Cellar Selection

Walt 2012 Gap’s Crown Vineyard 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, aged in French oak (65% new), I was delighted with approaching aromas of lively red fruit, cherries and raspberries with a hint of sweet-smelling spice.  The deep ruby wine was bursting with red berry flavors, silky smooth and refined on the palate, bringing forth the vibrant red fruit, with the slightest touch of oak and earthy tones coming through. The wine had great balance and pleasant long lingering finish. Tried this at a tasting and was blown away, bought a few bottles home and opened another, which is drinking great now, another year would certainly add more roundness, but I am not sure I have the patience!

Cheers!