David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

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. — 5 years ago

Randmaster Flash

8.9

Bright with lots of cherry; easy to drink — 7 years ago

Kathy Schmedding

9.2

Great Chardonnay! Delicious with shrimp scampi. Great find by Schmed in Santa Barbara! — 7 years ago

Andrew Lam

9.3

The lingering nose of oak and berry when my glass was empty was amazing. — 8 years ago

Austin Beeman

9.5

Pure sexy red fruited Grenache. Spicier that most but with luscious fruit that rolls across the tongue. $90 — 8 years ago

with Susan, Barbara and 3 others

Elizabeth Dz

10

Bold, paired excellent with steak. — 9 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau L’ Evangile is owned by the Rothschild Family.

The nose reveals; ripe, ruby, brightly floral fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, cedar, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals.

The body is full. It’s mouthfeel beautiful and gorgeous already. Brightly floral, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & dry cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, dry cedar plank, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, volcanic minerals, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals. The acidity is round & really nice. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting a good stride. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, beautifully floral and persists for several minutes. Needs to be held 15 years from birth and will drink through 2035+. 93 now with room for more down the road.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the city of San Francisco and the Bay. — 5 years ago

Lye Hock Tan

9.0

Opened on 28th Sept 2018. Moroon brown. Heavy body. Heavy nose with deep wood and oak with a tinge of berries. Very mellow in scent. Not exciting but vintage nose. Acidic to palate with some sweet note. Heavy tannin. Long finishing. — 6 years ago

JBo

8.9

Splashy wet and smooth grapefruit. Needs to breathe. — 7 years ago

with Lizzie88

Kari DeMarco

8.9

Randomly tried it but I like it! — 7 years ago

Ron from VA

9.3

Absolute beauty - such balance of articulate fruit (both apricot and "grape" flesh) and powerful acidity/mineral restraint. Texture and taste -- it was ALL THERE - grace & power! — 7 years ago

Daragh Hoey

9.6

Profoundly challenges my view of Oregon Chardonnay. Restrained in so many ways. But full of electricity. — 8 years ago

M & R

9.2

Half way between sweet and dry. Definitely has a little alcohol kick. — 9 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Golden straw color. Aromas of lemon, grapefruit and lychee. Creamy mouthfeel, flavors of lemon and a mineral finish. — 5 years ago

Davenport Edwards

9.1

Just fine — 5 years ago

Yasuyuki Tauchi

9.4

Everyone could say it must be Burgundy! It’s a footprint of california-made wine that a faint oak vanillas. Cherry, cranberry, very elegant aromas and flavors. — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Seven Stones was the wine of this market visit to Napa. For me, it is the very definition of why I drink wine. Great fruit that is not overworked and is the Webster’s Dictionary of elegance, even at this young age.

On the nose; beautiful dark & medium red cassis. Ruby in style with amazing florals. Blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries & blue fruit mix. The red florals are so engaging, They possessed me for quite sometime before getting to tasting the wine. Soft baking spices with understated vanilla.

The body was medium full. Tannins unbelievably soft, silky and elegant for such a young wine. The fruits picked at the perfect ripeness. Such elegance! Creamy and ruby fruits of; cherries, dark cherries, creamy raspberries and wafting blue fruits. Soft spices, dry crushed rock powder, delicate volcanic minerals, touch herbaceous, whiff of black olive, dry soils, beautiful red roses and violets. The structure firm yet delicate as was the tension. The length and balance in perfect harmony. The long, polished finish simply amazing. Especially, in a wine this young.

Photos of; the property with the seven stones from Yosemite that are held together by gravity and weight 100,000 pounds, and two other artworks from the owners amazing art collection and the view from their terrace. — 6 years ago

Narun P

8.9

Beautiful bloody and transparent shade of red. The aroma reminds me of dry prune or dry ripe/resinated black grape. On the palate, the wine is easy drinking, medium astringency, with balanced red cherry, earthy quality, and spices. Went surprisingly well with our sushi omakase! — 8 years ago

Booger

9.7

I love this wine. They now have a sparkling traminette I will have to try. — 8 years ago

Kaitlin Ohlinger

9.1

Had the 2013 a while back, and I gotta say the 2014 is slammin'. Well balanced, quenchy, stone fruity, zesty. The force is strong for GB in Oregon. — 9 years ago