Super happy I tried this Walt Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley. It was $36.99 at my Costco, so I was really hoping for a great and memorable wine, and that’s exactly what I found.
Retail price on this bottle ranges from $40-$46 if you bounce between Wine.com and Wine Enthusiast; plus the latter gave the wine a nice 92 point rating. And I might fall right in that ball park. This is some impressive Pinot that is definitely a major step up in terms of complexity and depth from what you find in the $15-$20 range.
There’s a lot going on right from the get go; the aromatics can be picked up several inches from the glass; all spice, nutmeg, a little smoke and anise; stick your nose deeper in the glass and the aromas are magnified. I was impressed from the start with this wine.
In the mouth, it’s a meaty and smoky Pinot, loaded with character and heft that will attract fans of more robust red wines. So all you Cab/Bordeaux drinkers out there, here’s a solid U.S. Pinot built just for you.
That said, there’s finesse to the presentation; flavors of blueberry, blackberry, black tea and cola; medium to full in body but lightly tannic. The real beauty here is the finish. It goes on and on. A beautiful lingering finish that is undeniable and clearly what I will remember most about this wine.
Rockstar winemaker Kathryn Hall, proprietor of Hall Wines, is also the proprietor of Walt Wines, and as indicated on the back of the label she produces the Walt wine series in celebration of her parents of the same name. I’ve always enjoyed Hall wines, and now I have a whole new line to explore and enjoy.
This is an instant addition to our Top Picks list. Sure, this wine isn’t cheap at $37, but is it worth it? In my opinion, I’d say a resounding yes. If you’re considering buying two $15 bottles of Pinot or one bottle of this, I’d say in this case, you’d better served swimming a little further upstream.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 points
Costco item number: 829374
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Alc. 14.9%
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Also, if you’re thinking about buying a book about Spanish wine, you need to wait a couple of weeks. We are so so close to releasing our latest wine book. It’s the best one we’ve done yet, with over two years of effort put into it. We can’t wait to share it with you.