Dec 30, 2022
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Zepaltas Wines
| Owner(s) | Ryan Zepaltas |
| Web site | www.zepaltaswines.com |
| Link to this site |
Ryan Zepaltas is a young winemaker who learned winemaking on the job at La Crema, Villa Maria in New Zealand, and later as an assistant winemaker at Siduri where he still works today. He began his own label with the 2005 vintage.
Ryan crafts small lots of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in an urban winery in Santa Rosa.
He is also the winemaker for Soliste.
Tasting by appointment. The wines are offered through a newsletter and there is limited retail distribution.
Articles About Zepaltas Wines
New Faces (6.61 7/7/2008)
Part IV: Tasting Pinot Noir from the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA (9.28 8/14/2013)
Recent Sips of Pinot Noir (9.21 3/23/2013)
Small Sips of Pinot (6.58 5/7/2008)
Small Sips of Sonoma Coast (6.63 8/4/2008)
Zepaltas Wines (7.6 11/17/2008)
Reviewed Wines
2013 Zepaltas Devoto Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 72 cases, $46. Vineyard is located in
the Sebastopol Hills. Owner and farmer Stan Devotois is a noted organic apple who planted this vineyard in
2006 on Gold Ridge Road. 50% whole cluster fermentation. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, 33% new.
·
Light cherry red color in the glass. Aromas of red cherry, brick, sandalwood and toast lead to a light weighted
wine with delicate flavors of red cherry and raspberry. A demure wine with appealing finesse with gossamer
tannins, but lacking a bit of mid palate impact and finishing power.
Score: 89.
Reviewed April 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2011 Zepaltas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.60, 219 cases, $31. A blend of fruit from
four vineyards. Aged 14 months in 33% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the
glass. Aromas of cherries, red berries, and spice with a slight pungent note. Light and delicate with soft
tannins, featuring cherry, red raspberry and strawberry flavors with a flowery note in the background. Decent.
Reviewed March 23, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Zepaltas La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.60, 98 cases, $42.
Seventh vintage from this vineyard. 115, Pommard and 114 clones. Aged 14 months in 33% new French oak
barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Light reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is expressive, offering
aromas of dark berries, plum, cooked cherries and a hint of fecundity. Light in weight with an elegant
demeanor, offering flavors of red raspberries and strawberries with a pleasing savory riff. A charming wine with
a delicate finish. Good (+).
Reviewed March 23, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Zepaltas Nunes Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.60, 48 cases,
$42. Clones 777 and 115. Aged 14 months in 40% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate
reddish-purple color in the glass. A melange of aromas including dusty dark cherries, blueberries, rose petal,
cocoa and a hint of straw. An elegant, easy drinking wine with the tasty essence of fresh cherries with a touch
of spice and oak. Light in weight, with gossamer tannins, and a kiss of cherry on the finish. Good.
Reviewed March 23, 2013
ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 107 cases, $39. An appellation blend to be released in February, 2009.
·
A chameleon of a nose, changing constantly in the glass. Black cherry, raspberry, oak char and spice, Provencal herbs, white pepper and a little barnyard. Redder fruits on the palate including currants and cranberries with a hint of oak and roasted tomato. Bright and crisp with a slight citric tang on the refreshing finish. My family gulped the rest of this bottle down in nothing flat.
Reviewed November 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas W.E. Bottoms Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 97 cases, $47. Clones 114, 115, 667 and 777. To be released February, 2009.
·
Demure aromas of cherries, dried flowers, herbs and oak. Appealing core of wild berries and edible flowers with svelte tannins, admirable finesse and good lift on the persistent finish. A feminine wine that is light on its feet, soft and silky and quite likable. Currently not as showy as the excellent 2006 version of this wine, but time in the bottle will change this.
Reviewed November 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas LaCruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., 97
cases, $48. Clones 114, 115. Aged 11 months in 40% new French oak.
·
Fresh
berries, oak char and a hint of good Pinot funk on the nose. Succulent fresh
flavors of berry tart, cranberries, dry cherries and toasty oak. Admirable elegance,
soft in the mouth, and bright acidity on the refreshing finish. While the above
wine (Suacci Vineyard) demands contemplating, this wine is more adaptable to
the dinner table.
Reviewed November 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc.,
145 cases, $49. Suacci owner John D. Suacci has enlisted the services
of noted farmer Charlie Heintz to manage the vineyard and improve
yields and balance in the grapes. Aged in 38% new French oak for 11
months.
·
Spirited aromas of black cherries, wild flowers, hay and oak that
rocket out of the glass. Delicious and vibrant blackberry and ollalliberry
fruit with some other intriguing flavors I can’t pinpoint. Beautifully herbed
and spiced and perfectly balanced, this is a wine of great nuance that makes you
sit up and take notice. I loved this wine!
Reviewed November 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Zapaltas La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.,
$43.
·
A perfectly fine appellation wine showing the best qualities of the cool
Sonoma Coast. Nicely spiced red fruits, silky texture, and lively acidity to match
up well with food. Just fine the next day from a re-corked opened bottle. Sold
through the website, with limited retail distribution.
Reviewed August 4, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Zepaltas W.E. Bottoms Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $45.
