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Black Kite Cellars
| Owner(s) | Donald Green, Rebecca Green, Rebecca Green Birdsall |
| Web site | www.blackkitecellars.com |
| Link to this site |
This family-owned producer is named for the beautiful but endangered Black Shouldered Kite that is native to the Anderson Valley. These incredible hawks are indigenous to the Anderson Valley and can frequently be seen circling the skies over the Black Kite Vineyard. They have penetrating red eyes which are prominently portrayed on the beautiful label. The 12-acre Pinot Noir vineyard, planted in 1999, is in a cool portion of the Anderson Valley (the "deep-end") only eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. The Pinot Noir lineup includes about 900 cases of a vineyard-designate (Kite's Rest) and three block-designate wines (Redwood's Edge, Stony Terrace, River Turn) from the estate vineyard (you can purchase a four-pack of each of the wines on the website). A newcomer that has burst on the scene with outstanding wines. The winemaker since 2005 is veteran Jeff Gaffner and the viticulturalist is Paul Ardzrooni, experienced in Anderson Valley vineyards.
The wines are sold primarily through a mailing list with limited distribution to restaurants and retailers.
Articles About Black Kite Cellars
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot Festival: After the Smoke Clears (8.16 6/8/2010)
Pinot Noir Newcomers Focus Tasting (7.24 8/28/2009)
Sensations (6.61 7/7/2008)
Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs (6.28 6/3/2007)
Wineries in Anderson Valley and Mendocino Ridge* (6.60 6/9/2008)
Reviewed Wines
2008 Black Kite Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., 883 cases, $42. A blend of Redwood’s
Edge and Stony Terrace vineyard blocks from the estate 12-acre vineyard in Anderson Valley’s deep end.
Clonal mix is Dijon 114, 115 and Pommard.
·
Noticeable cigar ash aromas overshadow the fruit. Heavy sweet
smoke flavor obscures the ripe fruit core. Could not get past a sip or two. Unsatisfactory.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Black Kite Stony Terrace Block Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8%
alc., pH 3.60, 148 cases, $52. Released in the spring of 2010. Aged 11 months in oak. Winemaker Jeff
Gaffner.
·
Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of black cherries, smoke and ash. Very
pretty black raspberry and cherry fruit overshadowed by ash. Discreetly rich with fine grain tannins and a hint
of heat on the finish. Some may find this wine to their liking if they prefer heavily toasted oak. Decent but hard
to tout at this price.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Black Kite Stony Terrace Block Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., pH 3.60, 148 cases, $52.
Released in the spring of 2010.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Dark fruited aromas and
flavors with a grilled, charred wood and smoke character. Nicely composed with a rich dark berry and cherry
core that sadly can’t find proper expression. Decent.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Black Kite Cellars Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., 726 cases, $42.
·
A shy but
perfume of darker fruits, oak and a whiff of alcohol. Discreet and tasty black raspberry, strawberry, chocolate
and oak flavors wrapped around supple tannins with a dry and fruity finish. Not quite as good as the 2006
vintage, but very commendable. Tasted three times on separate occasions with consistent results.
Reviewed May 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Black Kite Cellars River Turn Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc.,
195 cases, $52. Released in May, 2009.
·
Very pretty black cherry robe. Exotically
perfumed with wild berries, black cherries, herbs and grass. Perfect balance of
ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit, vibrant acidity and refined tannins. The mouth
feel is soft and gentle with an endless finish that holds on tight for what seems an
eternity. Is there an app for this?
Reviewed May 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Black Kite Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.76% alc., <500
cases, $38.
·
This wine draws you in with terrific black cherry, dark chocolate and
spicy oak scents. Richly layered with dark fruits including plum with a nice sidecar
of oak. Velvety in texture, clean, and beautifully composed. This one captures
both the power and finesse of Pinot Noir. Everything you could want and
some things you didn’t know to ask for. Flat out terrific.
