The wines from J Vineyards are all sweet treats and, in our opinion, the best made in the Russian River Valley. The winemaker at J Vineyards is Nicole Hitchcock, and she strives to translate the cool coastal vineyards and sun-drenched hills into the bottle. Well, she certainly succeeded, and these are wines with so much passion and power. But that doesn't happen by itself, says Nicole; they work hard in the vineyards to let the grapes shine like no other. The most important thing is that each grape has its own vineyard and is planted in the best location. For this red Pinot Noir, that's a bit higher up in the Russian River Valley. Simply because the grape thrives in a cooler climate.
Wood aging for the J Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir
The Pinot Noir vineyard, planted since 1986, is in perfect condition. The sun can do its work and ripen the grapes perfectly. The wind and cool nighttime temperatures provide the Pinot Noir grapes with sufficient coolness. This is crucial, otherwise the ripening process would be too rapid, and the grapes wouldn't be able to draw sufficient strength from the soil. The soil contains many impressions that the grapes absorb. Once they reach perfect ripeness, they are harvested entirely by hand and rigorously selected. Only the finest bunches are collected in small crates and transported to J Vineyards Estate Grown, where they undergo a long oak aging period of up to twelve months. Thirty percent of the barrels used are new and unused, making this Pinto Noir even fuller and more powerful.
Full and very powerful this J Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir
The end result is a beautiful, classic wine with the impressions it was meant to be. It all starts with the pour. The color is very inviting with aromas of cranberry, blueberry pie, and cardamom. A vigorous swirl of the glass releases all the aromas, revealing violets, tea leaves, and toast. The palate is enchanting and almost eerily beautiful, with plenty of rich red fruit like raspberries and strawberries, as well as subtle spices. On the back of the palate, it also offers notes of vanilla, toasted oak, and orange. What a gem, a true feast!
2019
