Ceritas

Overview

Ceritas is a small Sonoma Coast winery founded by John Raytek and Phoebe Bass, focused on mineral, site-expressive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast and surrounding appellations. The style is firmly Burgundian in inspiration — low-alcohol, high-acid, fermented with native yeasts, minimal intervention. Ceritas has become one of the reference addresses for serious California Pinot and Chardonnay outside of the hedonistic/extracted camp.

Vineyards include: Zephyr (Chardonnay, Fort Ross-Seaview), Porter-Bass (mixed), Charles Heintz (Chardonnay).

Key Wines

• Chardonnay “Zephyr Vineyard” — Fort Ross-Seaview; mineral, salty, structured; flagship white
• Chardonnay “Charles Heintz Vineyard” — Sonoma Coast; more plush but still precise
• Pinot Noir “Porter-Bass” — mixed terroir; red-fruited, light, elegant

My Cellar

42 total bottles (21 recent). 2024-vintage: 15 bottles — second-largest single 2024-vintage position in cellar.

• Chardonnay: majority of position

Consumption Notes

• Chardonnay Zephyr 2019 (Jun 2021): “Buy a lot more.” — very strong endorsement.

Style Notes

Ceritas occupies the same conceptual space as Burgundy: site first, variety second, winemaking third. Low-intervention, minimal oak influence. The Zephyr Chardonnay is one of California’s most Chablis-like whites. Excellent value relative to Burgundy grand cru whites.

My Tastings

(formal notes to be added)

Sources

(No article sources yet — profile derived from CellarTracker data)