Reviewed June 9, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Black Kite Cellars River Turn Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
$48. Four
Pinot Noirs are offered from the Black Kite Estate Vineyard in the cool deep-end
of the Anderson Valley. The talented winemaker is Jeff Gaffner (left) and the
viticulturalist is Paul Ardzrooni (right). The Kite’s Rest bottling was favorably
reviewed in PinotFile, Volume 6, Issue 60. Three other bottlings are from special
blocks in the vineyard (River Turn, Stony Terrace, and Redwood’s Edge). I
found the River Turn the most approachable now of the block-designate Pinot
Noirs.
·
Like the Kite’s Rest, it offers flashy and showy dark red fruits, mouthwatering
acidity, and a lingering aromatic finish. I wrote excellent with an exclamation
point.
Reviewed July 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 Black Kite Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., 289 cases, $35.
·
The darkest Pinot in the
tasting. The nose is rich with crushed blackberries, a little game and sweet oak. This is an “in-your-face”
wine which is BIG. Generous and fruity rather than classy or complex.
Reviewed June 3, 2007
ARTICLE »
2008 Black Kite Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., 883 cases, $42. A blend of Redwood’s Edge and Stony Terrace vineyard blocks from the estate 12-acre vineyard in Anderson Valley’s deep end. Clonal mix is Dijon 114, 115 and Pommard. · Noticeable cigar ash aromas overshadow the fruit. Heavy sweet smoke flavor obscures the ripe fruit core. Could not get past a sip or two. Unsatisfactory. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Black Kite Stony Terrace Block Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., pH 3.60, 148 cases, $52. Released in the spring of 2010. Aged 11 months in oak. Winemaker Jeff Gaffner. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of black cherries, smoke and ash. Very pretty black raspberry and cherry fruit overshadowed by ash. Discreetly rich with fine grain tannins and a hint of heat on the finish. Some may find this wine to their liking if they prefer heavily toasted oak. Decent but hard to tout at this price. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Black Kite Stony Terrace Block Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., pH 3.60, 148 cases, $52. Released in the spring of 2010. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Dark fruited aromas and flavors with a grilled, charred wood and smoke character. Nicely composed with a rich dark berry and cherry core that sadly can’t find proper expression. Decent. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 Black Kite Cellars Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., 726 cases, $42. · A shy but perfume of darker fruits, oak and a whiff of alcohol. Discreet and tasty black raspberry, strawberry, chocolate and oak flavors wrapped around supple tannins with a dry and fruity finish. Not quite as good as the 2006 vintage, but very commendable. Tasted three times on separate occasions with consistent results. Reviewed May 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Black Kite Cellars River Turn Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., 195 cases, $52. Released in May, 2009. · Very pretty black cherry robe. Exotically perfumed with wild berries, black cherries, herbs and grass. Perfect balance of ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit, vibrant acidity and refined tannins. The mouth feel is soft and gentle with an endless finish that holds on tight for what seems an eternity. Is there an app for this? Reviewed May 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Black Kite Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.76% alc., <500 cases, $38. · This wine draws you in with terrific black cherry, dark chocolate and spicy oak scents. Richly layered with dark fruits including plum with a nice sidecar of oak. Velvety in texture, clean, and beautifully composed. This one captures both the power and finesse of Pinot Noir. Everything you could want and some things you didn’t know to ask for. Flat out terrific. Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Black Kite Cellars River Turn Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
$48. Four Pinot Noirs are offered from the Black Kite Estate Vineyard in the cool deep-end of the Anderson Valley. The talented winemaker is Jeff Gaffner (left) and the viticulturalist is Paul Ardzrooni (right). The Kite’s Rest bottling was favorably reviewed in PinotFile, Volume 6, Issue 60. Three other bottlings are from special blocks in the vineyard (River Turn, Stony Terrace, and Redwood’s Edge). I found the River Turn the most approachable now of the block-designate Pinot Noirs. · Like the Kite’s Rest, it offers flashy and showy dark red fruits, mouthwatering acidity, and a lingering aromatic finish. I wrote excellent with an exclamation point. Reviewed July 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 Black Kite Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., 289 cases, $35. · The darkest Pinot in the tasting. The nose is rich with crushed blackberries, a little game and sweet oak. This is an “in-your-face” wine which is BIG. Generous and fruity rather than classy or complex. Reviewed June 3, 2007 ARTICLE »
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