2014 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir Brut Rosé

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 90.7 points

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  12/31/2023 - valecnik wrote: 88 Points

  Four years since the last one? Hard to believe. Not sure that time has done it any favors. It still has those buttery almond and orange notes, and I also get icing sugar and maple syrup. Feels heavy, really, and sweeter than I'd like.

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  10/16/2019 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points

  It seems like every winemaker and his/her neighbor is making a sparkling wine these days (actually, the VAST majority farm out at least a part of the process to a producer that specializes in the production of bubbles, but that is the story for another post) and that is a good thing: More bubbles = Good. Clos Pepe, far from being the first to produce bubbles on the side, was no doubt one of the earlier adopters, at least in Sta Rita Hills. The winery is no kaput, and this is my last bottle of Wes Hagen's bubbles, but I figured it was time to say goodbye. Initially a bit odd, but with a bit of time, this really came around: Pale pinkish orange with muted berry fruit and a touch of yeastiness on the nose. Despite its less than boisterous opening, there is a fervent sparkle, which carries fruity flavors and a rich mouthfeel along to the palate. Not as creamy and rich as some champagnes, but this is right up there with the best rosé sparklers from the Central Coast. Bravo. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  10/2/2019 - valecnik wrote:

  I was utterly enamored with this wine nine months ago, so I am all the more baffled by the experience this time. It was just sort of...meh. It wasn't bad, but the beguiling aroma wasn't there, the orange zest wasn't there, and there was nothing special to be found. Had a nice bready quality on the palate, but plenty of sparklers do. I have to think this is in a dumb phase, so I am withholding a rating.

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  1/1/2019 - valecnik Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Pale copper color -- hardly pink at all. Orange zest on the nose, leading into shy but intriguing scents of butter and almond. I must have smelled it eight times before I ever took a sip. So subtle and beguiling, the palate is lithe with very fine bubbles, and underlying notes of cream and marcona almond. A wonderful and amazing wine that plays its hand carefully, but with total confidence.

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