Black Kite Cellars, a family-run winery in Anderson Valley, specializes in block-designated Pinot Noir from the Kite’s Rest Vineyard. Founded by Donald and Maureen Green in 2003, Black Kite is named for the beautiful but endangered Black Shouldered Kite that is native to the Anderson Valley. Jeff Gaffner of Saxon Brown is the consulting winemaker.
The Kite’s Rest is their entry-level wine and runs $42 off the mailing list (there are also several block-designate wines including Stony Terrace, River Turn and Redwoods’ Edge). Beautiful ruby in color. Cranberry and cherry on the nose. Pomegranate, spice, forest floor, brown sugar, minerals and a hint of nutmeg. A long, dusty, spicy finish. This is a wine to drink in the near term.
I previously wrote about Black Kite in Mailing Lists: Excellent California Wines Without the Wait, and this is a winery I am keeping my eye on. Delicious and consistent, but not quite yet in the league of some of my favorite California Pinot Noir’s. The vineyard and wines show a tremendous amount of promise. I plan on checking in on one of the block-designates soon.
The wines are available via the mailing list and the Black Kite web site.
My rating: 90 points
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