04/13 WES HAGEN, J. WILKES WINES, MIKE & VALERIE THOMPSON, THOMPSON 31FIFTY WINES,

MIKE & VALERIE THOMPSON - FOUNDERS, THOMPSON 31FIFTY WINES

THE NEWEST BOUTIQUE WINERY IN HEALDSBURG, RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, CA

WINES:
2015 Cicero Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 
This wine is our newest creation.  This exceptional and full-bodied single vineyard wine was aged for 19 months in 100% new French oak barrels.  Our inspiration for this wine was a quote from the revered Roman statesman and orator, Cicero, who stated that “life is nothing without friendship.”  We wholeheartedly agree!  Our tasting notes include hints of dark berries, cooked red fruits, cinnamon, molasses, dried fruit, strawberry and cranberry.  Cicero is seductive on the nose and has a lovely texture and finish covering the entire palate.  Excitement runs through our senses each time we sample this special bottling of a Pommard clone.  95 cases bottled.  $80 per bottle.  Available by the 3 pack or case.

2015 Thompson 31Fifty Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 
This wine was aged for 18 months in 65% new French oak barrels.  It is silky and opens exquisitely in the glass.  Our tasting notes include hints of bright raspberry, ripe cherry, black plum, baked fruits, cocoa, black olive and a long finish with structured acidity.  This wine will continue to drink well over the next five to seven years.   225 cases bottled.  $60 per bottle.  Available by the 3 pack, case of 1.5L.


WES HAGEN - WINEMAKER, BRAND AMBASSADOR, J. WILKES WINES

A STORY AS BIG AS THE WEST

JEFF(ERSON) WILKES WAS A WINEGROWER AND WINE GRAPE SALESMAN AT BIEN NACIDO AND SOLOMON HILLS VINEYARDS IN THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY AS WELL AS FRENCH CAMP VINEYARD IN THE PASO ROBLES HIGHLANDS FOR TWENTY YEARS (1981-2001).

Jeff’s tireless promotion and demand for quality anchored the Bien Nacido Vineyard, Solomon Hills and the Santa Maria Valley as the heart and soul of Santa Barbara County winegrowing, providing grapes to some of the greatest winemakers in California. Jeff launched his ‘J.Wilkes’ label in 2001, focusing on Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, and made his last wine in 2010 before his untimely passing late in that same year. Soon after, the label was relaunched as a tribute to Jeff’s unwavering love of the Santa Maria Valley, his commitment to value and quality, and later as a vehicle for blending AVA wines that show the best of the Central Coast and our diversity of meso-climates..

Jeff’s love of the Old West and sailing the Pacific Ocean continue to guide our winemaking team. The freedom that the West and the Pacific represent are in every sip of J.Wilkes, as is the pursuit of discovery that drives humans to search for new experiences and better lives. A bottle of J.Wilkes is an investment to keep your friends and family at the table for an extra hour. We believe the combination of food, love and wine is one of the most important rituals left in this country and is the cure for spending too much time with technology..

JESSIE “JABS” BIRSCHBACH, THE SOMM JOURNAL, SAM SMITH, SMITH-MADRONE WINERY

JESSIE “JABS” BIRSCHBACH - MANAGING EDITOR, THE SOMM JOURNAL / SENIOR WINE EDITOR, THE TASTING PANEL & THE CLEVER ROOT

JABS IS A FEATURED PANELISTS AT THIS YEARS KAPALUA WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL
A collaboration of Kapalua Resort partners creating a new spin on the longest running food and wine event in the USA. The annual Kapalua Wine and Food Festival is a celebration of epicurean excellence showcasing the finest in food and wine and embracing all things Hawaiian – notably – the fabulous culinary bounty on Maui and here at the world-renowned Kapalua Resort.

ABOUT JABS:
Jessie “JABS” Birschbach, Managing Editor at The Somm Journal magazine, is a Certified Sommelier with a background in fine dining (Spago, Beverly Hills; Mastro’s Steakhouse, Beverly Hills) creative marketing (Signature Creative, Protagonist) and comedy (iO West, UCB LA). JABS is an active homebrewer, belonging to the Pacific Gravity Homebrew Club, and specializes in pairing cannabis strains with wine and beer. Although she is from the island of Kauai, spending the first six years of her life on the islands, JABS grew up in San Diego where she received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from San Diego State University. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her wife and son.


SAM SMITH - ASSISTANT WINEMAKER, SMITH-MADRONE WINERY 

ESTATE:                 
All wines made entirely from the winery’s estate vineyards surrounding the winery on top of Spring Mountain in the Napa Valley. Stuart Smith chose specific slopes with different exposures for specific varietals when planting the vineyards: eastern exposure for Riesling, southern and western exposures across flat stretches for the Cabernet Sauvignon and the coolest north-facing slopes for the Chardonnay.  There are numerous historical sights on the ranch, as well as the huge array of natural beauty and wildlife.

SOIL:                         
The soils are mostly deep-red Aiken Stoney Clay loam, part of the Aiken, Kidd, Forward complex of soils which are volcanic-based, well-drained and deep for mountain soils.  The underlying geology is the Franciscan Assemblage, unique to California coastal ranges, which includes altered mafic volcanic rocks, deep-sea radiolarian cherts, sandstones, limestones, serpentines, shales and high-pressure metamorphic rocks, all of them faulted and mixed in a seemingly chaotic manner as a result of tectonic plate activity.  The soils are rocky, with some rocks as large as small cars.

THE ESTATE:       
200 acre ranch, partly planted as vineyard over a century ago; California black bears and other wildlife once thrived here; enormous 120-year-old Picholine olive trees frame a path and view overlooking Napa Valley and Bothe Napa Valley State Park