Walt 2012 La Brisa Sonoma Pinot Noir
WALT Wines, owned by Vintners Kathryn Walt Hall and Craig Hall, produces 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. Kathryn’s parents, Bob & Dolores Walt, were dedicated winegrowers who loved the land and each other. Her family produced six different varietals that was sold to several great wineries. For Kathryn’s parents, growing grapes was a shared family vision.
In 2009, Hall partnered with Roger and Richard Roessler, brothers who sought the finest vineyard sources along the Pacific Coast to make a portfolio of small-production lots of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The initial phase of the partnership was to continue to craft wines from their prize vineyard sources under Hall’s team of expert winemakers and in their precision winemaking facilities. The combination of excellent fruit, masterful winemaking, and state-of-the-art equipment allowed Hall to produce special wines of great character and individuality. As Hall began sharing these wines with others, Craig and Kathryn felt it was fitting to commemorate her parents in this new endeavor and WALT Wines was born.
Opened a bottle of the 2012, with grapes sourced from several select vineyards, including Gap’s Crown, aged in French oak (40% new), I noted rich aromas of lively red fruit, ripe cherries and raspberries with a hint of baking spice. The vivid ruby wine was bursting with juicy ripe red berry flavors, smooth, silky and sophisticated on the palate, with a warming touch of oak, soft tannins, balanced acidity, minerality, and cinnamon spice on the pleasant long lingering finish. I really liked the 2011, maybe the 2012 is a touch better? You decide!
Cheers!