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Tasting at JC Cellars - Syrah, Zin, Marsanne & Viognier

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Tasting at JC Cellars - Syrah, Zin, Marsanne & Viognier Empty Tasting at JC Cellars - Syrah, Zin, Marsanne & Viognier

Post  Tony V e l e b i l Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:36 pm

Sunday afternoon I went to JC Cellars tasting room in Oakland, CA to check up on the new releases. Angela was unfortunately not there but Megan was a more than capable replacement.

2006 Boules Viognier (Vin de pays des Collines Rhodaniennes) $40
This was very nice and from what others have told me, much better than it was during the summer. Crisp, minerally with honeysuckle, vanilla and peach fruits. Not oily like some Viogniers can be and without any of the bitterness in the finish. 91/100

2006 Stagecoach Vineyard Marsanne ($38)
Nose comes across as much sweeter (fruit not RS) than the Viognier. Notes of orange blossom, bitter almond skin, some crushed rock and honeysuckle. A little too much bitterness for me but this should settle down in a couple of months. 88/100

2004 Ventana Vineyard Syrah $30

I'll just use Jeff Cohn (the JC in JC Cellars) notes on this one: "aromatics of lavendar, violets, black & red fruits, fresh cracked white pepper. Beautifully concentrated, this opaque purple colored wine is loaded with flavors of red raspberries, black cherries, smoke and olives." I'll add there is liqueurish quality to the wine and texturally it is very silky on the palate. 92/100 and at $30, I bought some!

2006 Rockpile Vineyard Haley's $60
Again using Jeff's notes b/c he nailed the description of this one too. "Boasting an opaque purple.black color alluding to its intensity, delivering aromatics of blackberry liqueur intermixed with licorice and smoked meats." Very dense, grippy finish. This is packed and stacked with what seems like a little more new oak. I really enjoyed it and would call it 94/100, but at $60 it was just above what I would pay for it, especially with the Ventana at 1/2 the price.

2005 Arrowhead Mountain Zinfandel $35
This is a pretty interesting wine in that some of the aromatics are a little more Rhoneish in nature...anise, herbs but then a wallop of black licorice and earthy notes hit. Finally some red fruits and a little pepper hit at the end. It's really very good but a distinct/earthy/gamey/savory kind of Zin. 90/100
Tony V e l e b i l
Tony V e l e b i l

Posts : 29
Join date : 2009-01-19
Location : Oakland, CA (Rockridge neighborhood)

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Post  Shane Finley Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:18 pm

nice call tony. ventana has always been my favorite jc cellars' syrah and arrowhead my favorite zin....going back to the copain days.
Shane Finley
Shane Finley

Posts : 3
Join date : 2009-01-25
Location : Sonoma County

http://www.shanewines.com

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Post  Cris Whetstone Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:46 pm

I've been impressed the occasions I have tried their wines. Definitely Californian but without the fat midpalates and overt fleshiness you sometimes get in bottles of those varieties from many other wineries.
Cris Whetstone
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