June 2007 Wine Tasting Notes.
2005 Jekel Gravelstone Chardonnay, Monterey.
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This wine is light gold with excellent clarity in the glass. The nose starts with bright, medium intensity lemon drop aromas. Light intensity aromas of tropical fruit and cream are laced together with mineral notes. In the mouth, medium intensity citrus is accompanied by green apple and light tropical flavors. Notes of cream and mineral are also detected. Crisp, with softer but still proportionate acids, this is a smooth and light bodied Chardonnay. The finish is medium length with an interplay of light citrus, apple and mineral but finishes a bit warm. |
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13.65% Alcohol $10.99 Retail (from winery); 25,000 cases produced |
This Chardonnay is a pairing of of opulence and richness and composure. Acids soft enough to just round out the edges ask for scallops or fish in tangy sauces. Enjoy over the next 4 years. BOTTOM LINE: Good, with appealing characteristics. Recommended. |
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| Supplemental/Repeat tasting: None. | ||
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More Jekel Vineyards reviews. More on the Monterey AVA |
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Production | Grapes | Producer | Vineyard | Vintage
Made from 100% Chardonnay, half of which came from the Gravelstone Vineyard. Just over 50% of the wine was stainless steel fermented while the rest was vinified in oak barrels. 15% of the finished wine underwent full malolactic fermentation. Aged for 7 months in French oak, mostly used.
Chardonnay, the white grape of Burgundy, can range from subtle to distinct – depending on winemaking style. Its best examples come from cooler climates. Also called Beaunois and Morillon, it displays crisp aromas and flavors of apples, apricots, citrus, peaches, pears as well as tropical fruit. Floral notes of acacia are also common. Terroir can gain distinct expression in the form of flint, mineral or mint characteristics. The small, thin-skinned Chardonnay grapes tend to make wines that express traits acquired during vinification. such as: butter or cream, vanilla and hazelnuts. Chardonnay also is apt to take on oak characteristics during barrel aging. Perhaps this characteristic may be the reason for the current departure from an overly oaky style which was initially intended to mimic great Burgundian whites. (read more).
Bill Jekel founded his eponymous winery in 1972. The winery is located near Greenfield, in the Arroyo Seco AVA. He released his first wines from the 1978 vintage. The winery and its vineyards were acquired by Brown-Forman who then closed the winery in 2005, moving red wine production to a larger, company-owned Paso Robles facility and white wine vinification to Hopland (at the Fetzer facility - also owned by Brown-Forman). As is the case with such large acquisitions, the winery was sold in 2006 as were the vineyards providing the fruit for Jekel wines. The plan, currently, is to continue sourcing Monterey fruit after the current arrangements for fruit from Gravelstone and Sanctuary Vineyards run out. New vineyard sources have not yet been identified.
The Gravelstone Vineyard is a 135-acre property more or less in the center of the Arroyo Seco AVA, northwest of the town of Greenfield. This location in the Salinas Valley gives the vineyard more exposure to the afternoon cooling winds. This location is best for Chardonnay (which makes up the bulk of the vines at the site) as well as Riesling and Pinot noir. Since Brown-Forman retained the rights to he Gravelstone name in the recent sale, this vineyard is likely to be renamed after 2007.
The 2005 year saw an increase in crops over the preceding years. The year is being compared to the acclaimed 1997 vintage because of a very long and generally cool growing season without heat spikes. This long season resulted in extended hang times in even temperatures which gave the fruit good extraction but lower sugar levels. The slow ripening of the fruit is expected to make for elegance and balance in the wines of this vintage. Read More
Rating
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Color |
5 points |
(5 points max) |
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Nose |
4 points |
(5 points max) |
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Palate |
4 points |
(5 points max) |
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Finish |
3 points |
(5 points max) |
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Astringency/Minerality |
5 points |
(5 points max) |
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Acidity |
5 points |
(5 points max) |
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Alcohol |
4 points |
(5 points max) |
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Aging potential |
2 points |
(5 points max) |
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Overall quality |
8 points |
(10 points max) |
Cumulative Score: 90
Rating System & Scoring Criteria explained
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