Black Kite Wine Offer - 2021 Release

“The 2021s are both very high in quality and consistent across the board. It’s a vintage full of stunning, compelling wines.” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

There are few brands that resonate with Mayacama enophiles like Black Kite Cellars.

The small, family-owned and operated winery dedicated to producing high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay has made significant strides over the years. With the acquisition of new vineyard sources and the completion of a new hospitality center in Freestone on the West Sonoma Coast, it seems like Black Kite has really taken off.

After a recent tasting of Black Kite’s 2021 vintage release, I couldn’t help but think that this could possibly be one of the best vintages that winemaker Jeff Gaffner has produced yet. Across the board, 2021 is largely considered to be the best Sonoma County vintage since 2018 with bold Pinots and vibrant Chardonnays.

The 2021 growing season offered optimal conditions for Pinot Noir from start to finish, which is why this vintage is being so highly rated. With minimal rainfall in the early months of the year and mild temperatures in Spring and early Summer, the vines had normal bud break in mid-March and successful flowering in June. The remainder of the season was moderate and stable, allowing producers to leave the fruit on the vines as long as they wished to ripen optimally with good acidity. These ideal growing conditions produced marvelous depth of flavor, bright acidity and great balance and structure, and they promise to improve with cellaring as well.

Today’s Mayacama wine offer celebrates Black Kite’s 2021 release with 3 standout bottlings…

Black Kite, Chardonnay, Jasper Freestone, Sonoma Coast 2021 – This chardonnay comes from the Jasper Freestone Vineyard which is located in the far western part of Sonoma, just seven miles from Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean. A true cool-climate reflection of its roots, the 2021 Jasper Freestone Vineyard Chardonnay is a strikingly redolent wine boasting a vivid core of honeydew melon, stone fruit, and citrus, mingled with notes of crushed oyster, and framed by a racy acidity that persists on the long, lifted finish. Enjoy upon release or hold for up to 7-9 years.

Black Kite, Pinot Noir, Gap’s Crown Vineyard, Sonoma Coast 2021 -- The fruit profile of Black Kite's Gap’s Crown Vineyard block is so consistent with small clusters of very concentrated fruit that the wine evokes a favorite cherry pie. The 2021 bottling is no exception, with ripe cherry and sweet plum aromas leaping from the glass, joined by notes of lavender, violets with just a hint of chocolate cake mix to make it interesting. On the palate, all this just-baked goodness unfurls in rich, concentrated layers of macerated cherries and sweet toasty oak, hints of which persist throughout the long complex finish. Enjoy upon release or cellar for up to 7-9 years.

Black Kite, Pinot Noir, “SOAR,” Sonoma Coast 2021 -- This is the first release of a very special wine from Black Kite’s estate Jasper Freestone Vineyard in Freestone, just seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. As the team has learned more about this vineyard every year, they have discovered that one of its Pinot Noir clones, the 2A or Wadenswil clone originally from Switzerland, has found its perfect home. In this location and terroir, it shines with incredible complexity and structure, with great promise as it ages in the bottle. The name “SOAR” reflects the heights it reaches and the winery's namesake Black Shouldered Kite, a beautiful bird that soars over many of their vineyards. The nose of this first bottling has elegant aromas of alpine strawberry, orange blossom and dried red flowers. Fruit flavors of boysenberry, ' bing cherry and pomegranate allow for the wine to enchant the palate with both complex and inviting flavors. The wine finishes with sweet pipe tobacco and vanilla bean that captures every nuance of this special clone with a long and concentrated finish. Enjoy upon release or cellar for up to 7 - 10 years.

It’s both an honor and a pleasure to present Mayacama Members with exclusive access to Black Kite’s 2021 vintage release.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions regarding the wines.

Thank you for your continued support.

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg, Wine Director

THE WINES:

2021 Black Kite, Chardonnay, Jasper Freestone, Sonoma Coast -- $85/btl

2021 Black Kite, Pinot Noir, Gap’s Crown Vineyard, Sonoma Coast -- $75/btl

2021 Black Kite, Pinot Noir, “SOAR,” Sonoma Coast -- $120/btl