Andrea

9.8

Bright and fruity! — 2 months ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright gold. Inviting nose and medium full palate of lightly carameled apple, butterscotch, and white pepper. Medium plus acidity brightens it all from entry to medium short finish. The "popcorny" element of previous vintages has gone away in favor of a more balanced fruit to oak to malo ratio yielding a lighter version of the big Carneros style of Robert Lloyd's namesake offering. Very nice if you like this style. Drink now. — 5 months ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

Smells of fresh pressed honey crisp apples - skin and all..
Cocoa, mint, fresh ground coffee, darkness lies in this wine in so many ways. So many wonderful ways. Dense and thick, tingling acidity, with well engulfed tannins.
Lovely.
— 4 years ago

Brian S

9.2

Black cherry, plum, black mushroom, black soil, balsamic, cranberry, black tea, medium minus tannins, medium plus acidity — 2 months ago

Andy B

9.1

Delicious and bright. — 10 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Primarily (83%) Cabernet Sauvignon with some other Bordeaux varietals blended in. Pleasant aromas of violets, roses, black currant/black berry. Dark cooked fruit flavors with hints of soy sauce and beef jerky. Pleasant touch of oak on the finish. Fresh acidity. Good balance. Pleasant surprise. — 2 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.4

I’ve only had the Wayfare Fort Ross Sea view and man this one is right up there @ half the price — 3 months ago

Eric Jasso

9.0

Perhaps too young at 9? Cranberry almost orange creamsicle like nose with thicker jammy body notes of licorice all throughout and a sharp finish — 6 months ago

Jason

9.2

Pretty good. Slight bitter taste in there somewhere but aerate it and that subsides. — 3 years ago

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