2022 Ceritas Elliot Pinot Noir

The 2022 Ceritas Elliott Vineyard Pinot Noir is one of the most compelling single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from California's West Sonoma Coast and a benchmark for the transparent, site-driven philosophy of Ceritas. Founded by John Raytek and Phoebe Bass, Ceritas has become one of California's most sought-after producers, crafting low-intervention wines from exceptional coastal vineyards. Elliott Vineyard sits between the celebrated Hellenthal and Hirsch vineyards and was planted in 1981 to the Mt. Eden clone of Pinot Noir. The vineyard's shale and decomposed marine sediment soils, combined with organic dry farming and the cooling Pacific influence, produce a Pinot Noir of remarkable perfume, energy and mineral precision.

The bouquet is beautifully lifted and complex, opening with aromas of wild raspberry, red cherry and crushed cranberry layered with fragrant rose petals, fresh wild herbs and subtle pine needle. As the wine evolves in the glass, notes of blood orange zest, forest floor and crushed rock emerge alongside delicate floral nuances and savoury spice. The 2022 vintage is more restrained and tightly wound than many previous releases, reflecting the vineyard's cool coastal character and the wine's significant ageing potential. Jeb Dunnuck described it as "more tannic and chiseled", highlighting its remarkable purity and structure.

On the palate, it is medium-bodied with exceptional tension, silky yet finely structured tannins and vibrant natural acidity. Layers of wild raspberry, red cherry and blood orange unfold across the palate, supported by savoury herbs, ironstone minerality and a distinctive ferrous character that gives the wine tremendous depth and individuality. Despite its concentration, the wine remains graceful and transparent, with remarkable freshness and precision. The finish is long, saline and intensely mineral, lingering with floral perfume, red fruit and crushed stone. Built for extended cellaring, the wine is expected to evolve beautifully over the next two decades. Jeb Dunnuck awarded the 2022 Elliott Vineyard Pinot Noir 98 points, recommending a drinking window of 2025–2045.

Ben's Recommendation:
At Wine More Cellars, the 2022 Ceritas Elliott Vineyard Pinot Noir is one of the finest expressions of modern California Pinot Noir and a must for collectors seeking purity over power. Compared with richer Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs, Elliott Vineyard is more restrained, more mineral and markedly more Burgundian in its structure and elegance. For Burgundy enthusiasts, its perfume, transparency and whole-cluster complexity will feel closer to a top Côte de Nuits Premier Cru than a traditionally opulent Californian Pinot Noir. Although approachable with 1–2 hours of decanting, this is a wine that will reward patience. Cellar confidently through 2045, where it will develop even greater layers of dried flowers, forest floor, tea leaf and savoury complexity. Pair it with roast duck, squab, mushroom risotto, veal, grilled salmon, truffle dishes or aged Comté to appreciate the wine's extraordinary finesse and vineyard expression.