2017 Black Kite Cellars Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands California 750 ml

As a young server at Napa’s iconic Tra Vigne restaurant, Wine Access VP of Wine Eduardo Dingler was introduced to incredible wines in a dining room that had seen the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Danny DeVito, Julia Child, and more. But few (if any) of his experiences there stand out like the night he first discovered Black Kite—one of our wine team's all-time favorite Pinots—at the table of Robert Redford. 

The restaurant’s wine list contained cult Napa Cabernets and French icons galore, but he barely gave them a passing glance. He’d arrived seeking one bottle: Black Kite. Visibly excited, he poured some for Eduardo and said, "This is a wine you have to know, I simply love it." Eduardo recalls being even more starstruck by the layered complexity in my glass than by who was sitting at the table. 

Eduardo has been enamored with Black Kite’s Pinot Noirs ever since—and it only took one pour to convince our entire team. This 2017 Sierra Mar bears the same energy and polish that has captivated us for years.

Wines like this 2017 are why Wine Enthusiast has listed Black Kite among “America’s Best Pinot Noirs.” From winemaker Jeff Gaffner—who helped Château St. Jean take home a Wine Spectator Wine of the Year award—it’s a high-elevation Pinot from a coveted Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard that had us all-in from the first sip. 

For years, Wine Access members have been all-in on Black Kite too, calling their wines “an outstanding value” and “competitive with wines costing 2 to 3 times” as much. Our allocation of Black Kite’s 2016 Sierra Mar Pinot lasted mere hours—and according to Vinous, the 2017 boasts that same sellout-inspiring quality, with even more power. 

Black Kite only made 196 cases, and thanks to our members’ enthusiasm, we’ve got exclusive access and an unbeatable discount—up to 21% off. This Pinot delivers the kind of uncompromising quality you normally expect from California’s cult producers, and $80+ bottles that disappear in high-profile cellars as soon as they’re released. 

Black Kite “handled the 2017 vintage with aplomb, producing concentrated yet lively wines,” said Vinous. With spellbinding harmony, the 2017 Sierra Mar Pinot is an exemplar of red- and black-fruited intricacy, complete with herbal spice and velvety tannins. Vinous praised it as “juicy and focused,” with “fine definition,” and Jeb Dunnuck said, “I love the overall balance here.”

At more than 1,000 feet above sea level, Sierra Mar is one of the highest-elevation vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands, a picturesque landscape of ridges and mesas that catch the golden sunlight. Its thin soils encourage deep root systems, low yields, and highly-concentrated grapes, begetting such bold yet graceful bottlings that it’s rare to find single-vineyard Sierra Mar Pinots for less than $50. Aged 17 months in 50% new French oak, Black Kite’s 2017 has that same polish and expressiveness at a stunning value. 

It reminds us of the Black Kite from all those years ago, the one that got Robert Redford so excited he just had to share it. And today,we're passing on that enthusiastic recommendation to you. If we can borrow Mr. Redford’s words: This is a wine you have to know. We have a feeling you'll love it too.