Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/6221
48 / the tasting panel / january–february 2010 Jennifer Higgins Head Winemaker, Lancaster Estate, Alexander Valley as winemaker Jennifer higgins marks her eleventh vintage at lancaster estate, she considers the 2004 estate Cabernet to be a very special wine. "i have a fond spot for the '04 because it was my first grape-to-glass vintage as head wine- maker." Prior to '04 Jennifer had been assistant winemaker and studied under the l ikes of Jill davis and david ramey, both of whom are masters in their own right. "2004 was a banner year for anyone's first vintage as winemaker, and the wine confirmed my belief in the quality of wines that can be made off this estate." Jennifer is not alone in the belief that a winemaker's personality goes into e very bottle, and she finds making estate-grown wines particularly rewarding. "it's wonderful to make very unique wines that no one else can make, and we do it by focusing on a snapshot of the vintage and by intimately knowing the personal- ity of the place." at lancaster, that means hillside vineyards which express spicy deep plum and black cherry fruit, and powerful tannins. lancaster grows the five classic Bordeaux varieties and blends can vary from year to year; Jennifer's '05 exhibits a classic Cabernet Sauvignon expression with the estate's signature clove and nutmeg complexity w hile '06 showcases some "very sexy" malbec fruit. With current production at about 4,000 cases, Jennifer approaches each vintage as a new experience and an opportunity to improve upon the last. Flagship wine: " We released the lancaster estate '06 in September," says Jennifer, "and there is a consis- tent thread of lancaster character that runs through every vintage, from '95 to '09." —Deborah Parker Wong Ten Women ın Wıne for 2010 As we declare this the Year of the Woman in Wine, our celebration begins with the women who are gracing our cover PHOTO: RYAN LELY Jennifer Higgins.