2021 Ceritas Pinot Noir Cuvée Annabelle
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2021 Pinot Noir Annabelle's Block Klopp Laguna Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1988 by the Klopp family with the small-berried Swan clone, as well as Dijon 777. In the glass, it displays a magenta/purple-toned hue and offers richly concentrated notes of black cherry liqueur, a hint of blue fruit, dark stones, candied violets, and pine. Medium to full-bodied and plush, it saturates the palate with ripe tannins and a generous feel while remaining weightless, with a long finish. A concentrated Pinot, it’s going to show its best 2027-2040.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinot Noir Annabelle is all class. Brisk and delineated with tons of energy, the 2021 sizzles. Dark red/purplish fruit, crushed flowers, spice, tobacco and graphite all open in the glass. There is a baritone expression of fruit that adds darkness but without overpowering the wine. Tannins are also quite present, yet the wine's balance is exceptional.
The 2021 Pinot Noir Annabelle pours a youthful ruby and offers layers of ripe floral perfume that unfold in the glass, with wild berries and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, with notes of brambly fruit and citrus oil, ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long mineral finish, this is another one of the great wines that will take time to show its full spectrum. It’s a gorgeous wine to drink over the next 20 years. Helmed by founder John Raytek, Ceritas was established with their first vintage in 2005. Today, 14 wines are produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all from dry-farmed historical sites poised to channel the style the team wants to create. Each of the sites is farmed organically or biodynamically. Initially focusing solely on what is now the West Sonoma Coast, in 2011 they expanded their reach to the Santa Cruz Mountains, and most recently to Moon Mountain and Napa. In 2015, they moved into a new barrel room in Healdsburg, where they operate today. Having no investors or partners in the project allowed John and his team to experiment and only bottle wines they wished to produce. From a winemaking perspective, they strive for minimal intervention in the cellar. Their oak selections are sourced from two coopers and utilize a light toast from selections with a tight grain. The wines express a pure, focused style that will appeal to those who seek tension and precision. Recent news from the estate includes the acquisition of key Chardonnay holdings in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, which I eagerly anticipate. Additionally, the public can now visit the winery in the heart of Healdsburg for tastings by appointment via their website.
About the producer
Created in 2005 by John Raytek, Ceritas is one of California’s most exciting producers. The project is focused on making single-site wines from Northern California’s coastal regions, largely Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.