Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.8

If you’ve never had it you won’t believe my rating. The essence of Zinfandel - loaded with cherry-liqueur tobacco, blackberry, fresh earth, leather, walnut, tar and yet still vibrating with life. A pleasure to drink. Obviously, storage is key - poorly stored bottles are not going to maintain these characteristics — 10 days ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Nectar of the Gods. — a month ago

with Bonnie

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. — 10 days ago

Meredith Hu

9.3

Balsamic, walnut, apricot, ginger, persimmon, fino Sherry nose. Pale tawny. Chocolate and coffee on the palate. Low acidity from Mission grape. — 39 minutes ago

Dominic O'Mahony

9.1

Caramel, walnut, brown bread, a hint of liquorice. Wonderful, although slightly too much alcohol for my tastes. — 14 days ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.2

2017 vintage. Very forest-y with cranberry, crab apple, walnut skin, autumn leaves (both dry and damp), birch, red flowers, pomegranate, dry herbs. Good typicity and balance between earthy and fruit flavors. Definitely in the lighter spectrum and higher acid than any New Works examples. — 21 days ago

Steve Hahn

8.9

Very complete tawny for the price, lots of raisin, walnut and caramel. — a month ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

8.9

‘Black walnut shells’ in there? Sounds about right. — 16 days ago

Meredith Hu

9.5

NV Gonzalez Byass ‘Matusalem’ Cream VORS. Dark brown in color. Clear. Walnut and syrup. Dog and raisin. Chocolate and coffee. High acidity, long finish. One of the best examples of cream sherry. 😋 130g/L RS. — an hour ago

AJ Gubser

8.9

Nose of chicory, cocoa powder, and an interesting minty/menthol note.

Pretty substantial roast notes with creamed coffee, bitter walnut, and touch of underlying caramel. Dries out just enough with a touch of bitterness to keep it drinkable.

Rich, malty red with nice roast influence. — 9 days ago