VOLUME 12, ISSUE 34
December 30, 2022
ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE:
A Commonplace Bucket of Pinot Noir: Quotes, Ephemera, and Thoughts The Prince Retires (this time for good)

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Vineyard: Cerise

AppellationAnderson Valley
VarietiesPinot Noir

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2014 Phillips Hill Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.0% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.62, 75 cases, $52. Released April 20, 2016. Cerise is a 40-acre vineyard located at 800-1200 feet elevation. Soils are sandstone and fractured shale with a shallow gravelly loam topsoil that is marginal and sparse. Dijon 115. Harvest Brix 23.5º. 15% whole cluster, 4-day cold soak, 14 days on skins, native yeast fermentation. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Light ruby red color in the glass. Aromas of exotic spices, red cherry and smoky oak. Light weight flavors if oak-infused black cherry. Rather earthy and rustic, with good balance. The wine lacks some enthusiasm and interest and the finish lacks persistence. Score: 87. Reviewed July 8, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Knez Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., 1,200 cases, $29. Two-thirds Cerise (primarily Dijon clones), one-third Demuth (primarily Wädenswil). 50% whole cluster fermentation. Aged in 25% new French oak. · Medium reddish purple color in the glass. The nose unfolds nicely over time in the glass to reveal aromas of cherry, raspberry and herbs. Plenty of juicy red cherry fruit shows up on the mid weight palate with a hint of spice. Very silky and sexy in the mouth, with some finishing presence. Score: 89. Reviewed July 28, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Knez Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.6% alc., 650 cases, $42. Clones are primarily Wädenswil, Pommard, Martini and David Bruce. · Dark reddish purple color in the glass. The nose reflects some whole cluster fermentation with aromas of exotic roses, Moroccan spices, black cherries and the slightest oak. A mid weight, brawny wine with big shoulders., offering generous flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, tar and animale. The fruit coats the mouth and provides uncommon intensity on the finish which offers a modest rush of dry tannins. A distinctive wine that is terroir-driven and should improve over the next several years in bottle. Score: 91. Reviewed July 28, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Phillips Hill Two Terroirs C+R Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., 125 cases, $36. 70% Cerise Vineyard and 30% Ridley Vineyard fruit. Harvest Brix 22º-23º. Whole berry and whole cluster fermentation, 4 to 6-day cold soak, 16 days on skins, natural yeast fermentation. Aged 16 months in 30% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately light orange-red color in the glass. Light and elegant cherry aromas and flavors with a lively cut of acidity and a heavy tug of oak and oak tannin. Score: 86. Reviewed July 28, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Phillips Hill Two Terroirs Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.58, 125 cases, $40. A blend of 70% Cerise and 30% Ridley vineyards. Clones are 115, Pommard and Wädenswil (Cerise) and 777 (Ridley). Natural yeast whole berry fermentation, aged 16 months in 30% new French oak barrels. · Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Alluring aromas of strawberries, cherries, and caramelized and spiced oak. Juicy flavors of strawberries, cranberries and red cherries with a hint of spice, supple tannins, and a tangy, dried cherry finish. Good. Reviewed June 23, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Gros Ventre Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.4% alc., 176 cases, $48. Pommard 5 and Dijon 115. Aged 10 months in 20% new French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Aromas of cola, spice and smoky oak lead to a rich palate of plum and blackberry fruit robed in smoky, tobacco-laced oak. Full-bodied, fruity and earthy with supportive tannins and well integrated acidity. Although not particularly expressive now and showing too much oak sheen, this wine may integrate and surprise with further cellaring. Score: 87. Reviewed December 18, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Onward Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.4% alc., 150 cases, $58. 2/3 Pommard and 1/3 115 clones. Yields 1.5 tons per acre. Aged 2 years in bottle. 