(for a complete list of all Clos Pepe wines from all of our producers, click here)
2004 Vintage:
Clos Pepe Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2004
93 points fromWINE SPECTATOR| $45 | 800 cases Rich, concentrated, earthy blueberry, spice, mineral, lead pencil and cedar notes offer remarkable depth and complexity. Drink now through 2009.—James Laube, Wine Spectator Editor, also awarded Silver Medal at L.A. County fair, 2006.
Clos Pepe Estate 2004 Chardonnay, Hommage to Chablis: (unrated, sold out)
"Not only does the wine have no oak influence (made in small stainless casks), we picked it less ripe to make a finished wine right at 13+% alcohol. What emerges is the most food friendly and elegant white we've ever made. Match it with cheese, fish or seafood, sushi, oysters.. Truly, a rarity in California Chardonnay. We invite you to throw a bottle into a blind tasting with Burgundies or Chablis wines and see how it performs. Less ripe WILL be the future of California Wines, so taste the Future now! " --WDH
2003 Vintage: Wes' Notes
2003 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir (92 Points WS) and ‘V.S.’
'The 2003 Pinot Noir from Clos Pepe Estate is a very exciting wine. As a winemaker, it reminds me of both the 2002 and 2001 vintages, melded into a single blend. It has much of the same dense, vibrant fruit as the 2002, but with the structure and acidity of the 2001 vintage. Expect tons of mineral-infused black cherry, blackberry, cranberry and blueberry fruit, with excellent concentration and the intensity that comes from miniscule 1 ton-per-acre yields. As always, the Clos Pepe character shines through: balanced earthiness, a hint of ‘sauvage’, fruit, acidity and food-friendliness. This wine is drinking nicely now, but will certainly benefit from 1-4 years of cellaring for those who prefer young, vibrant wines, and 4-10 years for those who prefer the fully mature and mellowed complexity of Pinot Noir. 33% new French Oak. 375 cases produced.
"Tightly focused on a beam of vivid blackberry and blueberry fruit, this is both a rich and concentrated young wine but also a remarkably elegant and refined style that finishes with pleasant earthy nuance. Drink now through 2009. 375 cases made. --James Laube, West Coast Wine Editor. "
The ‘Vigneron Select’ (or V.S.) is our choice of the best single barrel produced for the vintage. Only 23 cases were produced, and this wine was hand-racked and bottled from a new Remond French Oak Barrel from the Troncais forest. This wine needs a bit more time in the cellar to come together and reach its peak. 100% new French Oak. Drink from 2007-2012.’ --WDH
2003 Clos Pepe Estate Chardonnay 'Homage to Chablis'
'In 2003, the 'Homage to Chablis' program gets back to its roots. The 2003 is a more traditional rendering of our stainless-steel and neutral oak Chardonnay. The wine has a very complex nose of wet stones, apple, grapefruit, pear, oyster shell/sea spray and hints of hazelnut and pineapple/guava. The wine has huge concentration but manages to keep a balance that makes it food friendly. Think of it as a wine with a Chablis frame showing off a Santa Rita Hills landscape. From early tasting and how this wine has developed, this may be the best 'Homage' to date for those that like the flinty, minerally quality in a wine with very good fruit length and vibrant acidity. Those who prefer young and vibrant whites can drink it from release until 2007. Those who prefer their white wines fully mature may want to wait until 2007 to 2009 to pop their bottles. As always, no new oak. The focus here is the flavor of the vineyard. 150 cases produced.’ ---WDH
2002 Vintage
Clos Pepe Estate 2002 Pinot Noir
WINE SPECTATOR: 91
Points “Dark and intense, with a rich, complex, dense,
extracted core of beefy Pinot flavors, touching on blackberry, wild
berry,
spice and cedary-mocha woody flavors. It exhibits firm tannins
and ample oak. Best from 2005 through 2010” --James Laube,
Wine Spectator. June 15, 2004.
Clos Pepe Estate Chardonnay 2002 'Homage to Chablis'
WINE ENTHUSIAST: 91
Points.
2001 Vintage
Clos Pepe Estate 2001 Pinot Noir
Clos Pepe
Estate 2001 Pinot Noir
WINE SPECTATOR: "Clos Pepe Pinot
Noir Santa Rita Hills 2001 88 Points. Shows ample cedary-pencil
lead oak flavors, but is also rich, with complex, gamy black cherry and
wild berry flavors that finish with firm, fresh earth tannins.
Best from 2004 to 2009. 225 cases made." -- James Laube
WINE ADVOCATE issue 149: "90
Points. A superior effort, the 2001 PN boasts a more saturated
ruby/purple color as well as a moderately intense bouquet of cherries
and raspberries, sweet fruit on the attack, good acidity, and complex
provocative, persistent, intense flavors. It should drink well
for 5-7 years." (2001 PN: Sold out)
Clos Pepe Estate 2001 Chardonnay 'Homage to Chablis'
Clos Pepe
Estate 2001 Chardonnay 'Homage to Chablis'
WINE SPECTATOR: "88
Points. Combines ripe, rich, vibrant fruit with a silky texture,
showing an elegant core of spicy pear, tangerine and nectarine flavors
highlighted by juicy acidity and a long clean finish. Drink now
through 2006. 100 cases made." -- James Laube
WINE ADVOCATE -- ROBERT PARKER Closing
Date: 6-29-02, Issue 141 89+ Points. "A brilliant effort that
should merit a higher score with another year of cellaring, [...] dark
ruby-colored, savory effort from the new appellation northwest of Los
Olivos, is produced from the French Pinot Noir clone 115. Big and
broad, with tangy acidity as well as tannin to resolve, it tastes more
like a barrel sample than a finished wine. Offering loads of
mineral-infused cherry and blueberry fruit, this complex, promising
2000 will be at its finest between 2003-2010."
WINE SPECTATOR, Issue: June 15,
2003: "Clos Pepe Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2000 89
Points. Refreshingly vibrant and fruity, with distinctive wild
berry, floral, raspberry and blackberry flavors that are intense and
supple-textured. Firmness, tannins provide backbone. Lovely
fresh earth and mineral notes add dimension. Drink now through
2007. 200 cases made." -- James Laube
WINE ENTHUSIAST, October, 2002: "Clos Pepe
Estate 2000 Pinot Noir, 89 Points. Opens strong, with a complex
nose of strawberry, cherry, pipe tobacco, menthol, soy, rubbing spices
and wheat. A slightly chalky feel along with black tea and herb
accents show on the plummy, midweight palate. It closes tasty but
tight, with herb and tobacco shadings. While appealing now, best
2004-2008." -- W.E. (10/1/02)
"The Clos Pepe 2000 pinot noir is a stunning example
of just how good pinot noir is from the Santa Rita Hills appellation of
Santa Barbara County." -- Bob Senn, Wine Column, Santa Maria Times.
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