June 2007 Wine Tasting Notes.
2005 Jekel Riesling, Monterey.
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This wine is light gold in the glass with excellent clarity. Medium intensity aromas of peaches and pears are accompanied by light aromas of white flowers and notes of brown spice (cinnamon and nutmeg). In the mouth, medium intensity flavors of crisp Golden delicious apples and pears are embellished by citrus notes. Both plush and crisp, this Riesling is medium bodied with tangy acids. A medium finish of apple is framed by crisp acidity and very light sweetness. |
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13.2% Alcohol 1.90% Residual Sugar $10.99 Retail (from winery); 25,000 cases produced |
Juicy and tart yet very aromatic, this Riesling with a touch of Muscat is a very sexy wine. It marries old world acidity and lower alcohols with new world aromatic impact. It is versatile as both a social wine and a good pairing with spicy, Asian dishes. Enjoy over the next 3-4 years. BOTTOM LINE: Very good. Highly recommended. |
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More Jekel Vineyards reviews. More on the Monterey AVA |
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Production | Grapes | Producer | Vineyard | Vintage
Made from 92% Riesling (Gravelstone Vineyard) and 8% Muscat. The Riesling was picked at an average of 22.5° Brix and hand-sorted before pressing. Fermented in stainless steel tanks to a residual sugar of 1.90%.
Considered by many as one of the best white grapes, Riesling can be traced back to at least 15th century Germany. It has many assets, including versatility: it is made in dry and dessert styles defined by distinct varietal characteristics while reflecting terroir, longevity and a balance of sugars and acidity. As a dessert wine, Riesling is made in late harvest, botrytised and ice wine styles. In California, Riesling (a cold weather-loving variety) does well in Mendocino, Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties. In general, these offer well-ripened fruit and racy acidity with bolder alcohol levels. Arroyo Seco Riesling is know for a unique style: a richer concentration of floral (rose petal and violets) and tropical fruit notes than the German offerings, along with apple, apricot, peach and pear notes, lower acidity, higher alcohol and minerality. Depending on origin and age, aromas such as diesel, kerosene, petroleum and terpene can be detected. (read more)
The name Muscat refers a large family of grapes used for table grapes, raisins and wine. Members of the Muscat family range from white to a very dark, nearly black color. Although there are numerous varieties, there are generally three that are most common and most significant: Muscat Blanc, whose full name is: Muscat Blanc ŕ Petits Grains (MUS-kat blahnk ah puh-teet grehn [?]) is regarded as the greatest Muscat grape and, like Pinot gris, can have a mosaic of small, differently colored berries on a single cluster. It is the most widely cultivated species of Muscat and felt to best typify the Muscat traits. Muscat of Alexandria is also know as Moscatel and tends to be less aromatic, more syrupy and sweet. This variety is used for California raisins and table grapes elsewhere. Muscat Hamburg, also known as Black Muscat (a descendant of Muscat of Alexandria) is also mostly grown for table grapes. However, this black grape makes phenomenal dessert wine, as exemplified in Quady Winery’s “Elysium” All Muscat wines share a distinct, sweet, floral and perfumed aroma which is easily identified. Orange and each are typical fruit aromas, while coriander (cilantro) and terpine (resin from coniferous trees) are also common descriptors for some of Muscat’s aromatic components. (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 |
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Acidity |
5 points |
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Alcohol |
5 points |
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Aging potential |
2 points |
(5 points max) |
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Overall quality |
9 points |
(10 points max) |
Cumulative Score: 92
Rating System & Scoring Criteria explained
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