Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Medium golden color. Aromas of unripe peach, lemon zest and jasmine. The palate is full of lemon/lime/orange citrus flavors and ginger with additional notes of green apples, melon and pears. Long and lingering finish that is a touch (but pleasantly) salty. Chewy texture with a high level of acidity. Quite complex and well crafted. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of 85% Cab Sauv and 15% Merlot, with an impressive label designed by Mick Jagger’s daughter, Jade. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit, spice and herb notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and tart black cherry with currant and black pepper. Fine tannins, well balanced ending with smoky spice. Tasting well now, crack it out of cellar. — 3 years ago

Bryan Hopkins

8.9

I have long been an admirer of Germain-Robin, and I like this product, but considered as an absinthe it is a very uncharacteristic example. Prominent scent of lemon with spearmint and fennel, slighter lemongrass. The taste gives more mint and anise at first that quickly develops into lemon and leaves lemon on the finish. Think of this as as what the label says, an “aromatic brandy distilled with herbs and natural flavors added,” and it’s quite pleasant. Think of it as an absinthe, and you are likely to be left thinking that it is not what an absinthe should be. But I often enjoy experimentation outside the boundaries of a genre. The fact that it is made with an apple-honey mead as the base adds to the novelty. — 5 years ago

Elizabeth L. Beck

8.9

I’m a Sauvignon blanc kinda girl. But this surprisingly taste like a lite Chardonnay with Sauvignon blanc acidic flavors which I really enjoy! I would drink this anytime. — 9 months ago

TwiLea Fletcher

8.9

11/12/21
Jade tasting.
Dried cherries. Dry. — 3 years ago

with Neal

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A producer bottling I’ve not had. This came to be in my procession via a wine exchange with @Severn Goodwin.

This 03 Jade is In fine shape due to its quality production and Severn’s excellent storage of it.

Nose reveals ripe, slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, black licorice, black pepper, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, underbrush with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets.

The palate is, ripe, rich, elegant, round and lush. After roughly 15 years in bottle, she shows, rounded, dusty, chewy/meaty, dry tannins. The structure, tension, balance & length are just the other side of its peak. The fruits like the nose are slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, smoked meats, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, old tobacco, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, very dry underbrush, some tree bark/sap with brilliant, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets. The acidity is really nice...like a cool mountain stream. The long finish is delicious and persist endlessly into dry, dark spice on the long set.

Still has another 3-5 years of good drinking ahead of it depending on your storage and the age you like your wine to show.

Photos of; Previous Owner-Jim Paras (left) with Winemaker Douglas Danielak, Paras Vineyard Syrah clusters ready for harvest and their Paras Vineyard.

Producer notes, San Francisco Lawyer Jim Paras started the winery in 1984. At the time, he produced about 8,000 cases a year of Syrah, Merlot, Mourvhdre and Viognier. In 1994, Chalone began distributing his wines and eventually bought the winery in 2000. — 4 years ago

Candy

9.6

Jardin de jade — a year ago

Jeremiah Glazer

8.9

Pleasant red. Full bodied, blackberries, herbaceous (on the edge of absinthe). Opens up wonderfully. — 2 years ago

Mark Aronica

8.9

Great with Thanksgiving dinner. — 4 years ago

Bryan Hopkins

9.1

Notes of anis and spearmint most strongly, with more subtle citrus. Sweet even without sugar. Light and delicate but with a creamy mouthfeel. — 5 years ago