Wow! 15.4% alcohol is on the outer reaches, but Wes Hagen’s farming techniques allow for a range of possibilities with the grape, and this wine succeeds as a rich, ripe example of how to blend two clones and elevate the best elements of both. The Dijon 115 clone brings elegance and damp earth gravity, and the Pommard clone brings bright, red fruit intensity and spice. I’d drink this now as a soloist for all of its freshness and depth.
WALT Wines, Sta. Rita Hills (California) Pinot Noir 2012
By Rich Cook