Joseph Jewell, “Phelps Vineyard” Pinot Noir
Joseph Jewell, “Phelps Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Joseph Jewell, “Phelps Vineyard” Pinot Noir

California, United States 2019 (750mL)
Regular price$45.00
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Joseph Jewell, “Phelps Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Most people associate California’s Humboldt County with an agricultural commodity that is much more lucrative than wine grapes. And there are, in fact, only about 150 acres of vines planted in all of Humboldt, a region that spans 4,000 square miles. We’ve had the pleasure of walking some of these rare vineyards, including the source vineyard for this wine, and all we can say is, look out. Humboldt has all the natural gifts of some of California’s most celebrated coastal growing zones, and if this wine had “Sonoma Coast” instead of “Humboldt County” on its label it would cost a lot more. Right now, wines like this are tiny-production rarities, but we’re left wondering if Humboldt may be the next frontier for great California Pinot Noir. This 2019 makes a very strong case!


Here’s how the Joseph Jewell team describes it: “Humboldt County sits at the southern edge of the Pacific Northwest, with substantial winter rainfall. The growing season is shorter than in Sonoma or Napa, and bud break is 2-3 weeks later. Harvest extends into October, which is why it is a fantastic place to grow Pinot Noir. The short days and cooler daytime temps in October enhance flavor development and slow sugar accumulation, which allows us to harvest at lower sugar levels with proper phenolic ripeness.”


Located in Humboldt County 45 minutes up a dirt road above the town of Briceland, Phelps Vineyard sits at 1,700 feet elevation, overlooking the Mattole and Eel River Valleys, just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. This six-acre vineyard was planted by Todd Phelps in the early 1990s to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. This is Joseph Jewell’s first vineyard-designate release from the site.


The nose of this ’19 erupts with rich soil character and an outpouring of juicy perfume: raspberry, red plum, wild strawberry, black cherry, tea leaf, orange peel, licorice, underbrush, fresh soil, baking spice, whole clove, river stones. It delivers wave after wave of intense red/black fruit character that falls seamlessly in line with an undercurrent of crushed minerals and spice. It’s medium-plus bodied, luxuriously textured, and undeniably elegant. Pair with Pacific Salmon, roast chicken, or a crown roast of pork.

Joseph Jewell, “Phelps Vineyard” Pinot Noir
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United States

Washington

Columbia Valley

Like many Washington wines, the “Columbia Valley” indication only tells part of the story: Columbia Valley covers a huge swath of Central
Washington, within which are a wide array of smaller AVAs (appellations).

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Oregon’s Willamette Valley has become an elite winegrowing zone in record time. Pioneering vintner David Lett, of The Eyrie Vineyard, planted the first Pinot Noir in the region in 1965, soon to be followed by a cadre of forward-thinking growers who (correctly) saw their wines as America’s answer to French
Burgundies. Today, the Willamette
Valley is indeed compared favorably to Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. And while Pinot Noir accounts for 64% of Oregon’s vineyard plantings, there are cool-climate whites that must not be missed.

California

Santa Barbara

Among the unique features of Santa Barbara County appellations like Ballard Canyon (a sub-zone of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA), is that it has a cool, Pacific-influenced climate juxtaposed with the intense luminosity of a southerly
latitude (the 34th parallel). Ballard Canyon has a more north-south orientation compared to most Santa Barbara AVAs, with soils of sandy
clay/loam and limestone.

California

Paso Robles

Situated at an elevation of 1,600 feet, it is rooted in soils of sandy loam and falls within the Highlands District of the Paso Robles AVA.

New York

North Fork

Wine growers and producers on Long Island’s North Fork have traditionally compared their terroir to that of Bordeaux and have focused on French varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

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