06 Feb Jewell Box: February 2019 – Rubies: Only the Best
In 2011 Joseph Jewell decided it would be fun to create a bottling that was comprised of our three best barrels of Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. Part of the selection process required us to taste and rate each barrel. We looked at the color of the wine, the aromas and the palate (attack, mid-palate, and finish); taking detailed notes on each barrel. This was, and remains, the process every year. In 2011, at the end of our week-long journey of tasting all of our barrels, we felt that we found the elements we needed to create a special Pinot Noir that was comprised only of our three favorite barrels from the Russian River Valley.
When selecting our barrels, we think of our ideal Pinot Noir. We want a vibrant ruby red wine, a bouquet of aromas that reflect a palate bursting of bright fruits complemented by savory notes and a velvety texture. The desired color and aromas are often straightforward and attainable, but the texture is something that usually only comes around in the bottle years later.
Since we wanted this wine to be velvety upon release, we decided to extend the barrel aging process 7 months beyond the majority of our other single vineyard Pinot Noirs. The Rubies bottling sees 18 months in a combination of new and neutral French oak barrels. With 11 months in new French oak and then in neutral barrels for the remaining extended period, so as not to over oak the wine. The extra barrel time really softens up the wine and helps build the velvety mouthfeel.
The beauty of this reserve wine is that each year it is a little different to reflect our favorite elements that the RRV has to offer for that vintage. Because of this, the vineyards are not always the same from year to year. Only three barrels are made each vintage because we only select our three best barrels to go into this wine. The finished product is a wine crafted from our “gem” barrels that, with a play on our name and a gorgeous ruby red hue, resulted in our Rubies Pinot Noir. Our Rubies Pinot has the ability to age for 10+ years from its vintage date and is the perfect gem to add to your collection.