JC Cellars www.jccellars.com
55 4th St, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 465-5900
Jeff Cohn, winemaker, produces about 5000 cases a year.89+ 2007 JC Cellars Preston Vineyard Marsanne (Dry Creek Valley) $32
100% Marsanne 15.5%alc 219cases
Overall: Deep honey color with waxy pear and honey flavors. A light heavyweight that is balanced by acidity. Persistent from start to finish, with a slight bitterness in the end. A pleasure already, if you like your whites big, but should improve in the next several years.88 2008 JC Cellars The Imposter $35
CA blend of 39% Zinfandel, 29% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah, 4% Tempranillo, 3% Carignan, 2% Grenache, 1% Viognier 15.5%%alc 1171cases
Overall: Deep color. Excellent tannin and lots of fruit. A heavyweight that is very tasty, but a little lacking in distinction. Short finish.89 2005 JC Cellars Caldwell Vineyard Syrah (Napa Valley) $45
100% Syrah 15.0%alc 104cases
Overall: Deep garnet with rich blackberries. A balanced, solid middleweight that’s very tasty and juicy, but needs more distinction and/or structure to be excellent.92+ 2007 JC Cellars Eaglepoint Ranch Petite Sirah (Mendocino) $45
100% Petite Sirah 15.0%alc 249cases
Overall: Very deep black garnet with loads of fresh blackberries and some dusty, earthiness. Heavyweight with balance and structure. Slight bitterness in finish at this point, but still very tasty. Very promising. Needs 5+ years.88 2007 JC Cellars Smoke and Mirrors $25
CA blend of 85% Syrah, 9% Petite Sirah, 6% Zinfandel 14.0%alc 831cases
Overall: Barnyard aromas complement smooth, dark berry fruit. Very appealing in the bouquet and flavor, but the body and finish are a little light. Could get more interesting with time, if lucky.93 2007 JC Cellars Buffalo Hill Syrah (Rockpile) $80
100% Syrah 15.6%alc 63cases
Overall: Rich, smooth concentrated and distinctive blackberries with a little leather. Heavyweight with excellent fruit, acidity and fine tannins. Very juicy and concentrated. A joy to drink now. Strikes me as a balanced fruit bomb, but could improve with short term aging. Delicious.Final Thoughts: An impressive line-up of high quality wines, making over 20 different wines a year, most of them single vineyard. Overall, these wines are more showy than Dashe’s with lots of upfront fruit, but are less balanced and distinctive. My favorites were the Preston Marsanne and the Eaglepoint Petite Sirah.
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