Clos Pepe Estate, Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills

Lots of life left in this wine. Plenty of that fresh ripe Santa Rita Hills fruit, plenty tannins all balanced with a mouth watering acidity. Think is a testament to Wes Hagan’s winemaking and why I’ve maintained it’s an American Grand Cru Vineyard!!!

2009 vintage

Decanted (the cork broke) and tasted from a Zalto. Aromas of apple skin, Jolly Rancher, and Red Vines, transitioning to sweet red peppers, wet leaves, and mushrooms with air. Zesty on the palate, like a brut rosé, with a slightly sweet finish.

2009 vintage

Retail $50. Heavy Bottle (625g; 22.0oz). Under cork. I had this a month ago, and one might expect, there are similar notes. This wine is fabulous and I am both happy that I have more of the wine, but saddened that is but a single bottle. Outstanding. 95 Points. www.thedrunkencyclist.com

2009 vintage

Retail $50. Heavy Bottle (625g; 22.0oz). Under cork. After last night's 2010, I decided to go to the well again, this time to the 2009. Whoa. Equally as compelling as its younger sibling, this is simply joyous. Medium color with still *tons* of tart red berry fruit, just gorgeous on the nose, with some eucalyptus, and just a touch of spice. Yowza. The palate is tart, even really tart, with oodles upon oodles of cherry, boysenberry, and even a hint …

2009 vintage

I agree with my tasting note of ten months ago !! Still tasting good, nicely balanced, at or just past peak !! A perfect cork that was easily removed after over a dozen years in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Good deep dark burgundy color with excellent clarity with only minor oxidation. The Los Pepe estate vineyard which is located in the Santa Rita Hills planted to Dijon 115, 667 and 777 and Pommard clones of Pinot Noir. Aromas …

2009 vintage

At age 16 this is moving away from fruit and into more savory territory. It's just starting to get that picked character that old Pinot can get, but it's only an echo right now. So this is definitely at the end of its journey and you should not hesitate to drink it now. Still has a rich nose of spice and evergreen though.

2009 vintage

Still hanging in there, very balanced, at peak !! A perfect cork that was easily removed after over a dozen years in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Good deep dark burgundy color with excellent clarity with only minor oxidation. The Los Pepe estate vineyard which is located in the Santa Rita Hills planted to Dijon 115, 667 and 777 and Pommard clones of Pinot Noir. Aromas of red raspberry, cola, cherry. Flavors of red berries and black cherry with …

2009 vintage

Retail $50. Somewhat haphazardly I discovered tonight on Facebook that Catherine Pepe, mother of Wes Hagen, died today. Catherine was married to Steve Pepe, owner of Clos Pepe, the vineyard where Wes once yielded his magic thief. I only met Catherine once, but she was so gracious, kind, welcoming, and just *good* that it made an indelible mark on both me and my wife. The world is a less-good place today with her passing. www.thedrunkencyclist.com

2009 vintage

Oxidized.

2009 vintage

Retail $60. Under cork. I was a member of Clos Pepe for years, right up until it shut its doors following the 2014 vintage. Over the years, I purchased close to 200 bottles from the winery, but only seven of them were "Vigneron Select" wines--from the best barrels. And this is the first of those seven that I have popped. Whoa. Light in color but plenty of those aromas that I associate with Clos Pepe: tart cherry, baking spice, eucalyptus. …

2009 vintage

Retail $50. This has long been my yardstick again which I measure all other American Pinots. While it has been another year since the lat bottle I cracked, my notes are strikingly similar, holy cow, this is good. Outstanding Plus. www.thedrunkencyclist.com

2009 vintage

Still magnificent. Great acidity, generous fruit and spice, and lots of earth. Time and air still serve to put some extra flesh on its bones, though on night one it had a moment where the alcohol warmth was borderline distracting. Never crosses that line, however, and delivers excellent balance between California fruit and Burgundian soul.

2009 vintage

Retail $50. Well, after a good six years on the shelf between the previous two bottles of this wine that I tasted, I only waited another 13 months to open the next. Whoa. While I thought the bottle I tasted in 2020 was beyond stellar, this bottle, believe it or not, was even better. Still incredibly fruity with tart cherry, bright raspberry, and even some hints of cassis on the nose. The palate is nothing short of magical. Whoa. Rich …

2009 vintage

Tasted against the '05 and the '11. Still the reigning champ of all the Clos Pepe wines I've tried. Very lively, and brings together California ripeness and Burgundian elegance in a remarkable way. Gorgeous wine.

2009 vintage

Right after this bottle was opened I stuck my nose in and noticed an unpleasant sugary caramel aroma. I thought this wine was off and went back to the cellar to open another bottle. 30 minutes later I returned to this wine and the odd caramel aroma had disappeared. Now this wine has opened up with an interesting aroma of wet forest, minerals, tart cherry, and a hint of raspberries and orange peel. There's just a a great palette of …

2009 vintage

Maybe this one had peaked earlier or this bottle was in a dumb phase as the wonderful fruit I associate from Clos Pepe Pinots was lacking except for a bit of tart cherry. Not memorable at all.

2009 vintage

Very smooth with some good solid flavors. This dances with so many flavors: mineral, oak, pepper, orange peel, and a medium finish. Yes it dances but with much grace, just lovely.

2009 vintage

Retail $50. Well, it has been a while. Like more than half of a decade-while since I last tried this wine. Wow. And Whoa. Black cherry and red berry fruit on the nose with hints of spice. The palate? Pretty close to other-worldly: fruit (a tad restrained), earth, depth, tartness, balance. Holy crapola. I have had a ton of Clos Pepe, and this finds a seat pretty close to the top. thedrunkencyclist.com

2009 vintage

Rather masculine in profile. Nice baking spice notes with darker fruit more in the backyard this point. Robust but with balance and solid acidity.

