2019 Estate “JLC Heritage Blend” - Cox Vineyards

Deeply extracted yet surprisingly lively bursts of dark plum, crunchy blackberry, fresh fig, and cherry pit highlight a powerful yet impressively energetic fruit core brilliantly layered with intriguing herbal notes of anise, fennel, menthol, and burning sage. Wafts of crushed violet, dried rose petal, incense, and potpourri generously provide waves of complex aromatic perfume to dance alongside the balanced opulence of dark roast coffee, bitter cacao, and black licorice. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and toasted vanilla subtly reveal well integrated oak treatment that allows ample room for pleasantly rustic impressions of asphalt, saddle leather, and wrought iron to shine. Strikingly bold and robust on the palate while managing to retain remarkable balance and freshness throughout; exhibiting an inky and highly concentrated presentation that comes across as authentic and classically-styled despite its immense natural density and richness. Full bodied with gobs of chewy tannin supported by nicely elevated acidity. This 2019 Estate "JLC Heritage Blend" by Cox Vineyards is a rugged and structured red from Mendocino County.

Located directly north of Sonoma County just a few hour's drive from San Francisco, Mendocino County is a historic yet largely underappreciated winegrowing region with a diverse range of terroir suited to growing everything from Pinot Noir to Petite Sirah. This bottling, crafted by Cox Vineyards using a blend of 40% Malbec/40% Merlot/20% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from their organic estate vineyards in Mendocino County, beautifully showcases how well Bordeaux Varieties can thrive in the warmer reaches of this region. This broods with a highly concentrated yet still fresh and juicy dark-fruited profile layered with wild herbs, fragrant florals, bitter chocolate and coffee tones, barrel spices, and rugged earthiness. It is a surprisingly affordably priced wine that punches well above its weight in terms of overall quality, and while relatively approachable now it has sufficent tannin and structure to make it an excellent candidate for medium term cellaring. Outstanding.