Joe Fusaro

9.5

Full-bodied and delicious! While there’s a little alcohol at the finish, this is wonderful. — 11 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Continuing quest to taste as many 22’s as possible.

Nose shows similarities to Vincent Dauvissat. Honeysuckle-honeycomb, butterscotch, melted butter, biscuits, yellow florals.

The palate reveals good viscosity, round, long & thick. Meyer lemon, apricots, yellow peach, red & green apple, syrupy pineapple, white spice, limestone marl, grey volcanics, sea spray-saline, muddy chalk, flint, almonds, yellow & white flowers, excellent round acidity and beautiful, balanced, well polished, lush finish that lasts just over two-minutes and landing on spice & minerals.

Will merit another point or two w/ appropriate age (5 plus years) and is a better buy at $220 than the 22 Dauvissat for $20 more. — 5 months ago

Brad Jensen

9.1

At first I found this medium bodied, slightly creamy, with prominent stone fruits, white peach and cumquat, with a prominent minerality and slight notes of cheesecake on the nose. Now it’s emerging much more dry with air, still a long, mineral driven palate, still medium bodied, but beautifully balanced and definitely a contract to many California white wines when it comes to complexity and nuance. — 7 months ago

Brian Reedy

9.4

Drinking perfectly right now. Tart pomegranate. Bright acidity. Hint of morels at the end. Lingers on the palate — a month ago

with Sarah

Brad Jensen

9.3

Drinking Pinot for Thanksgiving from a vineyard 4 miles away is pretty special! Aged a few years before opening shows a little bricking at the edges with a pale red with orange hue to the color. Big nose bursts forth out of the glass with peppery notes of spiced red fruits, plum and strawberry perhaps, with a slight floral element throughout. The Medium body brings on pleasant notes of vanilla and baking spice, with slight tannin, big plum and ripe red fruits, a hint of brandy and a refined floral element to the finish. — 5 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on October 5, 2024 at Home with Matt and Wendy]

— 7 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This 14 has a bit of a story. I opened their 2005 last weekend, which was fantastic, I also opened their 2014 as an example w/ a friend to show how important aging is in Italy reds out of Tuscany & Piemonte. Also, how long it takes for the amount of new wood use Italians put to both to soften. The Italians hold them back in bottle sometimes two to three years or longer. The 05 last weekend was a 93-94. This after an hour & half decant, 90-91. In time, add one to two points.

For those who didn’t study their ass off to pass the Court of Master Sommeliers exam, the difference between Chianti & Chianti Classico is, Classico needs to come from a specific region in Chianti and needs to have an additional 10% of Sangiovese over regular Chianti.

2014 a good but not all-star vintage like 2010.

The 2014 still young. Showing dry; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some black plum, dry cranberries & strawberry hues. Oak barrel shavings, dry; leather, cedar, & dry tobacco, limestone & sandstone power, dry twig, dry river stone, dry top soil, slight candied & withering; red, dark, purple flowers framed in violets, nice acidity and a taut structured & tensioned but balanced, elegantly polished landing on dry earth that lasts nearly 90 seconds.

It is a good pair w/ the lasagna that has a really nice dark seasoning in it. An aged Nebbiolo might have worked better. From, The Adorable French Bakery at the Santa Cruz Farmers Market. No permanent location. — 9 months 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. — 15 days ago

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on July 18, 2024 at The Optimist in Nashville with Jay] — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

#Remembrance #Love 6/25

Sofia’s favorite producer of Pinot Noir.

Her picking the Merlot at Chateau Mouton Rothschild in 2012. If your 12 Mouton Rothschild is better than expected, you’ll know why.

My favorite picture of Sofia. — 10 months ago