TRL/Staff/Wine = 9/9/10
Jessup has been a "must stop" ever since we discovered it. Tucked away in an inconspicuous little building in Yountville, Jessup Cellars has brought culture to their wine tasting experience by integrating private tasting rooms with in an art gallery. Now, this isn't a new concept, Imagery has a similar layout. Some subtle differences, though, is that Imagery's art is self-serving, with each piece of art incorporating their signature logo.
The Tasting Room/Location notwithstanding, the staff is very pleasant and affable, always welcoming and quite knowledgeable. But let's not forget why we're there...the wine!
(Note: Value Primer (Retail $$/Club $$/Our Guilt-free bottle $$))
2008 Napa Valley Chardonnay: $42/$35/$30
2008 Napa Valley Rose (Cabernet Sauvignon Rose): $28/$23.8/$18
2005 Napa Valley Zinfandel: $44/$37.4/$38
2004 Napa Valley Merlot: $34/$28.9/$42
Love the nose on this; totally smooth and soft for romance (with no meal); easy merlot that's understated
2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: $65/$55.25/$45
A little spicy, but quite smooth. We've had other vintages that have been far more compelling, Unfortunately, everyone else thought they were compelling too, and now they're all gone!
2006 Napa Vally Cabernet Sauvignon
Wow! Great nose! Sweet baked ham and cloves; perfect. Somehow, the palate fell completely flat! I couldn't believe that the flavor bailed! What a shame!
2007 Manny's Blend : $45/--
Interesting off-dry red blend that would likely pair well with cheesecake. Best notes showed strong strawberries. Good, but hard to place a "guilt-free purchase price on".
2006 Napa Valley Zinfandel
Had trouble with the tangy, tannic finish. Nose is good, but difficult to get the right palate from a Reidel Extreme Bordeaux glass. In fairness, the high alcohol and sweetness of Manny's blend may have fried our palates for anything that followed.
2007 Napa Vally Zinfandel : $39/$33/$37
Nice strawberry notes, but no other nose to it. It'll be good, but it needs to mature for a year or so.
2007 Table for Four : $79/$65/$67
This is Jessup Cellars' flagship bordeaux blend. I have to confess our notes at this point were not as robust as I would have liked them to be, but my recollection is that this is a full-bodied blend without being chewy. The red and black fruits swirl on your palate. The tannic structure is barely detectable, but it's enough to hold together the fruits. By character and definition, it's a red table wine, but at this price, don't mistake it for a simple one; this is, unequivocally, the "impress your friends" bottle of wine.
2006 Zinfandel Port(375ml): $39/$33/$30-$32 (11th-tasting indecision)
Where's the nose? I know it's in there somewhere... Now is where I start to preach about serving wines in a good glass. I felt the broad-bowled glass they used didn't do the wine justice. (What they needed was Riedel's port glass, a scaled down Zin glass.) Put it to your lips, however, and "oh, what a feeling!" I have a bottle from last year (750ml) that is so spectacular that it's been elevated to being my best dessert wine in my cellar; reserved for special company, of course.
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