Our first bottling from this small production family winery in Calistoga.
My first impressions of this wine, it’s a classic older Calistoga Cabernet. It’s nicely resolved but, not at the end of its life as some have predicted. It is a shade past its prime but, drinking nicely with the exception it’s a touch hot, even after all this time in bottle and when temp’s were not pushing alcohol levels like they can now. However, heat aside, I enjoy wines just the other side of their prime and beyond. Brings out additional complexity-characteristics and are infinitely more interesting.
The nose reveals, stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries with some deep blue fruits. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender.
The body is rich, lush, ruby, statin, velvety and thick. The tannins are rounded & softened but, still speaking loudly. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a very good place. This wine has legs to stand for another 5-10 years depending on how you enjoy them. Stewed, candied & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries deep blue fruits, purple fruit blend, haunting raspberries with poached strawberries as it sets. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice with good palate heat, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, slightly, moist clay, pronounced, fine volcanic minerals, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender. The acidity is round & exquisite. The long finish is; well balanced fruit & earth, very complexity, rich, delicious and persists endlessly.
Photos of; Stephanie Jones Bailey, Rick and Elaine Jones, Estate view, their Cabernet fruit close to harvest and vineyard staff managing fruit clusters & leafing.
Producer notes...they were founded in 1996. Jones Family Vineyards specializes in estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Thomas Rivers Brown makes their wines, two Cabernet wines...Jones Family Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and The Sisters. TRB also makes an extremely limited production of aged Sauvignon Blanc that is cellared for over 3 years in barrel and bottle.
Jones Family has ten acres of south facing vineyards that lie 600 to 800 feet off the valley floor, resting above the fog line, an ideal altitude for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley area.
@Paul T- Huntington Beach FYI. — 6 years ago
@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum ok yeah, this is all that and a bag of chips. Good call! — 7 years ago
This wine is nearly perfect. Amazing purity of fruit and great acidity. I’m in search of more. Thanks to Southern Hemisphere Wines in Huntington Beach Ca. for the recommendation. — 7 years ago
This little known bottle had a sling and a rock and it took down a giant! Yep David vs. Goliath! This was the biggest surprise of the night! @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Jade Moore I will be buying more. @Mike Smith @Shay A @Kimberly Anderson @Aaron Means @Antonio Galloni @Carl Fischer @Connor McMahon @Ceccherini Cristiano @Martin G Rivard @Bill Bender @Terri Walker @TheSkip @Jim Trobaugh @Jody Scharf @Warren Sapp @Walter Sorensen @Stanley Barrios @Neal Schaffer — 7 years ago
This is absolutely one of my top three favorite producers from Barossa. Dan Standish marches to his own drum when it comes to his Winemaking. He doesn’t follow trends or fashion in winemaking. Before he started his own Winery, he was the Winemaker for Torbreck and also traveled to other world wine regions before settling back in Barossa. I had the privilege of spending a couple of hours last April with him. What a joy to listen, learn and laugh with him. This wine comes from 100 year old vines. While it is excellent, keeps getting better and puts on weight in the glass, its just a notch under his “Relic.” He has no US importer as he sells out to his mailing list. He’ll ship it to you, but shipping charges from Australia are simply stupid. You’ll find some of his wines on the secondary market. On the nose; smoldering ambers, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, olallieberries, huckleberries, blueberries, loamy dry soils, crushed rocks, spice, sour dark liqueur notes, dry stones, light baking spices, dark turned earth, well done toast, dry lavender, lilacs and fresh violets. The body is rich, lush and beautiful. The tannins are about a year or two farther along than I’m used to tasting, 80% resolved. The palate is simply and flat out amazing. The fruits are; juicy, ruby, ripe and stun the senses. Black plum, plum, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries, olallieberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, blueberries with a mid red fruit mix haunting the background of the palate here & there. The dark medium spices are more refined than the “Relic” and have a perfect heat lifting intensifying quality off the palate. Loamy soils, black licorice, anise, cracked pepper, crushed rocks, dark turned earth, tarry notes, dry stems, an amazing blend of baking spices-clove, nutmeg & a whiff of vanilla, dry herbaceous quality, dry lavender & lilacs and fresh violets for days. Perfect round acidity, excellent; structure, length, tension and balance. Long beautiful finish that doesn’t end. This is First Growth Shiraz! Photos of his Winery and those 100 year old vines. @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher — 7 years ago
I believe this was a one off production for Booker. Jada Vineyard is located near Denner.
