2018 Ceritas Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Fully destemmed and allowed to warm up a bit before going into a concrete tank for fermentation with ambient yeasts and no additional temperature control. A combination of pumpovers and punchdowns are used with a goal of only moderate extraction. Spends between 30 and 36 months in 500-litre used French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Aromas of dried flowers, cinnamon, cherries and plums. Flavours of dried and fresh herbs, dried flowers and fleecy tannins wrap around a core of cherry, plum skin, road dust and a touch of cranberry, with saline, mouth-watering acidity. Fresh, bright and utterly delicious. Makes most other California Cabernets look like hulking brutes. (AY)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray Vineyard is stellar. This super-classic, old-school Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet is pure magic. Black cherry, cloves, licorice, scorched earth, incense tobacco and saddle leather infuse the 2018 with fabulous depth. Potent and virile, the Cabernet is going to need at least a few years to settle down. It’s a stunning wine in every way. Ceritas fans will surely be delighted to learn that the Cabernet offerings here will soon expand to include a number of new bottlings.
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.