October 2006 Wine Tasting Notes:
2004 JanKris Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles.
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Dark ruby in color with a purple edge. The nose opens with a slightly gamey, peppery note and progresses to black licorice, nutmeg and toasted oak over aromas of plums, cherry and cassis, ending with a lavender note. The palate of cherry, cassis and spice is accented by vibrant oaky notes. Currant, blackberry and toasty oak with a prominent licorice note make up the medium finish. Dense, velvety tannins, moderate acidity and bold alcohol make for a firm structure. |
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RWB Score: 89 breakdown 13.9% Alcohol $9.99 Retail (from winery); 924 cases produced |
Rich and velvety mouthfeel, well-extracted fruit and oaky, floral elements define this wine. Broad, spicy nose and palate with good fruit concentration and a meaty mid-palate. This wine should mellow over the next 5 years. Pair this medium bodied offering with hearty meat dishes. |
More JanKris reviews
Detail
Composition: 84.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.3% Cabernet Franc, 63. Petite Verdot. Harvested at 25 Brix, and aged approximately 10 months in 100% neutral oak barrels.
While just about everyone is familiar with the two Cabernets, (Cabernet Sauvignon which shows black currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors and Cabernet Franc which expresses raspberry, cherry, plum, strawberry, and floral notes of violet as well as spice), not everyone has heard of Petite Verdot: A minor component of Bordeaux blends - in France and California. It is typically a rich purple color with firm tannins and adds a spicy and exotic floral element to wines.
The 2004 growing season was one of the shortest in the history of the state. Harvest came two to three weeks earlier than usual, at the start of August. Statewide reports of light to normal yields of excellent quality fruit with superb extraction raised anticipation of the wines to come. The wines from this vintage are proving variable by our experience. While this "crop of crops" was lauded as producing highly extracted fruit, some wines have been rather unbalanced while others were stunning an memorable. This seems to depend more on the combination of AVA and vineyard management, rather than winemaking techniques. Each offering from this vintage should be judged individually and not by virtue of vintage alone.
Established in 1990 by Mark and Paula Gendron, JanKris Winery is named after their two daughters January and Kristin. The tasting room and a portion of their vineyards are in west side of the Paso Robles appellation. The winemaking philosophy binding all JanKris wines is the motto of "Fruit-forward wines with soft tannins". Another notable characteristic of JanKris wines is their price point: All their wines are below $20, making them excellent values.
Three JanKris properties, comprising the 170 acre estate, are located both in the west ('Templeton Gap') and east portions of the Paso Robles AVA. Grapes grown are: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merolt, Mourvedre, Petite Syrah, Petite Verdot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Viognier and Zinfandel. Sourced form old vines, JanKris wines combine the characteristics of more dense extraction and fuller body of eastern Paso wines and the age worthiness of wines from the western part of the AVA, JanKris makes varietal wines and Cal-Ital styled blends such as the Picaro and crossover blends like the Crossfire, (blending the Bordeaux varietals Cabernet, Merlot and with the Rhône Syrah grape).
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