Wine Notes from the Winemaker
Jacella 2011 Carneros Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a passion of mine, and I have spent many years learning the art of making great chardonnay. The Jacella 2011 Chardonnay is a blend of two vineyards, both found in the appellation ideally suited for growing the best chardonnay grapes in the world.

The majority of the grapes for this wine are from the Two Eagles Vineyard, a small family-owned vineyard in the Carneros Appellation just south of the town of Sonoma. The personal attention given to this small block of low yielding vines combined with the terroir of the Carneros region make these chardonnay grapes exceptional. The complementing grapes that went into the wine are from the Green Acres block within the highly respected Sangiacomo Vineyards. This block in the Carneros Appellation, just west of Sonoma proper, is special as it is well established and is of the Wente clone, both making for very low yielding vines that produce grapes packed with a lot of character. The resulting blend is a chardonnay that has wonderful aromas of ripe-red apples, pear, orange citrus, and also has a touch of toasty-butterscotch and caramel as a result of fermenting and aging in a modest amount of new oak barrels. The mouthfeel of the wine is enhanced by sur lies aging combined with regular stirring of the lees-a combination that lends to a creaminess and softness in the wine. The flavors of stonefruit, melon and red apple from the grapes are center stage, reflecting one of my main goals in winemaking: to have a wine that resembles where the wine came from "the grapes!" 
2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
The Jacella 2011 Pinot Noir is a blend of two blocks of Pinot Noir from two very small vineyards that produce only limited quantities of exceptional grapes, both of which fall within the Sonoma Coast Appellation.This appellation has become widely recognized as being ideally suited for growing some of the best Pinot Noir grapes in the world because of cooler temperatures and constant light winds.The vineyards were chosen because they were meticulously taken care of, light yielding, and both producing clones of Pinot Noir that I believe to be superior, all of which makes for a very flavorful intense wine.

The resulting blend of the two blocks is a Pinot Noir that has wonderful aromas of raspberry, ripe blackberry, roses and also has a touch of toast and spice as a result of aging in a modest amount of new oak barrels.The flavors from the grapes are extraordinary, and this wine is packed with similar flavors that are found in the nose ??? bright raspberry, red cherry and pomegranate, but also has a touch of spice and a light cocoa finish.The tannins in the wine are moderate, and this along with a nice acid level makes this wine ageable for a many years, but perfectly drinkable now.