94 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Palate 93 Points, Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic 92 Points, Billy Norris, Vinous Media 91 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
This wine is rich with aromas of dark cherry, briary fruits, and loamy earth. The smooth, silky palate gains extra depth from the inclusion of roasted stems during fermentation, enhancing the structural tension and spice notes of the wine. Dark fruit flavors lead to a finish graced with notes of licorice, clove, and black tea.
Winegrowing Notes
A unique set of vineyards from ‘The Corner’ of Anderson Valley is located in the hills to the East of Boonville. Anderson Creek and Donnelly Creek, both estate properties, have steep hillsides, aspect, and light gravelly soils that combine to create optimal ripening conditions. These very rugged vineyard sites continuously produce fruit of great depth and character.
Vintage Growing Season
Remarkably cool and late, the 2023 vintage produced wines of singular character and quality. The winter season started wet, with record rainstorms and mountaintop snowfall, leaving aquifers full and vines healthy. A cool spring indicated the later harvest to come, with a late start to budbreak and a long flowering period on the vines that was accompanied by wildflower super blooms. Through mild summer temperatures, the vines set an ample crop load with strong canopy growth. After patient waiting and long hang times, warm weather came at just the right moment in the fall to push ripeness to completion, resulting in wines that are deep, vital, and age-worthy.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Anderson Valley
Vineyards: Anderson Creek and Donnelly Creek (both Estate)
Clones: Dijon 667, 777, 828, Pommard 115, 114
Aging: 10 months in 35% New French Oak (François Frères)
Alcohol: 14.9%
Winemakers: Megan Gunderson and Alison Frichtl Hollister
What’s Included
2-bottles:
2x 2023 WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley Case:
12x 2023 WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
WALT Wines is a passion for producing wines of a place – Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Pacific Coast’s most distinctive vineyard sites. Owned by Kathryn Hall, WALT celebrates her parents Bob and Dolores Walt, who first purchased a vineyard in Mendocino’s Redwood Valley in the 1970s. It was there Kathryn found a passion for viticulture and wine. Today, spanning over 1,000 miles, the WALT portfolio of vineyards includes the Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Willamette Valley appellations. Each of its estate vineyards are Certified Sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
I am happy review this nice wine. I generally love Pinot Noir and I generally drink them from the the CA central coast – Santa Rita Hills area. This is an Anderson Valley wine and it decidedly more full bodied than I am used to.
Color: Deep red, almost purple. Pretty in the glass.
Nose: Right when you pour it, you get cherry and something almost like spice cake. There’s also a bit of an earthy, outdoorsy smell in there – kind of like leaves or earth, but in a good way.
Taste: This is a rich, full wine. Lots of dark cherry and blueberry flavors, with some spice that hangs around at the end. There’s also a little bit of a smoky, tea-like quality that I wasn’t expecting but really liked (from what I have read the wine is made with roasted stems in the fermentation process). It’s smooth and easy to drink but is still a full-bodied wine with a high 14.9% alcohol percentage.
The verdict: If you’re looking for a solid Pinot Noir that’s got some depth without being too heavy or complicated, this is a good pick. It’s the kind of wine that works great with dinner (pork or chicken) but is also nice enough to just have on its own. The critics gave it 92-94 points – it’s well-made and a good buy at this price offering.
2023 WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
94 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Palate
93 Points, Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic
92 Points, Billy Norris, Vinous Media
91 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
Winegrowing Notes
Vintage Growing Season
Specs
What’s Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$646.50/Case for 12x 2023 WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley at WALT Wines
About The Winery
Anderson Valley Vineyards
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jan 12 - Tuesday, Jan 13
2023 WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir
2 bottles for $74.99 $37.50/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $359.99 $30/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Roasted stems?! Is that a thing?
Also, how does a long and cool growing season yield 14.9% alcohol in supposedly one of the cooler spots in California for growing Pinot?
@klezman lol, the math doesn’t work.
@CorTot @klezman
and looking at purchases, they seem associated with Hall; fwiw
WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir 2023 – Anderson Valley
I am happy review this nice wine. I generally love Pinot Noir and I generally drink them from the the CA central coast – Santa Rita Hills area. This is an Anderson Valley wine and it decidedly more full bodied than I am used to.
Color: Deep red, almost purple. Pretty in the glass.
Nose: Right when you pour it, you get cherry and something almost like spice cake. There’s also a bit of an earthy, outdoorsy smell in there – kind of like leaves or earth, but in a good way.
Taste: This is a rich, full wine. Lots of dark cherry and blueberry flavors, with some spice that hangs around at the end. There’s also a little bit of a smoky, tea-like quality that I wasn’t expecting but really liked (from what I have read the wine is made with roasted stems in the fermentation process). It’s smooth and easy to drink but is still a full-bodied wine with a high 14.9% alcohol percentage.
The verdict: If you’re looking for a solid Pinot Noir that’s got some depth without being too heavy or complicated, this is a good pick. It’s the kind of wine that works great with dinner (pork or chicken) but is also nice enough to just have on its own. The critics gave it 92-94 points – it’s well-made and a good buy at this price offering.