WALT Wines, owned by Kathryn Hall and Craig Hall, is dedicated to the production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Pacific Coast, spanning nearly 1000 miles and including Sta. Rita Hills, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, Napa Valley, and the Willamette Valley. They strive to source top fruit from the most distinctive vineyards; practice precise, non-interventionist winemaking; and focus on limited production. The goal is to allow the wines to naturally and honestly express the character of the sites where the wines are grown.
WALT Wines are named after Kathryn Hall’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt. They were dedicated wine-grape growers who produced six different varietals that were sold to several well-known wineries. For the Walts, growing grapes was the satisfaction of a hard day’s work and the feeling of peace walking through the vineyard before sunset. Kathryn Hall managed the vineyard operations herself from 1982 until 1992.
In 2010 WALT expanded from grape farming to wine production. Today, the winemaking team, led by General Manager Jeff Zappelli, work in a state-of-the-art winemaking facility aided by a passionate winery staff and strong vineyard partners.
WALT’s methodology includes: night harvesting; hand sorting every berry; whole cluster pressing of Chardonnay; native yeast fermentation; barrel aging on lees to create more texture, richness, and complexity; and weekly batonnage and topping during the decidedly long malolactic fermentation. The wines are neither fined nor filtered. This can result in a bit of haze, but it is in keeping with the idea that the wine was made with the least intervention and with the highest-quality intentions. By sourcing fruit from quality growers and by utilizing the state-of-the-art winemaking facilities at HALL Wines, they strive to make the best wine possible, while keeping extremely limited production levels.
WALT’s estate vineyard, Bob’s Ranch, was purchased by the Halls in 2014 and is located in the heart of the Petaluma Wind Gap on highway 116 just south of Sebastapol.
The Senior Winemaker for WALT Wines
The Senior Winemaker for WALT Wines is Alison Frichtl Hollister. Moving to the Willamette Valley, Oregon as a teenager, Hollister had an early introduction to wine culture. Her first harvest was at Etude Wines in 2006, and she promptly settled in Napa.
In 2008 she joined HALL wines as Enologist. She became Assistant Winemaker in 2012. In 2016 she was promoted to Winemaker for BACA Zinfandel. Finally, in 2020 she became Senior Winemaker for HALL, WALT, and BACA Wines.
WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir 2022
This bottling is 100% Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley, and was barrel aged 14 months in 35% new French oak barrels. In the glass, it is transparent purple garnet in color.
The nose features blueberry and raspberry, with hints of blackberry and clove. On the palate, the dominant flavor is cherry, supported by plenty of tannins. Although medium bodied, there is a long finish, with the flavors nicely balancing out the tannins.
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