Doug Powers

9.1

This is such an excellent Aussie Shiraz (with 2% Viognier), amazing color still, crisp, refreshing, aromatic, perfumed, lovely balance, truly a lovely drinker, not a “best of class” Aussie Shiraz, but at a low-$US20 price, great bargain, love this!! — a month ago

with Jim

Abbas Zand

8.9

Plum, blueberry nose. Medium to full body.
Cherry, blueberry, plum fruit flavors w/ Leather and smoke accents. Medium tannins.
Long finish. Nice overall.
$20 — 3 months ago

Angel Free

9.1

A little tart but good — 2 years ago

John Frederick

9.2

Oily coating mouthfeel gives you just a touch of decadence before the mineral and acid cleans and refreshes your pallet. Ripe yellow Mellon, pineapple guava and a hint of lime and sweet grass. Stunning wine. — 4 years ago

K Brooks

8.9

Bright fruit & good acidity. Light but quite nice with pork tenderloin for the price ($17). — a month ago

Mark Mannebach

9.1

Critics, honey, melon and wet stone, limestone tones. — 2 months ago

Florinda Russell

9.6

This is really good. Will buy again — a year ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.0

Big fan of COS. Garrigue on nose. Cherry and raspberry, hints of clay and earth, bracing acidity. Had with Vivaces fontina stuffed pork chop (and wife’s crab stuffed chicken breast). Acid cut through the chop nicely. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I coravined some of the 97 early this week and as I sipped it, it was had not to think it was the best Jones Family I’ve had. A score of 98 and I have not given a wine 98 in a very long time. But no matter where you go, there you are.

Tonight I had the 01 at the “Tasting House” and it was amazing. Their Short Ribs are amongst the best I’ve had. A deliberate wine bring knowing the wine & how well it pairs w/ short ribs.

1997 was an outstanding vintage. I think we can all agree on that. Jones Family is a TRB wine that should not fly under the radar in any vintage and I have had nearly all those good vintages since 97.

The 1997 is ethereal. The nose is pure beauty. Perfectly ripe and resolved fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums & juicy strawberries. Perfect baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, sandstone/limestone, fresh tobacco, cedar to sandalwood, dark, Indian/Asian spices, camphor, black licorice, berry cola, sun tea, volcanics, tree bark w/ hints of sap, dark & red fresh flowers.

The palate is incredibly, beautiful, balanced fruit & earth. Bright cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, hovering raspberries & juicy strawberries. Perfect baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, sandstone/limestone, beautiful Indian/Asian spices w/ some plate heat, fresh tobacco, sandalwood, volcanics & dry clay, camphor, dark chocolate baking bar, black licorice, some warm caramel, berry cola, sun tea, volcanics, dark rich soil with dry leaves, tree bark w/ hints of sap, fresh & dry herbs, dark & red fresh flowers framed in lavender & liquid violets, excellent acidity with perfect; elegance, tension, balance and structured finish that last minutes landing on fresh fruit, dark spices and earth tones.

I’ve posted other bottles of 97 Jones Family that were incredible, 95-96. This one perhaps had better storage, evolution & timing. Magic. — 3 days ago

Brandon S

9.0

Round mouth feel, juicy, fruit forward, light-to-medium bodied. Low tannins, sweet. Opens up to a slight tartness. — 4 years ago