Elyse/Jacob Franklin Winery – When in Napa having dinner at Mustard's Grill, I met John Boardman from the tasting room at Elyse. He had a bottle of their Jacob Franklin 2009 Petit Sirah, Hayne Vineyard (a famous vineyard, they make only 17 barrels of this) open and graciously offered me a glass. I was blown away by this wine even though it should probably sit for 3 more years before it is touched.
When visiting the winery, I purchased 3 bottles of the Petit Sirah ($65 a bottle) and 3 bottles of the delicious Le Corbeau (The Raven in French, 2 - “06” and 1 - “07” ($37 a bottle and a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah).
After returning home, I opened a bottle of the 2006 Le Corbeau (allowing the customary 2 weeks for the wine to settle after shipping) and it simply danced from the rim of the glass and
tickled my nose with a multitude of delightful aromas. It tasted every bit as delicious as it did at the winery.
I invited some friends over to try both of these wines and they absolutely loved them. In fact, I unintentionally sold several cases (including one for myself ) of the “06” Le Corbeau for the winery that evening. I highly recommend both the Le Corbeau and the J. F. Petit Sirah. Both of these wines are absolutely worth ordering directly from the winery.
"This excellent winery continues to carve out a well-deserved reputation
for its interesting red wine portfolio."- Robert M. Parker Jr.
Winery Descriptions of the Wines:
The 2006 Le Corbeau is predominately Grenache, made in the style of the seductive and expressive wines of the Chateauneuf du Pape region of the Rhone Valley. This bright ruby-colored wine has alluring aromas of sweet raspberries, wild plums, lavender, earthy mushrooms, and white pepper along with hints of black tea and orange peel. On the palate, it has a smooth entry that leads to a broad mouthfeel with flavors of crème de cassis, blackberries, citrus rind, and intriguing notes of mace and cardamom.
The 2009 Jacob Franklin Hayne Petite Sirah exudes a dark purplish hue with an intense nose of blackberries, forest floor, black pepper, and cured meats along with hints of earthy mushroom and dried herbs. Ripe blackberry and wild plum flavors are accented by tar, earth, and black pepper. The wine has a lush mouth feel with a sleek balance of acidity, fruit, and chewy tannins that lead to a long finish that seems to keep rolling over the palate. This is what Petite Sirah should taste like.
To Order:
John Boardman – Elyse Winery
(707) 944-2900
john@elysewinery.com
Winery Descriptions of the Wines:
The 2006 Le Corbeau is predominately Grenache, made in the style of the seductive and expressive wines of the Chateauneuf du Pape region of the Rhone Valley. This bright ruby-colored wine has alluring aromas of sweet raspberries, wild plums, lavender, earthy mushrooms, and white pepper along with hints of black tea and orange peel. On the palate, it has a smooth entry that leads to a broad mouthfeel with flavors of crème de cassis, blackberries, citrus rind, and intriguing notes of mace and cardamom.
The 2009 Jacob Franklin Hayne Petite Sirah exudes a dark purplish hue with an intense nose of blackberries, forest floor, black pepper, and cured meats along with hints of earthy mushroom and dried herbs. Ripe blackberry and wild plum flavors are accented by tar, earth, and black pepper. The wine has a lush mouth feel with a sleek balance of acidity, fruit, and chewy tannins that lead to a long finish that seems to keep rolling over the palate. This is what Petite Sirah should taste like.
Poetic review!
ReplyDeleteI like it.