10-day cold soak, 100% de-stemmed, slightly warm natural yeast fermentation. · This big boy draws you in with hi-tone aromas of black cherry, dark red berry., pomegranate and rose petal. On the palate, the wine is earthbound and deeply flavored with notes of iron complimenting the mid weight, black raspberry, blackberry and pomegranate flavors. There is plenty to discover in this wine, which has firm, chalky tannins and a berry-fueled finish that leaves you begging for more. Score: 94. Reviewed April 20, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Knez Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.6% alc., pH 3.58, 500 cases, $42. Released October 2012. Clones are Martini David Bruce, Pommard, Wädenswil, and 777. 17-year-old vines. 50% whole cluster. Aged in 33% new French oak barrels. 25% of press wine added to each barrel after pressing the must. Racked once, the day before bottling. · Very light crimson color in the glass. Highly aromatic featuring scents of cherry pie, spice and dried herbs. Fresh and vibrant flavors of cherries, brewed tea, savory herbs and edible flowers. Quite juicy and refreshing with vibrant acidity and composed dry tannins. Very good. Reviewed June 23, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Knez Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.4% alc., $36. Sourced from several different blocks that are fermented separately. Primarily older clones with a lesser amount of Dijon clones. Significant whole cluster. Native fermentations. Aged 12 months in 30-40% new French oak barrels. · Herb-kissed cherries on the nose. Delicious array of dark red fruits, nicely spiced, with fine-grain, well-tamed tannins, and a very long and fruit-filled finish. Appealing animale character. Very good (+). Reviewed June 24, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Gros Ventre Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 151 cases, $44. A combination of Pommard 5 (one-third) and 2A (two-thirds) clones from this steeply sloped vineyard overlooking the Anderson Valley. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Brooding black fruits with a hint of sweet oak on the nose which opens slowly in the glass. Delicious core of perfectly ripe and well-bred black and purple Pinot fruits. A little savory, spicy and earthy. Ideal weight, balance and flavor intensity with a generous finish marked by brisk acidity. A complete wine that shows breeding. Decant if you open a bottle now, but patience will bring further rewards. Reviewed July 1, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Gros Ventre Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 151 cases, $44. Pommard 5 and Wädenswil. 100% de-stemmed, native fermentations. Aged 10 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Well oaked with noticeable spice and savory accents. Generous purple fruit flavors with bright acidity on the elegant finish. Needs more time to integrate the oak. Very good (-). Reviewed June 24, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

703 cases, $45. Release June 1, 2011. The only Saintsbury Vineyard Series wine from outside Carneros. Cerise is located on the steep slopes of the southwestern facing hills just north of the town of Boonville. 37 acres are planted on the 200-acre site. Clones 115, 777 and Pommard. Aged 10 months in 24% new and 27% 1 and 2-year-old French oak barrels. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color showing a slight haze in the glass. Appealing aromatic mix of red and blue berries on the nose. Rich, intense, earthy and darkly fruited, yet displaying a lithe and silky texture due to restrained tannins. The plum and berry fruit is striking and persists on the generous finish. Very approachable now. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc, $45. Saintsbury has produced a Pinot Noir from this vineyard since 2005. Dijon and Pommard clones. 100% de-stemmed, 10 day skin contact, gentle press, aging in 20% new French oak barrels. · Dark berries, black cherries and spice are featured. Soft and elegant in the mouth with well-honed tannins and impressive length. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 704 cases, $45, released January 1, 2012. Pommard, Dijon 115 and 777 clones. Aged 10 months in 24% new, 27% once used and twice used French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. Effusive aromas of fresh, spiced berry compote. Medium weight core of perfectly ripe and vibrant dark red berry fruits wrapped in tame tannins. Impeccable balance. Very good (+). Reviewed June 24, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Littorai Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., $60. David Bruce, La Tache selection and Dijon 828. · Floral and savory aromas with flavors of dark red and black berries. Mid-weight but powerful with bright acidity and a lingering finish. More subdued and earthy than the other wines in the lineup. More intense than Littorai’s Sonoma County wines. Needs time. