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2002 W.H. Smith Pinot Noir Hellenthal Vineyard, Sonoma Coast List $36.50 Sale
$32.12
Wine Watch Review
Aromas of black raspberry and red cherry fruit on the nose with highlights of
freshly picked flowers and oriental spices- a light but exotic bouquet. Smooth
and silky on the tongue, an elegant style of Pinot Noir, everything in balance,
fruit, fresh earth, flowers and spice held together nicely with fresh acidity
and light but structured tannins. A bit light on the finish but has complexity
and elegance, opening up with an hour of air time displaying more fruit and
density on the palate and a longer finish, we recommend an hour in the decanter
before pouring. 260 Cases Produced EXCELLENT

2002 W.H. Smith, Pinot Noir Maritime Vineyard List $50.75 Sale $44.66
Wine Watch Review
Plush black cherry kirsch liqueur like fruit on the nose with notes of violets,
vanilla spice, light smoke and black truffle nuances. A much bigger wine than
the Hellenthal with thick and juicy black cherry berry fruit on the tongue,
velvety smooth with penetrating acidity and big ripe tannins along with a host
of spice and black earth notes through the finish. We had this bottle open for
several days in the store and it was even better the 3rd day! We recommend
decanting this wine for two hours before enjoying. 480 Cases Produced MOST
EXCELLENT


After tasting the 2001 WH Smith wines with Bill Smith last year we could not
wait to get the 2002 vintage, as most producers who were in the store this year
have been raving about the quality of this vintage. We have confirmed the buzz
about this vintage after tasting through a good amount of these wines and after
reviewing the press from most of the nations leading critics. W.H Smith’s Pinot
Noirs from the Sonoma Coast have been among my favorite wines even in difficult
vintages, but in an outstanding year they are really special, always at the top
of the list especially when you look at the price of the competition, most Pinot
Noir of this quality is twice the price. Both the Hellenthal Vineyard and his
newest release the Maritime Vineyard are very special places for Pinot Noir,
some of Bill and Joan’s neighbors are Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard and Marcassin
Vineyard. Many Pinot Noir fanatics are calling this the promise land for Pinot
Noir in California.

Curious by nature and eager to embrace new adventures, it didn’t take much for
friend and winemaker Helen Turley to inspire in Bill the desire to try his hand
at Pinot Noir. Bill and Joan's passion for winemaking was not fully satisfied
making Bordeaux varietals at La Jota Winery atop Howell Mountain with so many
other outstanding terroirs in California they decided to try their hand at
producing Burgundian-style Pinot Noir on the Sonoma Coast. In 1992, under a
new W. H. Smith Wines label, the Smiths released their first vintage of Sonoma
County Pinot Noir. Now passionate for Pinot, in 1994 Bill and Joan purchased 360
acres along the Sonoma Coast on a ridge high above the town of Cazadero. In
1995 Bill and Joan released their first Pinot Noir's produced from the Sonoma
Coast region under a new name and label, "W.H. Smith Wines". From the
beginning their efforts for W.H. Smith Wines have been focused on Pinot Noir
produced from the "Hellenthal" vineyard approximately 3 miles from the Pacific
Ocean and 10 miles north of the Russian River. Friends Helen Turley and John
Wetlaufer introduced Bill and Joan Smith to this exceptional vineyard—just down
the road from Marcassin—in the early ’90s. Located in the Sonoma Coast
Appellation, four miles from the Pacific Ocean, Hellenthal Vineyard confirms the
region’s unique ripening ability. German for bright valley, Hellenthal enjoys
bright sun, but is no valley, situated on the highlands well above the coastal
fog. Yielding barely a ton per acre, the ripe fruit produces a dark, rich,
concentrated wine that truly resembles a grand cru Burgundy. The newest rising
star at the winery is the Maritime Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir. Vintage 2002
marks the premier release of this wine yielding from eleven acres planted
between 1997 and 1999, closely spaced in the Burgundian tradition, yielded
barely more than a ton per acre in 2002, which helps to explain the wine’s
intense Pinot flavors and incredible concentration.


History
Luck and timing led Bill and Joan Smith into the wine business: enthusiasm,
perseverance, and good advice from a few talented friends facilitated their
success as world-class producers. A wrong turn while trying to visit Chappellet
Vineyard led Bill Smith to discover and purchase the historic ghost winery, La
Jota Vineyard Co., including 40 acres on top of Howell Mountain in the Napa
Valley. Two years later, in 1976, Bill and his new wife, Joan, spent their
honeymoon planting the first 2 acres of vines, which would grow to 28 acres by
1978. After a few classes in home winemaking at UC Davis, a lot of
experimenting, and some priceless mentoring from friend and Howell Mountain
neighbor Randy Dunn, the Smith’s produced La Jota Vineyard’s first Cabernet
Sauvignon vintage in 1982. With Bill making the wine and Joan responsible for
sales and marketing, the couple garnered attention and accolades—including being
listed as #2 on Robert Parker’s roster of “heroes” in the December 1994 issue of
The Wine Advocate.

Friends Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer introduced Bill and Joan Smith to this
exceptional vineyard – just down the road from Marcassin – in the early
nineties. Located in the Sonoma Coast Appellation, 4 miles from the Pacific
Ocean, Hellenthal Vineyard confirms the region’s unique ripening ability.
German for “bright valley,” Hellenthal enjoys brigh sun, but is no valley,
situated on the highlands well above the coastal fog. Yielding barley a ton per
acre, the rope fruit produces a dark, rich, concentrated wine that truly
resembles a grand cru Burgundy.

If you ask Bill and Joan what they want to do in the future they will say they
are doing it now. Living their dream, and enjoying every minute. They have made
a name for themselves on the California wine scene and deserve every bit of it.