Winemaker Notes
The 2023 vintage bursts with vibrant aromas of sweet cherry and darker raspberry fruit while subtle herbal and loamy notes speak to its terroir. Silky, fine-grained tannins support lovely flavors of plum, mineral and spicy nuances all wrapped in a richly textured finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Very rich aromas of black cherry compote and French toast spices are very comforting and inviting on the nose of this bottling. Firm tannins wrap around the black cherry, cola and toasted herb flavors of the creamy palate.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Clearly outstanding, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is a ripe, polished, medium-bodied Pinot Noir with beautiful purity in its red and blackberry fruits, spice, and savory, flower-like aromatics. It has a kiss of classic Sta. Rita's marine-like salinity, notable purity, and a terrific sense of finesse. Brought up 10 months in 35% new French oak, it will easily keep through 2033.
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.