Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

My continuing quest to taste as many 22 Burgundies as possible…

Rounding up to 94 here.

The nose is warm & inviting. It leads you slowly through & down its path. Warm compote made with; blackberries, dark cherries, plums, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries & some blueberries & raspberries. The core is dark & a touch brooding. Anise to black licorice, baking soda, beautifully, layered baking spices, moist/dry herbs, caramel, chocolate baking bar, notes of fallen tree bark, sun tea with fruit dropped in with amazing fresh & withering red, dark, blue florals framed in slightly candied & liquid violets.

The palate is beautiful and strangely wrapped in a waxy coating. The fruits have a slightly baked to stewed and yet candied topping. blackberries, dark cherries, plums, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries & some blueberries & raspberries. The core is again dark & a touch brooding. Anise to black licorice, mid berry cola, baking soda, beautifully, layered baking spices-cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove & vanillin, moist/dry herbs-sage, bay leaf, caramel, chocolate baking bar, some butterscotch notes, fallen, dry tree bark, dark spices, sun tea with fruits dropped in, dry oak barrel shavings, amazing fresh & withering red, dark, blue florals framed in slightly candied & liquid violets, excellent acidity with a very well balanced, well structured-toned, elegant & polished finish that last minutes falling on dark spice and beautiful earth tones.

This is easy to drink now, but better things lie ahead with another 10 plus years of integration and evolution.

Beautiful 22. — 3 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I get why people who generally always review this producer as just good consuming it young. This is ten years from birth, eight years in bottle and it is still not at its peak. it has ten years and perhaps more properly stored. Very good tonight but better things ahead. It takes this long and longer for WS Pinots to shine.

The palate is, juicy, ripe, rich, a bit lush; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, hues of blueberries, plum and ripe to dry strawberries with a pomegranate overlay. Then, dry earthiness, top soil, crushed rocks & powdery limestone & chalkiness, dark spices, some black pepper, dry brush, eucalyptus, tree sap, sun tea, black and red cola/licorice, drier tobacco, barrel dust to shavings, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, touch of dry herbs-bay leaves & sage, bright red, pink, blue, purple florals framed in dark slightly withering florals, rain shower acidity, the finish is; well structured & balanced in fruit, earth & flowers, some more tension than I like but will soften & fade nicely in 3-5 years. But, wire to wire really even and stunning. Evolution & integration is good but needs 3-5 years to be its best. Coravin glass.

IMHO, one of the outstanding CA Pinot producers. Walter Hansel gives them a run for the money at their fantastic price point. — 2 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.2

2018 vintage. Very dark-fruited and Burgundian. Firm, yet fine-grained tannins. Black plum skin, cranberry, black tea, tangerine peel, rose petal, tree bark, autumn leaves, fresh blackberry. Really quite good at the proper temperature. I had it over-chilled initially and found it rather thin. Comparable to a village or 1er Cru level Nuits-Saint-Georges or the like. — 3 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. — 13 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The very definition of velvet wrapped in an iron fist. It is singing on my palate.

This Dry Creek is better than the Select Terraces I’ve opened lately. Deep, black, ripe, ruby, currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, blue hues, dark cherries, crazy, deep, Indian spices, dark berry cola, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel, malt balls, fresh tobacco, used leather, tree bark w/ sap, steeped fruit tea, limestone, crushed risks, river stone, forest floor with dry leaves, dry herbaceous notes, endless rainbow of florals, beautiful acidity and well balanced, structure and tension that is tightly knit with finish for days.

Crazy, stupid, producer that continues to fly well below the radar. I am thankful it does.

This 2010 has 10 years plus of life left ahead. The best Ca Cabernet I’ve had in many years. Wine affects me differently than most but this wine is like a full body massage. Maybe, that is why I discovered my palate. — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Been over a year since I’ve had this and really dug it last time. Glorious cooling spices. Lovely mineral and earthen scents. Oolong tea. Tree bark. Perfectly ripe cherries. Just gorgeous. So complex and layered. So delicate and pure. 9.5 nose. Palate is dynamite. Full of energy, power, concentration and depth. Very Red Riesling. So sappy. Ripe, sweet and velvety tannins. Superb structure and sap. Just brilliant. — 4 years ago

John Bratincevic

8.9

NOSE: dark, dried fruit; blueberry, BBQ, cedar.

TASTE: as the nose, but juicier. Tannins are slight and bitter. I don’t care for BBQ in my wine, but it will go well with the chili I’m about to have. Overpriced. 89.

EDIT: another reviewer notes menthol, and I agree — tea tree oil might be even more accurate. — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Nightcap. I have been eyeing this 2018 Bourgogne Rouge for sometime and haven’t found the night to enjoy. Seems it was meant for tonight’s nightcap.

I enjoy Henri’s whites over his reds. His whites are go to. But, this red burgundy is quite pleasant. Nice on its own but is more friendly with/ food…Duck Confit.

It has started to settle in nicely. Fruits are dark & mid red & forward. Ripe, lush & juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, plum w/ heavy skin, strawberries, red cherries & pomegranate with blue & purple fruit hues. Light baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, chocolate pudding, toast, moist, blended limestone minerals, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, dark spice blend, fresh rain showered forest floor, tea, tree sap, fresh herbs, touch of mint/eucalyptus, moist, grey volcanic clay, dry twig, red cola notes, dry, floral, dark, red & purple flowers/florals, round acidity and a nicely knitted, tensioned, structured, balanced, rich, polished finish that last a full minute.

$30-35 on release. — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose is candied fruits are of; dark cherries, blackberries, cherries, strawberries, blueberries & black plum. Strong presence of tree bark, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, soft cinnamon, understated limestone, moist, clay, soft volcanics, mixed dark berry cola, fruit tea, pomegranate juice, crust, dark red, blue and purple florals.

The palate is, rich, full and lush. Candied fruits are of; dark cherries, blackberries, cherries, strawberries, blueberries & black plum. Strong presence of tree bark, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, soft cinnamon, understated limestone, moist, clay, soft volcanics, eucalyptus, tree bark w/ sap, mixed dark berry cola, fruit tea, pomegranate juice, crust, dark red, blue and purple florals. The acidity is a bit off but ok. Finish starts well, hollows a bit in the mid palate, pick up and then finishes a touch short.

This may improve with age but not convinced it has the elements to do so. — 2 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.3

2019 vintage. Delicious! Wild strawberry, cranberry, tart cherry, dried rose petal, tree bark, black tea, violet, the faintest of star anise, seems like a little steminess. — 4 years ago