the following day and two days later from a previously
opened and re-corked bottle, the wine had taken on a herbaceous tone.
Score: 89.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2012 Kesner Rockbreak Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.3% alc., $60.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the
glass. The nose leads with scents of green apple, carrot cake and bake shop. Silky and satisfying on the
palate, with flavors of lemon creme, pear, spice, caramel and toast. The wine finishes with a good grip of palate
cleansing acidity.
Score: 89.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2012 Kesner Vadim’s Watch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $65. Fruit sourced from Terra De
Promissio Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap region of the Sonoma Coast.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in
the glass. The aromas come together beautifully over time in the glass, featuring purple and black berries,
underbrush and toast. Both fruity and savory, with mid weight plus flavors of boysenberry, blackberry,
mushroom and earth. Excellent acid backbone with admirable polish. Much better over time in the glass. A tad
more body and length than the 2013 bottling of this wine.
Score: 92.
Reviewed November 22, 2015
ARTICLE »
2014 Kesner Halfmile Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $60. Release spring 2016. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Complex aromatic profile, featuring scents of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, purple grape, spice cake and earthy flora. Heavily endowed with oak flavor at present, becoming less evident over time in the glass. The mid weight core of darker stone and berry fruits pick up weight and presence over time. Modest tannins, lively acidity and a welcome finish. This wine is not yet ready for prime time, explaining the future release. Score: 88-90. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.2% alc., $60. The proximity to the coast and the cool microclimate of the site make this the last harvested fruit of the year as time was needed for the acids to calm in the cool coastal evenings leading up to the picking. Native fermentation in barrel, natural acids, aged in 20% newer French oak barrels. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. A tightly wound wine with aromas of lemon oil, lees and peeled bark along with flavors of lemon, grapefruit and white peach. Acid-driven on the palate, with a refreshing hi-pitched finish. Score: 90. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner King’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., $60. Whole berry, native yeast fermentation. Only free-run juice. Aged 16 months sur lie in 20% newer French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. A charming wine with aromas and flavors of dark red cherries, cranberry, spice and toasty oak. Discreetly concentrated, with modest tannins and good acid verve. Unchanged the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 90. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner Rockbreak Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
13.7% alc., $60. Sourced from Idell Vineyard exposed to cool Pacific Ocean winds and fog. Native fermentation in barrel, natural acidity, aged in 20% newer French oak barrels. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. A bit of matchstick reduction upon opening which dissipates, leading to aromas of grilled lemon, stone fruit and smoky, toasty oak. Lovely fruit flavors including lemon, yellow peach, brioche, spice and light caramel with an appealing flinty note. Noticeable length on the finish which offers a refreshing cut of acidity. Score: 90. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 Kesner Vadim’s Watch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $65. Whole berry, native yeast fermentation. Only free-run juice. Aged 16 months sur lie in 25% newer French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. The nose leads off with aromas of cherry, baking spices and complimentary oak. A lovely wine with great purity of fruit and refinement, offering plenty of black cherry and plum flavor touched by toasty oak. Very charming and silky on the palate with juicy acidity that lifts the fruit. The aromas and flavors changed considerably over time. More delicate than the 2012 version of this wine, but equally inviting. Score: 92. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »
2012 Kesner King’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $60. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose offers a pleasant marriage of black raspberry and black cherry fruit and sweet oak aromas. Impressive attack of blueberry, black raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors underlain with a compliment of integrated oak and spice. Well-composed with balanced tannins and admirable acid integration creating a seamless drinking experience. Curiously, when re-tasted the following day and two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the wine had taken on a herbaceous tone. Score: 89. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »
2012 Kesner Rockbreak Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.3% alc., $60. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The nose leads with scents of green apple, carrot cake and bake shop. Silky and satisfying on the palate, with flavors of lemon creme, pear, spice, caramel and toast. The wine finishes with a good grip of palate cleansing acidity. Score: 89. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »
2012 Kesner Vadim’s Watch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $65. Fruit sourced from Terra De Promissio Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap region of the Sonoma Coast. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. The aromas come together beautifully over time in the glass, featuring purple and black berries, underbrush and toast. Both fruity and savory, with mid weight plus flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, mushroom and earth. Excellent acid backbone with admirable polish. Much better over time in the glass. A tad more body and length than the 2013 bottling of this wine. Score: 92. Reviewed November 22, 2015 ARTICLE »