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Ceritas Santa Cruz Mountains Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir 2023

  • Jeb Dunnuck
    98 Points
Ceritas Santa Cruz Mountains Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir 2023
  • Jeb Dunnuck
    98 Points
Ceritas Santa Cruz Mountains Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir 2023
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Ceritas Santa Cruz Mountains Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir 2023

SKU: CMPP202310 UCAU
15 Plus Years
Regular price $299.99 / bottle
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1 bottle
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Ceritas wines stand out for their rare combination of precision, purity, and a deep respect for terroir.

We often hear about California Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays being “Burgundian.” But how often are they really? For our money, no one in northern California comes closer to the Burgundian ideal than John Raytek does.

They have twelve sites that they source from today in Sonoma and Santa Cruz

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Ceritas Santa Cruz Mountains Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir 2023

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Tasting Notes

Ceritas Santa Cruz Mountains Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir 2023 exemplifies the art of winemaking with a rare blend of precision, purity, and profound respect for terroir. Crafted under the visionary guidance of John Raytek, Ceritas wines uniquely capture the Burgundian ideal that many Northern California Pinot Noirs aspire to but few achieve. This 2023 vintage, sourced from the esteemed Mount Pajaro vineyard within the Santa Cruz Mountains, reflects a subtle yet expressive character shaped by its cool coastal climate and well-drained soils.

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is renowned for its complex microclimates and diverse soils, which contribute dramatically to the distinctive profiles of its wines. The Mount Pajaro site benefits from fog-laden mornings and warm afternoons that enhance the grape’s natural balance, resulting in a Pinot Noir that is both elegant and vibrant. This varietal offers layered aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, and hints of forest floor, complemented by soft tannins and a lingering finish.

Ceritas sources grapes from a total of twelve exceptional sites across Sonoma and Santa Cruz, each chosen for its unique expression of place. The Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir stands out for its clarity and finesse, showcasing a purity that honors the vineyard’s distinct terroir. The wine’s meticulous craftsmanship reveals a seamless integration of fruit and earth, appealing to enthusiasts seeking an authentic California Pinot Noir experience.

This vintage embodies a graceful balance and complexity, making it an excellent choice for pairing with a variety of dishes or enjoying on its own. Whether exploring the nuances of a perfectly aged cheese or complementing roasted poultry, the Ceritas Mount Pajaro Pinot Noir delivers a refined and memorable tasting experience.

Discover the refined elegance and Burgundian spirit that define Ceritas wines through this exceptional 2023 release, a true testament to the art of Northern California winemaking.

Critic Scores

A ruby red color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Mount Pajaro is a barrel sample with aromas of ripe raspberry fruit. It fills the palate and has a saturating mouthfeel, with ripe tannins and a long, fruity and floral finish. It has all the components to be a fantastically detailed and elegant Pinot Noir, and I look forward to revisiting this over the next couple of years when it’s in bottle.

Vinification & Cultivation

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Vineyard Cultivation

Ceritas, founded by John Raytek and Phoebe Bass, is frequently cited as one of northern California's closest interpreters of a Burgundian ideal, drawing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from around a dozen cool-climate sites in Sonoma and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mount Pajaro sits in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a high, maritime-influenced range whose thin, rocky soils and cool nights produce small-berried, aromatic Pinot Noir with fine structure. Farming stresses restraint, transparency and low yields. The 2023 California vintage was cool and long, with a late, gentle ripening season that favoured freshness, detail and vibrant fruit – conditions well suited to the elegant, perfumed style Ceritas pursues.

Vinification

Following Ceritas's low-intervention method, the Pinot Noir was fermented with native yeasts, typically incorporating a portion of whole clusters to add lift and savoury complexity, with gentle cap management to protect delicacy. The wine was pressed to French oak and matured with restrained new-wood use, favouring neutral barrels so that raspberry fruit, floral aromatics and mineral detail remain primary. Élevage in barrel precedes bottling with minimal handling. Assessed as a barrel sample by the critic, it shows a saturating mouthfeel and ripe tannin. Precise whole-cluster percentage, new-oak proportion and time in barrel for the 2023 Mount Pajaro are not published and would need confirmation.

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