Keller Estate La Cruz Vineyard Pinot Noir 2001

The 2001 Pinot Noir is the inaugeration year for wine from Keller Estate, a family run business. Located in Petaluma, California, Keller was first planting estate grapes in 1989. It apparently took 12 years or so to finally produce fruit that was worthy of sale. After tasting the Keller Pinot for the first time last night, I can say the wait was worth it. A mid-priced wine (about $30) it exhibits all the qualities one comes to expect from fine Pinot. Beautiful color, wonderful aroma, and a smooth fruity taste of cranberry, cherry, and light oak in a well balanced wine. At $30 the '01 was certainly underpriced, and I'm sure the added year or two in my cellar helped contribute to the smoothness this wine has and lack of "barnyard aroma" described by Vinography.com wine blogger, Alder.

The current release is the 2003, still $30, (if you can get it) and still from the La Cruz vineyard.

Michael McNeill is the winemaker (picture left), (I don't believe he was there for the 2001 vintage) an alumnus of Chalone Vineyard, and several others on the central California coast and Santa Cruz mountains.

If given a chance, I would also try the Chardonnay, and Syrah. Great value wines from Keller Estate. I hope that the current winemaking carries the tradition forward!

Like many wineries with facilities outside the usual haunts, the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, they are open for visits and tasting, but by appointment only. If you're heading that way , make sure to give them a call at (707) 765-2117, or submit a request from their website. Once you've finished tasting and have left Petaluma, keep going north on highway 101 to Santa Rosa and check out Siduri and Carlisle wineries (by appointment) as well. These three stops will make a great afternoon of winetasting.