Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2012
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Young winemakers Micah Joseph Wirth and Adrian Jewell Manspeaker started out in a garage in 2006 and have slowly expanded, making Russian River wines that tend to emphasize discretion rather than bombast. Their even-handed approach clearly paid off in the moderate 2012 growing season, resulting in this sleek, vivid apotheosis of Russian River pinot noir. The fruit comes from two vineyards on the cooler western side of the Russian River Valley—Appian Way and the dry-farmed Hallberg Vineyard—along with Floodgate, a lower-lying vineyard in the center of the valley. There’s not an ounce of undue fat on this wine, just a lively concentration of red fruit and firm berry-skin tannins. The wine’s complex, delicate aromas suggest the bay laurel and redwood bark scents you might encounter on a hike in the forests above the Russian River. This gains clarity and intensity with air, suggesting that, while it’s irresistible now, it will be even more captivating in five years’ time.
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Joseph Jewell Wines started in a garage in Windsor, California in 2006, when two good friends, Micah Joseph Wirth and Adrian Jewell Manspeaker, created their first wine, a Pinot Noir. The 2006 Pinot Noir crop in Northern California was a large one, and several vineyards had grapes to spare. Adrian and Micah considered several options, and finally sourced a ton of grapes from the Toboni Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. They invested in two French Oak barrels and a small basket press…and they were on their way to a very successful first vintage, producing 50 cases of a full-bodied, rich Pinot Noir.
While they were washing out their barrels at the Gary Farrell Winery one day, they tossed around ideas for a name for their fledgling winery. They wanted something that represented them both, yet also had a connection to each of them individually. Combining their middle names, Joseph Jewell rolled off their tongues. They created an elegant coat of arms for their logo and a distinctive label and bottle to match the quality of their wines.
Since that first Pinot Noir, they’ve created several wines, including Russian River Valley Appian Way Pinot Noir, Dry Creek Valley Grist Zinfandel, and Alexander Valley Redwood Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, all with distinct noses and finishes that reflect their unique style of winemaking.