2009 vintage

Tea, underbrush and smoky black fruit on the nose. Nice spicy fruit and acidity on the palate, but a fading vegetal note makes me think this is really on its last legs. Drink up if you have them.

2009 vintage

Very good concentration without being too heavy, good ripe cherry, berry notes, excellent pure fruit, silky, youthful, fuller bodied pinot, in a good youthful place, could use another 5 years. Green Street Tavern EWG. The 2006 and 2008 were less good.

2009 vintage

From my last tasting notes the wine seems to have darkened a little. Still mild dark fruit nose. Right from the opening the flavors were fronted by smoke and leather followed by a nice dark cherry chaser. Finish was medium in length with slight acid on the tongue. No need to age further, the time to drink is now.

2009 vintage

Took a couple of hours to open up. We purchased this bottle after tasting a 3 day old bottle with Wes, so it was a pleasure to try a fresh bottle. Juicy red fruit, spice (which developed over time), good acidity. Light but full bodied at the same time. A good pinot, just lacking the pop/sparkle to push it higher. 91/92

2009 vintage

Corked.

2009 vintage

solid but nothing amazing. probably past its prime

2009 vintage

Dying or dumb phase? It's gained a lot of weight, but less and less depth and definition in spite of being a fairly structured 2009. It drank better early. Bits of fining agent have settled out. This is turning out to be a bit of a wreck over time (not new of CP).

2009 vintage

Guess it is at its peak, very nice bottle of pinot. Tart and bright cherry, subtle body, and pleasant finish. What can i more say. Sad it is the last bottle.

2009 vintage

Rich aromatics of red cherry, strawberry and raspberry. Sweet and tart cherry, cherry pit and sandalwood on the palate. Round medium finish.

2009 vintage

Very nice balance. Good aroma. On the lighter side, but nice wine.

2009 vintage

The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like strawberry jam, cherry, red currant, forest floor, flint, light toast and honeysuckle. It tastes like strawberry jam, cherry, dust, flint, forest floor, light toast, clove, honeysuckle and violet. The body is light/medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.

2009 vintage

This wine is singing right now! Deep red with brownish hue that indicates age. Interesting sweet aroma of strawberries, spices, hint of menthol, a bit earthy (or maybe cheese rind ?) Velvety smooth on entry, feels really full and juicy on the palate like juicy red fruits. Finishes with a drop of earthy spice on the back end. Really love this! A

2004 vintage

This is still huge and very young. Dark in color. Big Pinot fruit on the nose. Tons of structure on the palate, should go for years.

2009 vintage

Beautiful new world pinot. Silky with black cherry and strawberry notes. Integrated with decent acid lift. Nice finish that highlight light spices.

2009 vintage

c

2004 vintage

- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish.

2004 vintage

Wow! Translucent reddish brown. Sweet aromas of ripe strawberries and cherries and spices. There's black coffee and brown sugar on the background too. Given the age of his wine I was surprise how evident the fruit flavors are. Lush with ripe red fruits on the foreground and concentrated red fruits and spices on the backend. Really nice!

2004 vintage

Looks like 5 years in between bottles but sacrificed this one, my last, for the virtual tasting note charity over on Wine Berserkers. This note goes to help feed others through Brig's association to the Resuce Mission. I'll take a crack at this note over a few nights. Right out of the bottle, there are some secondary notes popping up--a hint, as just a touch of that spice box note that comes with older wines. Black cherry, sweet strawberry, little …

2004 vintage

We had friends over who just got back from the Sta Rita Hills (including a trip to Clos Pepe, so I thought this would be a fun bottle. Fun is an understatement. Great fruit (and a little heat) on the nose, but rich fruit on the palate and a very strong finish. Outstanding. thedrunkencyclist.com

2004 vintage

This is the reason that I love Clos Pepe so much. Even 8-9 years out, the fruit is still ripe and plentiful (cherry, cola, and a bit of cinnamon). Great acidity and balance. Wonderful. thedrunkencyclist.com

2004 vintage

awesome cali pinot

2009 vintage

A beauty. Still drinking young. Good nose and nice complexity on the palate. Lingering finish. Very smooth and polished.

2009 vintage

Drank very well. Big perfume on the nose. Vibrant fruit, spice, cinnamon. Smooth and elegant finish. Just a baby.

2009 vintage

Stellar

2009 vintage

- Ruby color - Brick ruby color. Unfiltered. Red cherry and cranberry with licorice on the nose. On the palate ... Red fruits (cherry, strawberry) with high acidity. Soft tannins. Drinking now. Medium alcohol. Very old world in style.

2004 vintage

Floral nose with red fruits. Savory palate, smoke, earth. Very well integrated and balanced. Though lacking abit in stuffing and minimal fruit palate. Moderate length. Even more sediment than the last bottle and much more savory.

2004 vintage

Nose of cherries. Palate matches with some oak and sweetness. Cola, bark, hints of forest floor and a bit of tannin still left yet wonderfully smooth. With a bit of air developed some savory characters. Very balanced, not cloyinging at all. Moderate finish. Very pleasant. Though decant to get rid of the bits, throwing a lot of sediment.

2004 vintage

Notes of cherry and raspberry. Touch of acidity on the finish initially. Leaves quickly, making a very enjoyable experience.

2009 vintage

Drinking really nicely. Lots of cherry and raspberry flavor with a bit of vanilla and spice undertones. Lovely bottle.

2009 vintage

Great nose. Fresh. Fruit, hints of spice, forest floor. Great mouth feel. + Finish.

2009 vintage

Beautiful. Dark cherry, dirt,baking spice. Long finish, smooth, great wine.

2009 vintage

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Clos Pepe Estate, Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills

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