January 25, 2012
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Clos Pepe Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Cathy Pepe, Stephen Pepe |
| Web site | www.clospepe.com |
| Link to this site |
This 28-acre vineyard lies in the heart of the appellation on Hwy 246. Small quantities of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced and grapes are sold to several producers. The owners are "vigneron" Stephen Pepe and his spouse Catherine.
Vineyard manager and winemaker Wes Hagen is a believer in Chablis-styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir picked on the earlier side to fully display the vineyard's unique terroir. Noted winemaker Ken Brown has called grapes from his vineyard, “grapes on steroids,” but some wines, notably from Roessler and A.P. Vin, seem to temper the muscular fruit.
Clos Pepe grapes are in high demand and fruit is allocated to several prominent California producers. Stephen keeps back enough fruit to make about 700 cases of Pinot Noir. Two bottlings are released: an Estate and a Vigneron's Select.
Visit the very informative website. The wines are sold primarily through a mailing list. I would encourage taking a tour and taste (by appointment). The estate also produces an award-wining olive oil.
Articles About Clos Pepe Vineyards
Clos Pepe Vineyards: A Window Into Time and Place (7.17 5/7/2009)
Clos Pepe: A Grape named Pinot, a Vigneron, a Facilitator, a Dead Head, a Dog named Bud, and a Horse named Charlemagne (8.12 3/11/2010)
Pinot Briefs (8.13 4/8/2010)
Pinot Briefs (8.20 8/24/2010)
Pinot Briefs (7.25 9/5/2009)
Sta. Rita Hills Wine & Fire (6.33 7/23/2007)
Reviewed Wines
2008 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.2%
alc., 235 cases, $54. Multiple frost events led to a tiny crop of less than a half ton
per acre in some places.
·
Subdued aromas of dark berries with a hint of smoke.
Bright and juicy mineral-laden flavors of red and blue berries. Vibrant and
refreshing with a smooth mouth feel and some persistence. A promising wine
that is still undeveloped and will require time for full oak integration. More
delicate than the 2007 version, but will certainly rival it with more time in the
bottle. Very good.
Reviewed March 11, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Vigneron Selection Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $59. Three favorite barrels aged in 66% new
French oak.
·
Noticeably lighter in color than the 2007 version of this wine. Don’t
be put off by the color, however, as the wine is well-structured and full-flavored.
Oak char is dominating the nose at this stage and underlies the flavor profile as
well. Delicious strawberry and cherry flavors peek out which are vivid and
satisfying. The tannins are restrained leading to a pleasingly soft mouth feel.
Immature and closed, this wine will need at least two years in the cellar. Slightly
better the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Very good.
Reviewed March 11, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 550 cases, $54. 50% 115, 25% 667, 25% 777. Beginning in
2008, Pommard clone will be added to the Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir
bottling.
·
Lovely aromas of fresh-picked berries, plums, grape must, and a
hint of mint and floral bouquet. Discreetly concentrated core of mildly
sweet red and black fruits, with flavors of sassafras, tea, soy and oak
adding interest. A vein of minerality adds to the pleasure. Smoothly textured with
some persistence on the finish.
Reviewed March 11, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 650 cases, $54.
·
A marvelous drinking experience beginning with the clean and fruity nose hinting
of spice and minerals followed by a delicious, sappy black raspberry and
blackberry core that explodes in the mouth and saturates every taste bud.
Ridiculous! Modest tannins, deft use of oak and perfectly harmonious.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate “Vigneron’s Select” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9%
alc., 72 cases, $59. A blend of the favorite barrels in the cellar.
·
As good as the
regular 2007 bottling is, this one raises the ante a notch. Really heady aromas of
black cherries and raspberries with herbs adding interest in the background.
Smooth and seamless pie-filling fruits on the palate, showing a perfect marriage of
finesse and power. Plenty of fruit to thrill, beautifully framed by supple tannins and a
lively vein of minerality and acidity, culminating in a long and scented finish.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Vigneron Selection Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 72 cases, $59. A tank bottle (from bottom of tank).
Favorite barrels in the cellar.
·
Off scent and flavor which largely resolves over
time revealing shy aromas of black cherries, raspberries and blackberries which
carry over in the flavor profile. Soft and smooth in the mouth, with the fruit well
caressed by balancing tannins and acidity. Not up to the bottle I sampled in May
2009 which was exceptional. Good.
Reviewed March 11, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 700 cases, $56.
·
The
fruit here is on the ripe side, with the wine displaying aromas of black currents and
marzipan and flavors of macerated dark berries with a riff of dark chocolate and raisin.
