2021 WALT Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Critic Review
"Powerful aromas of dark cherry, strawberry jam and crushed star anise make for a hedonistic nose on this bottling. The palate ranges from black cherry to baked berry, with cardamom and more star anise as well as a firm tannic frame standing in the background."
93 Points | Owen Bargreen
"Mainly sourced from the Clos Pepe Vineyard, the 2021 WALT ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir reveals salty red fruits with orange rind and baking spices on the nose. The palate is lithe and fresh with a great sense of underlying salinity. Plush and round with refined tannins, this is gratifying Pinot Noir to enjoy now and over the next eight plus years."

Central Coast AVA
Roughly 250 miles along the coastline of California
from Santa Barbara County to San Francisco County
Sta. Rita Hills
Follows a clearly defined maritime “throat” that
ushers in the Pacific fog and constant cooling breezes.
Sandy Loam Soils
Cause vines to produce grapes with powerful varietal
character
This wine's expressive perfume of ripe, vibrant fruit is underscored by notes of garrigue herbs and spicy clove. A fresh, lively structure complements the ripe cherry and pomegranate flavors. Bold and charged with energy, the wine finishes with a hint of salinity.
Garrigue Herbs
Spicy Clove
Ripe Cherry
Pomegranate
Our Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is crafted from a blend of vineyards that express the unique character of this region. From rolling hills to high elevation sites, the vines are exposed to fog and cooling ocean breezes. The resulting wine is rich, spicy and bursting with concentrated flavors.
Bottle Size | 750mL |
---|---|
Varietal Composition | 100% Pinot Noir |
Barrel Aging | 10 Months in 40% New French Oak (François Frères) |
Appellation | Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County |
Vineyard | Clos Pepe and Vineyard Partners |
Vintage Notes | The alluring 2021 vintage is remarkable for its low yields, which resulted in an extra degree of concentration in our wines. In a second year of drought, the vines grew quickly in the warm spring weather while our team judiciously managed watering block by block. By summer, the vines had set a lighter than average crop, and cooler weather in August allowed time for vineyard passes to finetune the fruit load and manage the canopy. After a smooth harvest season, we are excited about the flavor-packed 2021's. |