Description

Far out on the coast, where loggers and people just looking to get back to the land live is where you often find the most inspiring vineyards. Elliott is one of those places. Here the second generation, Elisa Hellenthal, tends to the land and vines from which this wine comes. Planting in the late 1970s meant clonal diversity was scarce. Luckily one of the clones from the famed Mt Eden Vineyard was available and is now planted here.

2021 Tasting Note – John Raytek
Fermented with half the berries left on their stems. Dark, brooding red fruits marry with lingering scents of forest floor and oolong tea on the nose. Thin, rocky soils deliver a sense of concentration to this wine with juicy pomegranate and fresh blood orange dancing on the palate. A punchy, yet refined tannin structure promises ageability.

They have twelve sites that they source from today in  Sonoma and Santa Cruz, not necessarily owned by, but all under Ceritas control. All farmed organically or bio-dynamically. They have noted that disease pressure is higher towards the coast and there is almost none as you go inland towards Dry Creek Valley, most of their vineyards are thus 3-6 miles inland from the coast. The further away from the coast they look for vineyards facing away from the sun and the opposite closer to the coast.
Vine age is important, John looks for vines over 30 years old with deep root systems that permit dry farming. He also only looks for “pre-Dijon” suitcase clones from Burgundy and native American heirloom clones. For example he produces Chardonnay from the Wente clone only and there are different selection of the Wente clone. For Pinot Noir he selects only the Calera, Swan, Mt Eden and Pommard clones as they are slower to ripen, retain more acidity and have a diversity of ripening pattern.

For elevage he works with only two coopers, tight grain wood and with the lowest possible toast and absolutely no char. Chardonnay sees no new wood at all and Pinot Noir sees 25% new wood as an average across all wines.