OMJ! The J Signature Tasting

I can’t believe it’s already been two months since my visit to the tasting room at J Vineyards & Winery in Healdsburg. With a chic, modern feel to it, the J Visitor Center is a great place to enjoy a tasty selection of wines, including red and white, both still and sparkling.

Although J produces some wines that are readily available in the marketplace (like the California Pinot Gris), the J “Signature” Tasting flight features wines that are sold exclusively at the winery.

The 2011 J Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley ($20/bottle) was a delicious wine to start with. Clean and crisp with flavors of melon, citrus, and spice, this is an ideal wine to sip on its own or with light apps.

I loved the 2011 J Chardonnay from Jewell Ranch, Russian River Valley ($45/bottle). Produced in the Burgundian style, this medium-bodied Chardonnay spends only 3 months in oak and has very subtle notes of vanilla and butterscotch. Sweet pear and mineral notes round out the palate nicely. This is a very elegant and balanced wine that would be amazing with shellfish, simple pasta dishes, and goat cheese.

The 2010 J Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($37/bottle) is equally as delicious as the Chardonnay. It offers bright cherry aromas and flavors of red fruit, vanilla, and white pepper. With a juicy and lush mouthfeel, it finishes smooth with a bit of spice. This would be an excellent complement to mushroom risotto, an aged cheddar, pork or duck.

And then—surprise!—we tasted a few sparkling wines. It seemed a little untraditional to try sparkling wines after the still wines, but it provided a refreshing change of pace. The J Cuvée 20, Russian River Valley NV ($28/bottle) was just as tasty as I remembered it with bright acidity, subtle lemon notes and a clean finish.

The 2005 J Vintage Brut, Russian River Valley is a beautiful sparkler ($45/bottle). I took a bottle of this to Thanksgiving dinner last week. A pale golden hue in the glass, this brut offers nuances of green apple, lemon, and Asian pear. The mid-palate offers richer flavors of hazelnut and brioche; the wine ends with refreshing citrus note. While a delightful aperitif on its own, this sparkling wine would go well with sushi or appetizers like an arugula salad with pears and goat cheese crumbles.

J Winery is one that I will definitely visit again. Next time, I’m making a reservation for the 3-course wine and food pairing in the Bubble Room!