I followed this over two days and if I would have guessed blind, there is no way I would have guessed 60% Grenache on either day (although day 2 showed more finesse and lift) as it seems more dominant Syrah. This is high-toned and juicy. Great nose to it. Aromatically, there is licorice, melted dark chocolate, ripe and baked dark fruits, herbs de Provence, and charcoal. It’s already fairly soft and plush on the palate. Bite of tannin and heat toward the mid palate and finish, but it’s certainly not as heavy or dense as you’d expect. Grenache shows up briefly with some pepper and a small reveal of dried red fruits at the core. I think this is in a good drinking window. I believe @Paul T- Huntington Beach helped me get my hands on one of these a while back... — 5 years ago
Mouthwatering, red cherries and bright fruit. Yummy @Neal Schaffer @Warren Sapp @Jim Trobaugh @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Peggy Hadley @Stanley Barrios @Connor McMahon — 6 years ago
Thanks @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum @Jade Moore — 6 years ago
Agree @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum - 22 months is better than the 16 month version - still needs time in the bottle to fully develop — 6 years ago
Are you decorated and ready for holiday guests? We are! Wishing you all a Happy Holiday season. ☃️🦌🎄🎁🎅🤶❄️ Cheers! 🥂
This bottle so good tonight almost a 9.4.
@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum A shout out & thanks to Paul for finding this on sale and sending it my way so I could stock up. Seeing as Jeff Bezos wouldn’t do the normal Whole Foods Wine sale in mid November. I guess short on cash this Q4? 🤷♂️ — 7 years ago
Would buy this all day over Bevans SB. @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher thank you for sharing this tasty bottle with us! Fleshy mango, white peach and melon. Up front you get a kiss of smoke and pineapple. Finish is nervy with its youthful acidity. — 7 years ago
@Warren Sapp @Stanley Barrios @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Stanley Barrios excellent afternoon and excellent wine. Top Winery has a bright future ahead. — 7 years ago
Full of aromas of a lost vivification process. Old world and sexy as ever! Thank you Paul... LETS GO LAKERS...
@Neal Schaffer @Warren Sapp @Shauna Summers @Jim Trobaugh @Terri Walker @Neal Schaffer @Eric Shanks @Bill Bender @Bill Bender @leon egozi @Ian Blackburn @Stanley Barrios @Kimberly Anderson @Daniel P. Drake @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Peggy Hadley @Neil Valenzuela @Connor McMahon @Keith Crump @Martin G Rivard @Lisa Marie Aka “Beachin Wino” @Laura Purdy @Vanessa D — 6 years ago
This is really good. Bordeaux style, nose is more restrained than expected but develops over time. Blackcurrant, soil, thyme, aniseed, lavender and a little bloody tang. Violet colouring with some browning noticeable when swirling. Palate is smooth with good fruit, candy, herbs and some spearmint. The wine throws a light sediment. My work is done @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum go ahead and enjoy, I’ll be interested to hear what you think. — 6 years ago
I’ve had this wine a million times. I just want to show @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum or PROVE we have the same wine opener 💁🏻♀️. — 7 years ago
Starting the night off with a bottle of incredible Chardonnay a monks the company of our family and awesome friends! There’s no better way to get the party started! Absolutely mind-boggling good Chardonnay.@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Paul’s a believer and knows what I’m talking about! — 7 years ago
@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Mike Smith @Martin G Rivard Wow and thank you Paul for this amazing gift. You’re always so generous! — 7 years ago
Ryan Vento
Underwater glamour shot just for you, @Paul T- Huntington Beach
Bought a case of this as our Summer 2020 house white wine. Lovely pool companion 🙌🏻 — 5 years ago