Black Kite Cellars ‘Kite Rest’ Pinot Noir 2015 750ml

Black Kite Cellars ‘Kite Rest’ Pinot Noir 2015 750ml

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 viticulturist is Paul Ardzrooni, experienced in Anderson Valley vineyards.

Black Kite Cellars has branched out into sourcing Pinot Noir grapes from the Santa Lucia Highlands (Sierra Mar and Soberanes vineyards) and Sonoma Coast (Freestone and Gap’s Crown vineyards) AVAs and is also offering Chardonnay from these two appellations.

The Kite’s Rest Vineyard is owned by the Green family (specifically Rebecca Green Birdsall’s father and nephew) while the Green family and the Birdsall family (Tom and Rebecca Green Birdsall) one the winery.