J Vineyards 2002 Vintage Brut Sparkling Wine

Enticing aromas of Asian pears, nectarines, lime zest, and light honeydew melon in its initial aromas. The pear and lime notes follow through in the mouth with a mix of honeysuckle and vanilla cream flavors that lead to a lengthy finish highlighted with a hint of ginger. 49% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay, 2% Pinot Meunier.

95 POINTS & THREE STARS - CONNOISSEURS' GUIDE TO CA WINE FOR J 2002 VINTAGE BRUT MAGNUM
Charles Olken, Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
November 2010 - Volume 35 Issue 1

It is a well-known fact in sparkling wine circles that fermenting and aging bubbly in magnum often enhances the final product. This wine is a case in point. As good as the other J offerings are, this one is simply deeper, more polished, more ethereal than its siblings. It is also a lot of sparkling wine and needs to be reserved for very special events when there are enthusiasts aplenty in the house. And given the prices being asked for Champagne and even for California sparkling wine of the same quality, this magnum is a veritable bargain. Reviewed: November 2010

90 POINTS - VERY NEW WORLD & TOP-NOTCH BUBBLY! - WINE REVIEW ONLINE FOR J 2002 VINTAGE BRUT
Robert Whitley, Wine Review OnLine
November 30, 2010

It is often said that nothing in the vast world of sparkling wine tastes quite like Champagne. It is a fair observation, frequently noted by the Champenoise themselves. Most experts on the subject attribute the unique taste and structure of Champagne to the chalky soils of the region, with a bit of influence from the cool climate.

Still, efforts to replicate Champagne go on, and not without some success. A handful of producers in California make sparkling wines that compare favorably to the real thing. Located in the North Coast region that encompasses Sonoma and Mendocino counties and the Napa Valley, there exists a group of wineries that consistently craft the world's finest sparkling wines outside of Champagne.

They are to be applauded for their tenacity, for producing sparkling wine is an expensive proposition involving long-term cellaring of older stocks, extensive blending trials, and very real pricing constraints that handicap a winery's ability to sell its wine for what it's truly worth. California bubbly from the top sparkling wine producers of the North Coast is probably the greatest value in American wine today.

Wines cited as "Very New World" are most importantly California in style, meaning they've been kissed by the sun and are fruit-driven, albeit with the underlying acidity and structure necessary for top-notch bubbly.

Probably the most underrated of the top sparkling wine producers, J has a new energy and emphasis on complexity since the arrival of winemaker George Bursick. The beauty of this wine is its distinctly California fruit profile combined with the structure of a fine Champagne.