The Tasting Panel magazine

AMAPOLA CREEK: A NEW Start For Richard Arrowood "I am not retired." Arrowood founder Richard Arrowood states the obvious to me as we meet on the slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Sonoma Valley at his 100-plus-acre estate. The industry may have lost touch with this legendary veteran after his eponymous winery was sold (it's now in the hands of Kendall-Jackson), but you can't keep Richard Arrowood away from winemaking. J VINEYARDS: A NEW Winemaker "T his is where we need to be," says George Rose, Communications Director extraordi- naire, whose long career path led him to his present position at J Vineyards. He is pouring a glass of the Pinot Gris for which this winery has become known. "We are now the number one–selling California Pinot Gris," he adds proudly. I am tasting the wine with Jim Allen, Senior VP of Fine Wines for Southern Wine & Spirits of CA. "The growth for us has been phenomenal," he comments. "Pinot Gris is such a versatile food wine, and J's version covers more flavor Amapola Creek is owned by Richard and Alis Arrowood. Richard and his wife Alis have now re- invented themselves with Amapola Creek. Twenty acres of vineyards—Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache—fan above the Sonoma Valley floor, and the ben- efit of neighboring Monte Rosso Vineyard allows for some truly stellar Zinfandel. The first vintage for Amapola Creek released in 2005, and now, presiding over a lifetime of 46 harvests, Richard Arrowood is home at last. Amapola Creek 2009 Zinfandel (SRP $40) hails from the famous Monte Rosso Vineyard. Creamy devil's food cake batter and elegant blackberry chocolate once again proves that old-vine Zinfandel lives up to its reputation, and this is a marvelous specimen. Releases later this winter. J Vineyards proprietor Judy Jordan and winemaker Melissa Stackhouse. spectrums of food than most. It has body and character and length—a defined style of crisp and clean." Judy Jordan started the winery 25 years ago and built a sparkling wine legacy, but it was eventually a Russian River Valley identity that would be responsible for the specialness at J, which has ten vineyards scattered throughout the appellation. Now with Melissa Stackhouse at the helm of the winemaking team, Jordan can continue to build a statement about being "the best." "It's about growing on what you have," she says with determination in her voice. A former geologist with a degree from Stanford, Jordan speaks of the 20 different soil types in the area—a richness of terroirs that makes evolving the profiles of her Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs a special challenge as well as a joy. "In France, there are roughly five to six soil types," Jordan notes. "Melissa can work with our soils and paint the picture." Stackhouse's power lies in the talent and knowledge to micro- manage the estate vineyards to pull out those enviable Russian River personalities. As the winemaker scrutinizes the fields, she concedes, "This is where the most vexing Pinot Noirs begin." J Vineyards Brut Rosé (SRP $28) and the J Cuvée Brut Non-Vintage 25th Anniversary magnum (SRP $38) form the forefront of the winery's méthod champenoise Russian River Valley–sourced sparkling wine program. The pretty soft blush-cherry-pink color of the rosé is dialed in through its clear glass bottle. january/february 2012 / the tasting panel / 99

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