Jones Winery ~ The Reds & Dessert Wines

August 20, 2009 by MTB

Marguerite Barrett Jones Vineyards
Contributing Writer

First up for the Reds was Jones Winery’s

Ripton Red This is the driest of the Jones Reds, made in a Chianti style from a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot grapes, both brought in from California. The color is a lovely purply-red, and the color changes slightly from light to dark as it catches the light. The nose is earthy with with a strong tanginess. The wine is medium-bodied, smooth, with earthy, slightly smoky notes and a hint of dark cherry which provides light touch of sweetness to balance out the earthiness. There’s a slight note of spice on the finish. This is a very versatile red and would pair nicely with a broad range of food.

Next up was Group #5 and my choice of either the First Blush, described as a “pleasingly sweet blush wine created from a blend of CT apples, pears and black currants” or the 2007 Cabernet Franc. Not being a huge fan of blush wines, I selected the

2007 Cabernet Franc An estate-grown wine, the Cabernet Franc is barrel aged for 12 months in American Oak. The result is a medium-bodied wine with a bright nose and notes of cherry in both the nose and on the palate. There’s a nice acid balance to the finish, and the finish lingers pleasantly in the mouth. An interesting wine, but not as strong a Cab Franc as ones I’ve found at Chamard or Gouveia. That being said, I suspect the wine will grow more interesting if cellared for a year or two.

After the Cabernet Franc I had my choice of the Strawberry Serenade or the Merlot. The Strawberry Serenade was described as one of Jones Winery’s signature wines, made from locally grown strawberries; given this, and despite not being a fan of sweet fruit wines, I opted to give the Strawberry Serenade a try.

Strawberry Serenade This is a sparkling wine, with very strong effervescence. A pale, salmon color, the nose is that lovely, deep, rich strawberry smell you get from fresh-picked strawberries. Surprisingly, the wine is neither too sweet or too “strawberry.” The strawberry notes are certainly detectable, but not overpowering, and the wine is drier than I anticipated. While not one of my favorites, I was pleasantly surprised by this wine. It would be a great brunch wine for a late spring or summer brunch, and would pair well with fruit and light desserts.

With that I was left with a final choice – this time among the three dessert wines, Blueberry Bliss, Raspberry Rhapsody and Black Currant Bouquet. I had a tough time deciding. The Raspberry Rhapsody is an award-winning wine, and this year’s winery logo-glass features a raspberry in honor of the wine. But the Black Currant Bouquet is more in the style of a Port, which I prefer, and had the added attraction of being a Black Currant Wine, which is not something I come across every day. I must admit the Blueberry Bliss didn’t make the first cut.

As I was trying to decide, my host for the afternoon took the decision out of my hands and offered to let me try a taste of both the Raspberry Rhapsody and the Black Currant Bouquet. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I quickly accepted.

Raspberry Rhapsody This is a lovely and interesting wine, and I understand why it won so many medals. The Raspberry notes are very strong in both the nose and in the mouth, but the rich sweetness of a dessert wine balances those out. The Raspberry adds a very slight tartness that gives the wine depth and keeps it from becoming cloyingly sweet. The tasting is paired with a piece of dark chocolate, and the wine changes, getting deeper and more complex with the chocolate.

Black Currant Bouquet This is a full-bodied wine in a Port style, not as sweet as the Raspberry Rhapsody. The color is a deep plum. The nose is full but subtle – the black currant is prevalent but there are notes of sweet berries as well. In the mouth, the wine is smooth and rich, with a soft mouth-feel. On the palate, the flavors blend nicely, just enough sweetness to satisfy but not enough to be overpowering. This is also paired with chocolate during the tasting, and the chocolate emphasizes the depth and richness of the wine.