
Jada Vineyard lies in a incredible pocket of the Templeton Gap/Willow Creek District, blessed with cooling coastal air and abundant sunshine throughout the growing season. With sustainability and minimizing their environmental footprint a focus of their winegrowing program, Jada has embraced organic and biodynamic farming techniques and last year, received a SWEEP grant from the CDFA for their commitment to sustainability.
To their winemaker, Josh Harp, the beauty of the land here is found beneath the surface and it's the reason the Messina Family, back in 1999, purchased this 95 acre hillside estate on the West-side of Paso Robles. Under a shallow topsoil of clay loam lie massive deposits of calcareous shale and pockets of limestone. This challenging environment contributes to reduced vigor in the vines and decreased berry size, which plays a huge part in the intensity of their fruit and imparts a complex underlying minerality to their wines. Harvest at Jada generally begins near the end of September and the beginning of October allowing for a long maturation process that results in superb development of color & intensity in character while maintaining acidity.
Jada's approach has always been one of "sustainable excellence" - avoiding short-cuts and focusing on those improvements that would increase wine quality year after year. They are proud today to celebrate their 13th vintage making estate wines, their 95th "90/+" wine rating, and their 11th anniversary, since opening the Tasting Room doors in 2008.
Currently, the ranch is planted to 48 acres of Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, making under 5,000 cases to support the Wine Club and Tasting Room. All you have to do to be a part of this amazing effort is sit back, relax, sip, and enjoy!
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Inglenook Rubicon is made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Since its inaugural vintage in 1978, Rubicon has been the Estate's premier red wine, reflecting the soul of the property and expressing Francis Coppola's wish to create a Bordeaux-styled grand wine, that is, "a wine that can please contemporary taste, but with a historical aspect [that defines] our vineyards at their zenith."
Rubicon was named after the small river crossed by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C., declaring his intention to gain control of Rome, thereby launching a civil war among opposing factions. Over time the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has come to signify any irreversible action with revolutionary intent or the outcome of which holds great risk. True to its uncommon depth, Inglenook's Rubicon continues to be a testament to the finely tuned rendering of a risk well-taken.
Strikingly rich in color and extract, the 2018 Rubicon is unquestionably a precocious, hedonistic wine. The exotic, well-knit aromas and flavors include ripe cassis, allspice, star anise, vanilla and black licorice. Upon entry, this full-bodied wine envelops the palate with its luxurious concentration and supple, silky tannins, supported by vibrant freshness from the balanced acidity, and perfectly-integrated French oak. Very long and expansive in the finish, the 2018 Rubicon will be memorable for decades to come.
Review:
Subtle and complex red with blackberry, black truffle, sweet tobacco and mahogany. Highlights of lavender and violets. Full-bodied and very tight with finesse and tension. Very polished, fine tannins. Long finish. Delicious already, but best after 2022.
-James Suckling 97 Points
Intense, fresh and fruity bouquet, reminiscent of a tangy red fruit tart (wild strawberry, blueberry), slightly sweet yet underpinned by more concentrated, jammy and citrus notes. The aromatic complexity comes through after a few swirls in the glass giving us a medley of spice, warm cinnamon and peppers. Fleshy attack dominated by ripe, crunchy, plump red fruit that brings depth and creaminess. The fruity structure is gradually elongated by a chalky, mineral freshness that creates a lingering sensation of lightness and harmony on the finish.
Review:
Roederer's 2014 Brut Vintage is beautiful, offering up aromas of pear, mirabelle plum, red berries, warm biscuits and smoke. Full-bodied, layered and elegantly muscular, it's seamless and complete, with terrific mid-palate depth and amplitude. Framed by bright acids and enlivened by a pinpoint mousse, it concludes with a penetrating finish. The blend is 70% Pinot Noir, emphasizing Verzy, and pressure is a touch higher than in its more ethereal Blanc de Blancs counterpart. As I wrote of its 2013 predecessor, this is a wine that puts many prestige cuvées to shame.
95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate