Zepaltas Wines

The W. E. Bottoms Vineyard has started to build a name for itself over the past couple years.
It has been put on the map by winemakers Kevin Kelley and Justin Lattanzio from their respective wineries, Salinia and Lattanzio. This small 3.5-acre vineyard nestled in the trees near Occidental, CA is starting to turn out wines that are uniquely it’s own flavor and style.

It comes as no surprise that the 2006 version is what it is.
2006 was a cooler year (even cooler than 2005) which allowed the Pinots to attain even more of that “classic” Pinot characteristic. The 2006 immediately greets you with the aromas that you are used to with Russian River Valley fruit: fresh, creamy cherries and hints of cigar box.
As the wine opens up, you are reminded of the taste of this vineyard by its earthy, forest floor flavors coupled with sour cherries and raspberries. With a few more minutes of air the W.E. Bottoms begins to expose its inner core where on the nose we get mushrooms and herbal flavors.
On the palate the wine is held together by is acidity, and gives the wine its liveliness. As I taste the 2007 version now in barrel, and compare it to this vintage along with the 2005, I see that there is definitely a “sense of place” that has developed, and I have confidence to say that this is only the beginning of what is to come from this vineyard.