·
Light red in color. Bright aromatics that change constantly in
the glass and exhibit cherries, strawberries, smoke, oak, and herbs. Lighterweighted,
the wine has lacy, delicate cherry and raspberry fruit with slippery
tannins and bright acidity. An outstanding food wine and highly recommended
for those who appreciate a restrained and “angular” Pinot Noir.
Reviewed May 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Zepaltas Wines La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5%
alc., 137 cases, $47. Clones 114 and 115 picked one month apart. Aged for
11 months in 50% new oak.
·
Rich and sumptuous cherry nose. Sleek, silky
and seductive. Plentiful red Pinot fruits nicely spiced from start to finish.
Sampled at home and was still drinking beautifully the next day from a recorked
open bottle. Highly recommended.
Reviewed July 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2013 Zepaltas Devoto Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 72 cases, $46. Vineyard is located in the Sebastopol Hills. Owner and farmer Stan Devotois is a noted organic apple who planted this vineyard in 2006 on Gold Ridge Road. 50% whole cluster fermentation. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. · Light cherry red color in the glass. Aromas of red cherry, brick, sandalwood and toast lead to a light weighted wine with delicate flavors of red cherry and raspberry. A demure wine with appealing finesse with gossamer tannins, but lacking a bit of mid palate impact and finishing power. Score: 89. Reviewed April 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2011 Zepaltas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.60, 219 cases, $31. A blend of fruit from four vineyards. Aged 14 months in 33% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of cherries, red berries, and spice with a slight pungent note. Light and delicate with soft tannins, featuring cherry, red raspberry and strawberry flavors with a flowery note in the background. Decent. Reviewed March 23, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Zepaltas La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.60, 98 cases, $42. Seventh vintage from this vineyard. 115, Pommard and 114 clones. Aged 14 months in 33% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Light reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is expressive, offering aromas of dark berries, plum, cooked cherries and a hint of fecundity. Light in weight with an elegant demeanor, offering flavors of red raspberries and strawberries with a pleasing savory riff. A charming wine with a delicate finish. Good (+). Reviewed March 23, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Zepaltas Nunes Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.60, 48 cases, $42. Clones 777 and 115. Aged 14 months in 40% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. A melange of aromas including dusty dark cherries, blueberries, rose petal, cocoa and a hint of straw. An elegant, easy drinking wine with the tasty essence of fresh cherries with a touch of spice and oak. Light in weight, with gossamer tannins, and a kiss of cherry on the finish. Good. Reviewed March 23, 2013 ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 107 cases, $39. An appellation blend to be released in February, 2009. · A chameleon of a nose, changing constantly in the glass. Black cherry, raspberry, oak char and spice, Provencal herbs, white pepper and a little barnyard. Redder fruits on the palate including currants and cranberries with a hint of oak and roasted tomato. Bright and crisp with a slight citric tang on the refreshing finish. My family gulped the rest of this bottle down in nothing flat. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas W.E. Bottoms Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 97 cases, $47. Clones 114, 115, 667 and 777. To be released February, 2009. · Demure aromas of cherries, dried flowers, herbs and oak. Appealing core of wild berries and edible flowers with svelte tannins, admirable finesse and good lift on the persistent finish. A feminine wine that is light on its feet, soft and silky and quite likable. Currently not as showy as the excellent 2006 version of this wine, but time in the bottle will change this. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas LaCruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., 97 cases, $48. Clones 114, 115. Aged 11 months in 40% new French oak. · Fresh berries, oak char and a hint of good Pinot funk on the nose. Succulent fresh flavors of berry tart, cranberries, dry cherries and toasty oak. Admirable elegance, soft in the mouth, and bright acidity on the refreshing finish. While the above wine (Suacci Vineyard) demands contemplating, this wine is more adaptable to the dinner table. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2007 Zepaltas Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., 145 cases, $49. Suacci owner John D. Suacci has enlisted the services of noted farmer Charlie Heintz to manage the vineyard and improve yields and balance in the grapes. Aged in 38% new French oak for 11 months. · Spirited aromas of black cherries, wild flowers, hay and oak that rocket out of the glass. Delicious and vibrant blackberry and ollalliberry fruit with some other intriguing flavors I can’t pinpoint. Beautifully herbed and spiced and perfectly balanced, this is a wine of great nuance that makes you sit up and take notice. I loved this wine! Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Zapaltas La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $43. · A perfectly fine appellation wine showing the best qualities of the cool Sonoma Coast. Nicely spiced red fruits, silky texture, and lively acidity to match up well with food. Just fine the next day from a re-corked opened bottle. Sold through the website, with limited retail distribution. Reviewed August 4, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Zepaltas W.E. Bottoms Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $45. · Light red in color. Bright aromatics that change constantly in the glass and exhibit cherries, strawberries, smoke, oak, and herbs. Lighterweighted, the wine has lacy, delicate cherry and raspberry fruit with slippery tannins and bright acidity. An outstanding food wine and highly recommended for those who appreciate a restrained and “angular” Pinot Noir. Reviewed May 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Zepaltas Wines La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 137 cases, $47. Clones 114 and 115 picked one month apart. Aged for 11 months in 50% new oak. · Rich and sumptuous cherry nose. Sleek, silky and seductive. Plentiful red Pinot fruits nicely spiced from start to finish. Sampled at home and was still drinking beautifully the next day from a recorked open bottle. Highly recommended. Reviewed July 7, 2008 ARTICLE »