Beautifully composed, juicy, vibrant and alive with dusty tannins and a spark of acidity.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 650 cases, $56,
sold out.
·
Dark reddish-purple color. Appealing mix of aromas of black cherries,
herbs and a slip of oak. Loamy black cherry and blackberry coulis which is
focused and polished. The tannins are suave, the texture is smooth and there
is an edginess to the dry and lingering finish. Plenty of Pinot singing here. This
wine reminded me of a 2005 Esmonin Hospices de Beaune Mazis Chambertin
I drank the night before. The Clos Pepe was every bit as good.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2004 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
A masculine and firm
wine with concentrated fruit and notable oak and tannins. What some might call
“power to thrill,” the wine is generous and fruity rather than complex. The lingering finish is tinged by
some heat. Aging will mellow this wine.
Reviewed July 23, 2007
ARTICLE »
2008 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 235 cases, $54. Multiple frost events led to a tiny crop of less than a half ton per acre in some places. · Subdued aromas of dark berries with a hint of smoke. Bright and juicy mineral-laden flavors of red and blue berries. Vibrant and refreshing with a smooth mouth feel and some persistence. A promising wine that is still undeveloped and will require time for full oak integration. More delicate than the 2007 version, but will certainly rival it with more time in the bottle. Very good. Reviewed March 11, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Vigneron Selection Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $59. Three favorite barrels aged in 66% new French oak. · Noticeably lighter in color than the 2007 version of this wine. Don’t be put off by the color, however, as the wine is well-structured and full-flavored. Oak char is dominating the nose at this stage and underlies the flavor profile as well. Delicious strawberry and cherry flavors peek out which are vivid and satisfying. The tannins are restrained leading to a pleasingly soft mouth feel. Immature and closed, this wine will need at least two years in the cellar. Slightly better the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Very good. Reviewed March 11, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 550 cases, $54. 50% 115, 25% 667, 25% 777. Beginning in 2008, Pommard clone will be added to the Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir bottling. · Lovely aromas of fresh-picked berries, plums, grape must, and a hint of mint and floral bouquet. Discreetly concentrated core of mildly sweet red and black fruits, with flavors of sassafras, tea, soy and oak adding interest. A vein of minerality adds to the pleasure. Smoothly textured with some persistence on the finish. Reviewed March 11, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 650 cases, $54. · A marvelous drinking experience beginning with the clean and fruity nose hinting of spice and minerals followed by a delicious, sappy black raspberry and blackberry core that explodes in the mouth and saturates every taste bud. Ridiculous! Modest tannins, deft use of oak and perfectly harmonious. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate “Vigneron’s Select” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 72 cases, $59. A blend of the favorite barrels in the cellar. · As good as the regular 2007 bottling is, this one raises the ante a notch. Really heady aromas of black cherries and raspberries with herbs adding interest in the background. Smooth and seamless pie-filling fruits on the palate, showing a perfect marriage of finesse and power. Plenty of fruit to thrill, beautifully framed by supple tannins and a lively vein of minerality and acidity, culminating in a long and scented finish. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Clos Pepe Estate Clos Pepe Vineyard Vigneron Selection Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 72 cases, $59. A tank bottle (from bottom of tank). Favorite barrels in the cellar. · Off scent and flavor which largely resolves over time revealing shy aromas of black cherries, raspberries and blackberries which carry over in the flavor profile. Soft and smooth in the mouth, with the fruit well caressed by balancing tannins and acidity. Not up to the bottle I sampled in May 2009 which was exceptional. Good. Reviewed March 11, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 700 cases, $56. · The fruit here is on the ripe side, with the wine displaying aromas of black currents and marzipan and flavors of macerated dark berries with a riff of dark chocolate and raisin. Beautifully composed, juicy, vibrant and alive with dusty tannins and a spark of acidity. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 650 cases, $56, sold out. · Dark reddish-purple color. Appealing mix of aromas of black cherries, herbs and a slip of oak. Loamy black cherry and blackberry coulis which is focused and polished. The tannins are suave, the texture is smooth and there is an edginess to the dry and lingering finish. Plenty of Pinot singing here. This wine reminded me of a 2005 Esmonin Hospices de Beaune Mazis Chambertin I drank the night before. The Clos Pepe was every bit as good. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2004 Clos Pepe Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
A masculine and firm wine with concentrated fruit and notable oak and tannins. What some might call “power to thrill,” the wine is generous and fruity rather than complex. The lingering finish is tinged by some heat. Aging will mellow this wine. Reviewed July 23, 2007 ARTICLE »
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