Today we present a Napa house founded back in 2013 by professional golfing icon and sommelier Cristie Kerr. Cristie first fell in love with wine on a visit to Napa Valley in 2000. She was seduced by the tranquil hills, rustic old-world charm, and extraordinary ‘Old World’ wines. Seven years later, Cristie joined forces with Suzanne Pride Bryan of Pride Mountain Vineyards to create Curvature Wines. Curvature is a range of boutique wines whose profits support breast cancer research. Showered with praise upon release, Curvature Wines found immediate industry acclaim. The wines were featured on the lists at distinguished restaurants, clubs, cellars, and even served at the White House. Building on Curvature’s success, Cristie launched Kerr Cellars in 2013 with partner Erik Stevens and highly acclaimed winemaker Helen Keplinger.
The new wines were fantastic across the board. I adored the 2021 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which was big and bold, with plenty of salty character. I love the 2021 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is a complex knockout Cabernet — one that is very powerful yet has brilliant finesse and nuance. Learn more about these great wines at kerrcellars.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Kerr.
2023 Kerr Sauvignon Blanc- The delicious and vibrant 2023 Kerr Sauvignon Blanc offers lemon zest and kiwi on the palate alongside flint and shades of kumquat zest. This has really good flavor range and flavor density. Nicely textured and very fresh, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2021 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay is a beautiful new wine by winemaker Helen Keplinger. The wine combines Old Wente and 543 Chardonnay Clones and was stored for only 12 months in 33% new French oak before bottling. On the nose this takes on layers of baking spice laced pie crust alongside golden delicious apple, creme brûlée and notes of butterscotch. The palate is wonderfully salty and stony with a seamless texture and great sense of length. This is going to age gracefully — enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2022 Kerr ‘5 Wells Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 5 Wells Vineyard is located in the Sonoma Coast AVA and was founded in 2015 by Crawford and Jane Selina Kwon Wells of Sebastopol. This site sits in the Petaluma Gap, as this opens with freshly cut limes, vanilla cream, brioche and shades of passion fruit on the palate, giving this plenty of exotic appeal. Medium to full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2021 Kerr ‘Rued Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Rued Vineyard is an acclaimed Sonoma Coast site that was stored for 16 months in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. Baking spices and wet stone mark the nose alongside suggestions of brioche and Japanese pear. The palate is very fresh and mineral-laden with a smooth texture. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2022 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Very deeply colored and perfumed, the 2022 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ opens with bright red fruits and lavender alongside salt dusted orange peel and a whiff of cola. Medium to full-bodied, showing good freshness, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2024- 93
2022 Kerr ‘Silver Eagle Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Planted by famed grower Ulises Valdez, the Silver Eagle Vineyard is a Sonoma Coast site set on a unique combination of Goldridge mix with red shale soils. Very deep and dark in the glass, this 2022 Pinot Noir opens with wild blackberry and shades of black truffle with tangerine peel on the nose alongside violet rose petals. The palate is soft and refined with serious texture and underlying verve. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2021 Curvature Red Wine- The 2021 Curvature Red Wine combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. This is soft and fresh on the mouth, showing bitter chocolate and tar notes alongside black currants and shades of black licorice on the palate. Medium-bodied and showing good freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92
2019 Kerr Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Kerr Cabernet Sauvignon is a sturdy wine from a great vintage. Molten chocolate and blackberry compote mark the palate alongside dusty soils and suggestions of coffee e grounds. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92
2019 Kerr ‘Wappo Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Wappo Vineyard is a complex and inky edition of this wine coming from this outstanding site. Inky in the glass, this delivers exotic spice and anise notes on the nose alongside shades of creosote and creme de violette. The palate is elegant and rich with great tension and graphite underpinnings alongside a generous core of black and blue fruits. Fantastic now in its heady youth, enjoy over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 96
2021 Kerr ‘Mast Ranch Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Mast Ranch Vineyard is set on silt loam with alluvial rock. This moderate climate is cooled by marine influence and fog from the San Pablo Bay. An ultra-dark core, this delivers pencil lead and violets on the palate alongside creme de cassis, sandalwood and boysenberry compote flavors. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 96
2021 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A knockout wine from this hallowed valley floor site, the 2021 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers middle eastern spices, lavender and black currant cordial on the palate alongside dark chocolate shavings and loamy soils on the palate. Full-bodied, with good freshness and power, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97
2017 Kerr ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Reserve’ is mainly comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon coming from Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III and Red Hen Vineyard as well as 30% Merlot from Nine Suns/Houyi Vineyard. It is plush and ripe on the mouth, showing a beautiful texture. Creme de violette, tobacco leaf and freshly tilled soils all combine with graphite and dark currants on the palate. Full-bodied and exceedingly well-balanced, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 96