- Practicing Organic
- 100% Chardonnay
- Mt. Pajaro Vineyard, Rhys Estate, East of Corralitos
- Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
- Shale based soils
- Hand harvested
- Barrel fermented, ~35% new wood, complete malo
- No lees stirring
- Total of 16 months on lees
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2023
Country:
United States
Region:
California
Appellation:
Santa Cruz Mountains
Variety:
Chardonnay
Color:
White
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | US-CER-37-23 | 6/750ml |
Tasting Notes
Ceritas’s first vintage from this landmark site. An exceptionally cold year lent a forceful reductive presence on the nose, reminiscent of freshly cracked wheat. As it breathes, the profoundly mineral character shines through. The sheer concentration of this wine, given the searing acidity, is mind- blowing. A grippy, phenolic structure promises a long life ahead. Unbelievable.
Resources
Press & Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck
Score
98
Date
2025-07-02
"A new wine in the range, the 2023 Chardonnay Mt. Pajaro comes from a site owned by Rhys in the Santa Cruz Mountains, close to Trout Gulch and plated with meter-by-meter spacing and curated clusters. This wine boasts a shade deeper yellow hue and is savory with aromas of bright fantastic reduction (feels like Burgundy), dark stones, beeswax, green apples, and white pineapples, as well as savory and mineral notes. This would be a great wine to throw into a blind tasting with a great white Burgundy. It,s medium to full-bodied, with a silky, profound, stony texture, a note of lemon oil, and pristine clarity. Just when I think these whites can't get better, this is clearly one of the best white wines from Ceritas. Drink over the coming 20 years."