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 1,150 cases, $44.95. Released in the spring 2009. Cerise Vineyard is 37 acres on a 200-acre site just north of the town of Boonville. Clones 115, 667, 777 and Pommard. Aged 10 months in 24% new, 27% 1 and 2-year-old French oak barrels. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. Charming aromas of black cherries, red and black berries and cocoa. Rich and fruity and very smoothly textured. An upfront pleasing style that wants for more complexity which will certainly come with more time in the bottle. Good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 1,150 cases, $45. Released August 2008. Th is 37-acre vineyard is located on steep slopes of the southwestern facing hills just north of Boonville and is planted to clones 115, 667, 777 and Pommard. Yields were 1.5-2.5 tons per acre. 7 day cold soak, 12 day total cuvaison. Aged 10 months in 24% new French oak barrels. The only Saintsbury Vineyard Series wine from outside Carneros. · Smoky, herbal aromas lead to a palate of full, rich dark fruits with earth and chocolate undertones. A muscular yet deft wine that has the acidity and structure to go the distance. Needs more time. Reviewed June 5, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Chronicle Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 556 cases, $48. Release date is February, 2010. This 40-acre vineyard sits at between 800 and 1200 feet above the town of Boonville. Soils are thin, rocky, and quite marginal. The vines struggle to produce 2 tons per acre in the very best years. Lemon has sourced fruit from this vineyard since 2001. Clones are Wädenswil and Pommard. Aged 16 months in 50% new French oak. · Alluring scents of spiced plums, blackberry jam, sugared apples, and echoes of oak. Very tasty and charming dark cherry and berry melange with a hint of cola. Very smoothly textured with gossamer dry tannins and a good tang on the finish. More elegant and less tannic than the usual Pinot Noir from Cerise. Tasted fine the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle indicating age ability. This wine strikes your heart. Reviewed December 16, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Chronicle Wines Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 556 cases, $55. Released in the spring 2010. Clones Wädenswil and Pommard. Aged 16 months in 50% new French oak. Winemaker Ted Lemon. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Lovely perfume of red and black fruits and rose petals. Delicious and classy in every way with soft, ripe tannins, an appealing earthy bent to the dark fruit and a lengthy fruit-blessed finish. A polished wine of great charm. Reviewed June 8, 2010 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Harmonique Elegancé Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.65, 675 cases, $36.50, released spring 2011. Winemaker Robert Klindt. Aged 19 months in 70% new French oak barrels, and aged in bottle until release. Four vineyard sources (Conzelman Vineyard Old Block, 21% Cerise Vineyard, 16.5% Wiley Vineyard and 12.5% Klindt Vineyard). 7 Pinot Noir clones. · Very light in weight, featuring red cherry and berry flavors with underpinnings of oak and savory herbs. Fruit has faded and is swallowed up by tannin. I have had this wine before and do not believe this was a representative bottle. Withhold judgment. Reviewed June 24, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Littorai Les Larmes Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 293 cases, $45. Composed of declassified fruit from Cerise and Savoy vineyards and intended for earlier drinking. · Subdued but very pleasing scents of cherries, hay and white pepper. Admirable richness with bright flavors of cherries and red apples flanked by bright acidity. Smoothly textured and easy to drink. I call the Les Larmes bottlings, which are a blend from the Anderson Valley appellation, “Baby Littorai” wines, as they are perfectly good daily drinkers that will show well at the table and demand no contemplation. Like babies, they are fun when they are young. Reviewed June 5, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 255 cases, $45. This vineyard of 37 planted acres is on the steep slopes of the southwest facing hills just north of the town of Booneville. Shallow gravelly loam soils provide excellent drainage. Yields are 1.5-2.5 tons/acre. The second vintage of this vineyard-designate. 7 day cold soak, 16 day total maceration. 