Lot 87 is a high-elevation Occidental Hills Pinot Noir from along the Bohemian Highway — artisanal cool-climate winemaking with 1-2 tons per acre yields, farming both sides of the Sonoma Coast/Russian River Valley AVA boundary, normally $70/bottle as a single-vineyard designate. Claude’s source guess is Ceritas Wines, Alt: Bohème Wines.
Lot Overview
- Region: 100% Sonoma Coast (Occidental Hills, Bohemian Highway, 1,000+ feet elevation, estate)
- Vintage: 2024
- Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
- Oak Aging: 50% new French oak
- Alcohol: 14.3%, pH 3.6, Malic >0.1 g/L, Lactic 1.17 g/L
- Cases Available: 175
- Cam Price: ~$11.58/bottle ($139/case)
- Retail Estimate: $70/bottle
- Claude’s Source Guess: Ceritas Wines — Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (John Raytek, winemaker; Alt: Bohème Wines, Kurt Beitler)
- Wine Berserkers Guess:
- Drink Window: 2026–2033 (peak 2027–2031)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Dear Friends,
I have a fantastic Pinot Noir offer for you today!
Lot 86 [87] hails from a relatively high elevation (over 1,000 feet) estate vineyard in the Occidental Hills along the Bohemian Highway. The producer focuses on this cool, hilly region on the western edge of Russian River Valley, farming vineyards on both sides of the AVA boundary in both the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. All of their Pinots and Chardonnays have a decidedly artisanal, cool-climate feel with pretty, crunchy, mouthwatering acidity — extremely low yields ranging from 1 to 2 tons per acre. First class winemaking from the hands of a master. Normally sold as a single-vineyard designate for around $70/bottle.
If you enjoyed Lot 83 2025 West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Ernest Vineyards, I think you will really enjoy Lot 86 [87] as well — a slightly different style but equally compelling and delicious. And a bit more affordable to boot!
At just $139/case DELIVERED, this is a fantastic deal for world-class Occidental Hills Pinot Noir!
Tasting Notes
Lot 86 [87] hails from a relatively high elevation (over 1,000 feet) estate vineyard in the Occidental Hills along the Bohemian Highway. The producer focuses on this cool, hilly region on the western edge of Russian River Valley, farming vineyards on both sides of the AVA boundary in both the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. All of their Pinots and Chardonnays have a decidedly artisanal, cool-climate feel with pretty, crunchy, mouthwatering acidity — extremely low yields ranging from 1 to 2 tons per acre. First class winemaking from the hands of a master. Normally sold as a single-vineyard designate for around $70/bottle.
Beautiful pale ruby/purple hue. Pretty and peppery strawberry and raspberry notes underpinned with dark black fruit and earth complexed with black tea and sandalwood. With air spicy cherry and purple florals further complex this vibrant and compelling bouquet. Fleshy and ripe on entry with a potent, mineral-driven structure that carries pretty cherry and dark chocolate covered raspberry with brambly fruit and black tea notes woven throughout the long, resplendent and energetic finish. This is, without a doubt, one of the finest cool-climate Pinot Noirs I have ever tasted and an absolute steal at $139/case delivered!
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Allow 60–90 days minimum post-bottling.
Claude’s Source Guess: Ceritas Wines — Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (John Raytek, winemaker; Alt: Bohème Wines)
Ceritas Wines was founded in 2005 by winemaker John Raytek and his wife Phoebe Bass, dedicated to producing transparent, terroir-driven wines from California’s coastal regions. John’s experience at acclaimed wineries including Flowers, Rhys, and Copain makes him precisely the “master” winemaker Cam references. Their Occidental Vineyard on Taylor Lane was planted by Steve Kistler in 1990 in partnership with the Dutton family, and Ceritas signed a long-term lease in 2016 — it’s south-facing with heritage selection massale clonal material in blue schist soils with moderate clay content, dry farmed. The site is in the Occidental Hills along the Bohemian Highway exactly as Cam describes, with vineyards on both the Sonoma Coast and RRV side of the AVA boundary.
The main tension is price — Ceritas’s Occidental single-vineyard Pinot averages $128 on Wine-Searcher, above Cam’s “$70/bottle.” However their entry-level Sonoma Coast appellation blend is closer to $65-75 and would be the lot Cam received — surplus from their broader program rather than the flagship single-vineyard designate.
Bohème Wines (Kurt Beitler, grandson of Caymus founder Charlie Wagner) is a strong alternative — their “Occidental Hills” Pinot Noir is estate-grown along the Bohemian Highway at $65-70 retail, exactly matching Cam’s price point. Occidental Hills is a proprietary cuvée from estate-grown Pinot Noir vineyards near Occidental, California, targeting dark fruits, French oak toast and tannin breadth for wines of richness and tension. Bohème’s artisanal, small-production approach also fits Cam’s “master winemaker” description — Kurt Beitler hand-farms his coastal vineyards with only ~2,500 cases annually.
✅ Confidence: Medium-High for Ceritas (geographic precision, AVA boundary farming, artisanal style, low yields, master winemaker all confirmed); Medium for Bohème (better price match, Bohemian Highway estate, small production). The $70 retail price point favors Bohème; the “master winemaker” and overall prestige language favors Ceritas.
Drink Window
Early: 2026 — allow 60-90 days minimum post-bottling.
Peak: 2027–2031. Occidental Hills Pinot at 14.3% alc and 50% new oak peaks 3–7 years from vintage.
Hold: 2033. The cool-climate acidity gives this solid medium-term aging potential.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: 2026–2033 (peak 2027–2031)