Walt Clos Pepe Pinot Noir 2012
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Robert
Parker -
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
More in the style of the 2010, with a voluptuous, fruit-loaded profile, the 2012 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe is loaded with notions of blue fruits, crushed flowers and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, with brilliant precision and focus, it shows the richness and purity of the vintage and should be ready to go on release, yet also age gracefully. Drink 2014-2022.
Range: 89-92 -
Wine Enthusiast
The aromas are super spicy, with cinnamon-glazed sour cherries proving most dominant. On the palate, black cherry and beet juice pair up with black tea, before culminating in a remarkably long and tantalizing spice-driving finish.
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Wine Spectator
Exhibits a rich, savory core of dark berry, mocha and roasted coffee notes, with subtle violet and wilted rose accents. Gains depth, length and traction on the finish. Drink now through 2022.
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WALT is dedicated to the production of premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Pacific Coast's most distinctive vineyard sites, spanning nearly 1000 miles and including Sta. Rita Hills, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, and the Willamette Valley. Their philosophy is that of precision, non-interventionist winemaking, thereby allowing the wines to naturally and honestly express the character of the site where the wines are grown. Under the artisanship of Director of Winemaking Steve Leveque and Winemaker Megan Gunderson, WALT Wines will continue to evolve and develop.
Located in the heart of Sonoma, just off the historic Sonoma Plaza, WALT Wines focuses on sourcing Pinot Noir fruit from premiere appellations stretching from Oregon's Willamette Valley to the Santa Rita Hills in California to craft the finest wines possible.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.