About Jean Edwards Cellars

Tasting Room Sitting Area

Jean Edwards Cellars has been producing wine from some of the most well-regarded vineyards in Northern California since 2014. The Jean Edwards Cellars label focused on Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The Cooper’s Cuvee label is reserved for the Rhone wines, Petite Sirah, Syrah and cuvee blends.

About the Jean Edwards Cellars Team

Karen and John Troisi are the proprietors and visionaries of Jean Edwards Cellars. After falling in love with the beauty of Sonoma and Napa, the Troisis founded the winery in 2004 while still working their corporate jobs in New Jersey. Their first wine, Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet from the Pritchard Hill Region, was lauded as “one of twenty new cabernet producers to watch…” by Wine Spectator Magazine    in its annual cabernet issue, and that incredible endorsement catapulted the entrepreuneurs in the trajectory that has been paved with accolades and awards.

Jessica Saldana

Kian Tavakoli has been the winemaker at Jean Edwards Cellars since its inception. Kian has nearly 30 years of winemaking experience and began his career with Opus One then went on to Clos du Val in 1996 and was there until joining Jean Edwards Cellars in 2004. In 2017, Kian opened a new winery with his business partner in St. Helena, and that’s where the Jean Edwards Cellars wine are now produced.

About the Tasting Room

Tasting Room Private Table

On a recent visit to Sonoma, I was fortunate enough to visit the new Jean Edwards Cellars tasting room located on Vine Alley in the Sonoma Court Shops at the historic Sonoma Plaza. The space is modern, intimate, inviting and beautiful. Sonoma-native, Jessica Saldana, is the Tasting Room Manager and conducted our very informative tasting. I’ve been enjoying these limited production wines for several years and are familiar with them, but Jessica was able to offer insight and new learnings we’re grateful for.

Walk-ins at the tasting room are welcomed but for parties of six or more, a reservation is required to allow the team to prepare for the visit. 

A tasting typically consists of four wines for $25, but that fee is waived with a $65 purchase or if one is a Wine Club Member, which I am. We were fortunate enough to be able to sample a few additional wines during our visit.

About the Wines

2016 Dalla Gasperina Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – Rutherford

Loved the 2014 and 2015 vintage and the 2016 is no different. I’m not typically a Sauv Blanc fan, BUT, this wine has changed my narrow-mindedness. Golden yellow with hints of green in the glass, there is an amazing combination of Meyer lemon aromas and floral notes. The palate isn’t typical of what I consider boring Sauv Blanc – this is rich, complex with big flavors of tropical fruit and citrus that ends with great acidity and minerality. The addition of 5% Semillon to the 95% Sauvignon Blanc is very smart indeed…so is the stainless steel fermentation and barrel age in neutral French Oak. Small quantity of this lovely wine is made and the 2016 vintage is sold out. $28.

2014 Seventy Four – Forty One Cabernet Sauvignon

“74-41” represents the coordinates of the Troisis New Jersey residence – fun fact! 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Baconbrook Vineyard (Spring Mountain), Stagecoach Vineyard (Pritchard Hill) and Broken Rock Vineyard (foothills of Atlas Peak). In the glass, this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is inky purple and exudes aromas of dark, ripe berries. The dark fruit continues on the palate on this opulent wine with a finish that lingers. Grilled NY strip steaks or wagyu burgers comes to mind to pair with this beauty. A 2015 “74-41” Cab wasn’t produced due to fruit shortfalls, so be on the lookout for the 2014 (or 93-point Wine Enthusiast rated 2013). $68. ​​

2014 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

This is the wine that started it all for this winery. Dark ruby in the glass with a red fruit nose with mocha/vanilla notes. Rich, mouth-coating with a long finish on this wine made of Cabernet Sauvignon from Pritchard Hill, Malbec from Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard and Petit Verdot from Stagecoach Vineyard – an amazing trifecta (James Suckling agreed and awarded this wine 93 points). $68.

2014 Yates Cabernet Sauvignon

I was thrilled to get a taste of the first vintage of this Mount Veeder Cab. Darkest purpley red in the glass, one whiff of the dark ripe cherry with a bit of spice and I was in love. Dark fruit with oaky and chocolatey notes on the long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. $75.

2014 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

This was my favorite in the lineup and the one that had me craving a juicy ribeye. Darkest of reds in the glass with dark fruit aromas with some smoky, mocha notes. Layers of juicy cherry and stone fruit with some toasted oak. When one thinks of the ideal Napa Cab, this is what one thinks of. Can only imagine what it’ll be like in 5-7 years of cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of cabernet franc from Yates Family Vineyard on Mount Veeder and a bit of Malbec from Rutherford. James Suckling 93 points. $90.

2015 Malbec – Rutherford

Dark purple red in the glass, the 2015 vintage is 97% Malbec with 3% Petit Verdot. This was my first time tasting this wine and the nose sold me with one sniff of dark everything – berry, chocolate, anise, plum – wow. Bit less full-bodied than I anticipated from the nose, this was still a mouthful with ripe red berry flavors ending with a bit of spice. Wine Advocate 91+ points. $65.

2015 Merlot – Oak Knoll District

Darkest brick red in the glass, this was also my first taste of this wine. Ripe red fruit and cassis aromas leading to dark wood strawberry and blackberry on the palate with the roundness one hopes for in a well-made Merlot. Long, eye-closing, lingering finish. Making a mental note to order some of this. 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc​. $58.

All of these reds will only improve with cellaring or at least decanting if, like me, one finds it hard to resist opening them while they’re young.

Tasting Room Spring/Summer Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 12pm to 6pm; Friday-Saturday: 12pm to 7pm.

Address: 29 East Napa Street (Ste. C), Sonoma, CA  95476.

Cheers,

Veronique