Jack Rabbit Hill
Laughing Jack
Moppa Hill Block 6 Shiraz 2012
Big and inky Barossa heaps of fruit and oak but not overpowering like some from the region. Had 2012 in 2021 but would not lose anything with another 5-10 years careful cellaring. — 3 years ago
La Chablisienne
La Fief de Grenouilles Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2006
One of the absolute best white wines I’ve had so far this year to date was this extraordinary Grand Cru Chablis from 2006. I think we caught this wine at the absolute perfect time to drink. Grenouilles is French for frog, more on that below.
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The color on this was perfect, a vibrant light gold and yellow, watery at the rim. The nose was also in perfect condition, notes of flint, crushed oyster shell, a touch of smoke, allied with fresh Asian pear and crisp Fuji apple. The wind absolutely jumped out of the glass, the nose was so pronounced. The palage took it another level up with a perfect expression of what the nose was giving, all the while wrapped up in a perfect medium bodied majorly dense and complex wine. Medium plus acidity and very long on the finish.
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Formed in 1923, la Chablisienne is a co-op winery based of course in Chablis. As I have gone deeper into the rabbit hole of wine I tend to find these amazing co-ops which I wish I could have known about earlier as the wines are so impeccably good and priced so reasonably well. They produce something like 30 different wines off from the Chardonnay grape and all from vineyards within the AOC borders of Chablis.
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The Grenouilles climat is the smallest of the 7 Chablis Grand Cru climat at 9.38 hectares. It has soils that consist of upper and middle layers of Kimmeridgian, alternating with limestone and marl that are studded with fossilised seashells.
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The first vines to grow at the bottom of this hill were close to the River Serein and frogs no doubt came to keep the winegrowers company. — 6 years ago
Cobb
Jack Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014
Cobb is another solid producer of CA Pinot Noir. A 14 acre parcel bought in 1988 by Ross Cobb and began making wine in 1989.
The nose reveals ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries, hints of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb, tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dry top soil w/ crushed rocks, light, fresh tobacco, volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets.
The palate is ripe, juicy and very elegant. Fruits are; ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, raspberries, hues of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb and pomegranate juice. Tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dark, moist spice, very, dry, dusty top soil w/ crushed rocks, crumbled volcanics, dry, grey clay, light, fresh tobacco, cigar & volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets. The excellent acidity runs like a cool mountain river with a well knitted, structured, balanced, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts over a minute landing on soft minerality & spice.
This 14 has another 4-5 years of good drinking before it starts its gentle decline.
Photos of the Jack Hill Vineyard, winery gate and founder Ross Cobb. — 10 months ago
David Hill
Black Jack Pinot Noir 2005
I’ve waited years to open this. It was well worth the wait. Rich with fruity black cherry, currants, plum and smokey oak, coffee and chocolates. In addition, there is a lovely hint of citrus (perhaps, a sweet residue of liqueur from the French Oak barrels). Perfect celebration in a time of uncertainty.
Happy Easter! Peace & Blessings! — 5 years ago
Parmeson
Jack Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Inaugural release and it is power packed. — 6 years ago
Renwood Winery
Grandpère Zinfandel 1994
Bobby Dean Parker said it pretty well in 1996: . . The 1994 Zinfandel Grandpere Vineyard offers an opaque purple color that resembles black ink. A fabulous nose of old vine black-cherries, black-raspberries, earth, licorice, and pepper is an attention-grabber. This is an unctuously-textured, low acid, extremely rich, ripe, dry Zinfandel that coats the mouth with amazing flavor extraction as well as silky richness. The finish lasts for 40-45 seconds. If readers admire huge, rich, yet well-balanced Zinfandels, these wines represent a tour de force in winemaking. And it is still knocking socks off today (my words) . . In the company of a few Martinelli jack ass hill and Giuseppe and Louisa bottlings, some occasional Ridge bottlings, these are perhaps the best examples of that varietal I have tasted in my 50 years of drinking them . .  kudos to Scott Harvey for creating these legends and if you happen to find some well stored bottles do not hesitate to snatch them up as they will provide fabulous drinking probably for another 20 years to come — 3 years ago
Jess
The Hare Winery Jack Rabbit Special Edition Red 2021
VQA Ontario
Sour cherry, spice. Richly flavored. — 3 months ago