Zepaltas Wines
Ryan Zepaltas is a 28-year-old assistant winemaker at Siduri who came to wine through fate. After moving to
California from Wisconsin in 1998, where he was an accomplished skateboarder, he landed a cellar rat job at
La Crema Winery. Two years later, he went to New Zealand to work at Villa Maria and it was here that he
realized his winemaking calling. After returning to California, he worked at several wineries, gradually
developing a serious interest in Pinot Noir. Ryan became the Cellarmaster and Assistant Winemaker at Siduri
five years ago.
Ryan leases a small space at Siduri for his own eponymous label which he began in 2004. He is one of the
new hounds in the Pinot race and has the good fortune to have an experienced mentor in Adam Lee to guide
him. That is not to say that his wines are just like Siduri’s, for he has developed his own style which
emphasizes a light hand and bright acidity. The focus is on Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley and
Sonoma Coast. I enjoyed the three 2006 Zepaltas Pinot Noirs and recently had the opportunity to taste two
2007 Pinot Noirs that were recently released.
2007 Zepaltas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 107 cases, $39. An appellation blend to be released in February, 2009.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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!
The Zepaltas wines are largely sold through a mailing list at www.zepaltaswines.com. Magnums are also
available in limited quantity. A Syrah from the Santa Lucia Highlands Rosella’s Vineyard is also in the lineup.
