Today we share the brilliant wines of WALT, named after Kathryn Hall's parents, Bob and Dolores Walt. Together the Walts were originally vintners and were a source of daily inspiration for her. WALT crafts their wines from some Pacific Coast's most distinctive vineyards from Sonoma to Oregon. For those who love Pinot Noir, this is a rare chance to try an incredible range of wines that showcase these incredible vineyards. I love loved these wines since their inception.
A few weeks ago I met with HALL vice president of winemaking Megan Gunderson who shared the latest set of wines from the 2023 vintage. These are amazing renditions of Pinot Noir from Oregon to Sonoma. Once again I adored the 2023 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is a world-class expression of California Pinot Noir. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.waltwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by WALT.
2023 WALT ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Shea Vineyard’ shows pretty red roes petals that mingle well with orange peel, bergamot and suggestions of damp soils. Light cola and black raspberry notes mingle well on the palate, with beautiful finesse. Drinking well now, watch this evolve now and over the next fifteen years. Pommard, Wadenswil and 115 clonal selections. Drink 2024-2039- 94
2023 WALT ‘Blue Jay’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Blue Jay’ comes from two sites in the Anderson Valley (mainly Anderson Creek Vineyard) outside the town of Boonville. Wild blackberry and black cherry and shades of gran-cola. They incorporate roasted stems in the blend as this offers refined tannins with bright red and dark fruits, with salty soils and a smooth texture. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2023 WALT ‘Clos Pepe’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Clos Pepe’ come from this outstanding site in the Santa Barbara region. Salty red raspberry and red cherry notes combine with orange peel and diatomaceous earth on the nose. The palate is rich and dense with loads of salinity, with pomegranate seed and fresh sage. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2023 WALT ‘Sierra Mar’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Sierra Mar’ Pinot Noir come from this site owned by the Francioni family as the high-elevation site was formerly a cattle ranch. Pisoni clone Pinot Noir is planted here, as this opens with back florals alongside sandy soils. The palate shows loads of mouth-watering acidity with kumquat zest and rose water with shades of menthol. Drink 2024-2036- 94
2023 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir- This wine comes from this famed 75 acre Sonoma Valley site that was developed by Paul Hobbes and Ulysses Valdez. The site has a range of California heritage selections as the location was formerly owned by the Peterson family. On the nose this takes on layers of cola and crushed wildflowers alongside bergamot, black cherry compote and suggestions of wild blackberry. The palate is refined and elegant with plenty of depth and black truffle shavings. Deep, concentrated and loaded with finesse, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 96