Waits-Mast Family Cellars

Owner(s)	Brian Mast, Jennifer Waits
Web site	www.waitsmast.com

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Waits-Mast Family Cellars Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits found the romance of wine by exploring California’s many wine regions. They remark, “Like a verse that haunts you, Pinot Noir kept on finding us, tapping our shoulder. It was always (and remains) our favorite varietal.” In 2005 they embarked on a journey to craft their own Pinot Noir under the guiding hands of Scott Shapley and Chris Nelson at Crushpad in San Francisco. The 2007 Pinot Noirs from Wentzel Vineyard in the Anderson Valley and La Encantada Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills are the third releases. The wines are sold primarily through a mailing list and online.

Articles About Waits-Mast Family Cellars

Anderson Noir Valley Pinot (Pt II) (7.19 6/5/2009)
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot Festival: After the Smoke Clears (8.16 6/8/2010)
Small Sips of Pinot (8.16 6/8/2010)
Small Sips of Pinot (8.7 12/16/2009)

Reviewed Wines

2008 Waits-Mast Amber Ridge Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., 25 cases, $44. Released April 2010. Clones 115, 667 and 777. 100% de-stemmed. Aged 12 months in 33% new French oak. · Unusual aromatics starting off with scents of wine cave and oak toast progressing to aromas of gingerbread and roasted tomato without any fruit evident. Tasty core of dark ripe cherries and cassis with a brown spice and roasted fruit tone. Smooth in the mouth with supple tannins. Big discrepancy between the nose and flavors may resolve with more time in the bottle. Decent. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »

2008 Waits-Mast Family Cellars Hein Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 25 cases, $44. Released in the fall 2009. Co-ferment of 115 and Pommard clones. 100% de-stemmed. Aged 11 months in 33% new French oak barrels. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. Black cherry and herbal highlights on the nose carry over onto the smooth palate with the slightest ash lurking in the background. Healthy tannins need time to integrate. Good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Waits-Mast Wentzel Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 25 cases, $42. Sourced from the 10-acre Wentzel Vineyard located near Philo and organically farmed by Roland Wentzel. 100% destemmed, native fermentation, aged 11 months in 33% new French oak barrels. · An impressive wine filled with tasty dark cherry and berry fruit, an underlying green note, and sporting a smooth, velvety texture, gossamer tannins, and a refreshingly clean finish. Close to a Pinot Geek wine. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Waits-Mast Wines La Encantada Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 25 cases, $42. Jennifer Waits and Brian Mast are fog bound San Francisco winemakers focused solely on vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs in 25 to 50 case lots from sites in the Anderson Valley, Russian River Valley and Sta. Rita Hills. Clones 115, 667 and 777. 100% de-stemmed, aged 11 months in 33% new French oak. Crafted at Crushpad. · Scents of dark strawberries and cherries, dried roses, herbs and pine. Herb-inflected dark red cherry and berry flavors with hints of oak, green tomato and citrus. Well-crafted, with respectable richness and creaminess, but doesn’t strike my fancy. Tasted twice. Decent (+). Reviewed December 16, 2009 ARTICLE »