J strikes again with a vibrant Russian River Valley bottling, showing black cherry, cola, cinnamon and clove aromas that translate nicely to plate flavors. Bright acidity extends the finish and helps bring a sweet oak note forward. Add in that it’s fairly widely available at a discount, and you’ve got a fine introduction to their Pinot Noir portfolio. Watch for the vineyard designates — no doubt they’ll be appearing in these pages soon.
J Vineyards, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2014
By Rich Cook