11 months in 40% new French oak. · The aromas are subdued and slow to evolve but some pleasant cherry, wild berry and dark chocolate appear with swirling. This is a richer and more tannic wine than the Stanly Ranch with a pleasing punch of black cherry fruit, a velvety texture and a very long finish. Cellaring is advised to meld the oak and tannins. Reviewed August 4, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 225 cases, $45. · Subdued aromas of cherries, berries, herbs and dark chocolate with a hint of alcohol. Picks up steam in the glass. Rich and muscular black cherry core of fruit with assertive tannins that need time to soften. Very comforting soft and creamy texture and a very long finish. A lot of potential here, but patience is needed. Reviewed June 9, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Chronicle Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., 240 cases, $48. Aged 17 months in 50% new French oak. Lightly fined, unfiltered. · Black fruits with noticeable oak char in the nose and flavors. Opulent cherry and berry flavors with flamboyant tannins typical of this vineyard. Still chunky and awkward and lacks upfront charm. Check back in several years. Decent. Reviewed December 16, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Copain Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.6% alc., $54. · Complex aromatic profile showing black fruits, forest floor, smoke, oak and a whiff of alcohol. Earth-dusted dark fruit which is herbal and wood-toned. Massive fruit lacks finesse. Deep, dark and mysterious, and very primal. Not for Pinot Noir purists. Needs time to shed its bold tannins. Very typical of this vineyard. Reviewed June 9, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

The first vineyard-series Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley. This vineyard is on a hillside near Philo, low-yielding with small berries. The challenge here is to tame the extraction. · This is a big and dark wine with dusty tannins on the finish. I would cellar this a year or two before indulging. Reviewed February 26, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Littorai Les Larmes Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 303 cases, $42. Savoy and Cerise declassifications primarily. · Dark cherry red in color. Strong herbal and mineral bent to the aromas accompanied by reductive matchstick notes. Nice mouthful of black cherry fruit which is clean and pure with a green and citrus note. Something chemical or medicinal is present that I can’t put my finger on. Tasted two separate bottles and both were very similar. I would wait on this wine. Reviewed June 9, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Littorai Les Larmes Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 303 cases, $42. A vintage marked by more tannins and concentration. · Moderately light reddish-violet color. This wine speaks of the earth throughout. Brambly red cherry and plum aromas and flavors with a hint of funkiness, hay, meat and tar. Bright acidity makes for refreshing drinking. Reviewed June 5, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Littorai Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc.. · Dark reddish purple color in the glass. Shy, but pleasing aromas of blackberry, black cherry and sage. Middleweight flavors of dark cherries and berries with a touch of smoke, tar and black licorice. Silky, with fully integrated tannins and a very generous deep berry finish. Score: 92. Reviewed April 19, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Littorai Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., 95 cases, $60. · Deep, dark ruby robe. Shy nose that needs swirling in the glass, showing dark fruits, toast, and medicine cabinet. A bruising and sinister Pinot that is loaded with rich, dark Pinot fruits and an underlying primal earthiness. Well-crafted and balanced. The soft texture is heavenly. Tasted the next day from a previously opened re-corked bottle and this wine tasted noticeably smoother and more integrated. I would suggest cellaring this wine further or decanting it if you plan to drink it now. Reviewed June 9, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Littorai Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., 95 cases, $60. This vineyard is planted to the Martini clone. · Moderately dark reddish-violet color. Initially shy, the nose explodes over time in the glass with volumes of black cherries and blackberries. Richly flavored but ephemeral in style with earth-kissed fruit, beet root and a hint of metal. The tannins have begun to melt away creating a very smooth and satiny mouth feel. Impeccable balance. Close to the One Acre in sensual pleasure. Reviewed June 5, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2003 Littorai Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., $60, 160 cases. · This wine needs some air time to blossom. The aromatics are rich with cassis and sweet oak. Spicy cherry flavors are sleek and the finish echoes with lively acidity. As usual with Littorai wines, the balance is spot on. Reviewed June 3, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

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