Got this e-mail tonight from Napa Wine Company.
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Come meet the Jones Family Saturday, July 26th from Noon 'til 3:00pm at The Cellar Door/Napa Wine Co. Hiway 29 at Oakville Cross.

A vertical of their cabernet sauvignon 1998-2000 will be poured.
Some library bottles from 1997 to 1999 will be available for purchase.

A very nice picture of the Jones' is on the email. It shows the mom and dad with two beautiful daughters.

Is one of them Stef JW1?

I got this too. I think I'll be going.

You guys have all the fun. (Do we have an envy graemlin?)

Any idea on the prices of the wines?

Prices are set by Napa Wine Company not by Jones Family. As a result, it is my understanding they cost more than the mailing list price.

Aren't you going to be here on the 26th Board-O?

I bought my wife a bottle of the '98 while at the Napa Wine Company. I think they charged an even $100. (or pretty darn close thereto). More than the mailing list, but still worth the price.

What a nice event. The Napa Wine Co. tasting room is very nice. There is an "L" shaped bar and there on the long part of the L the Jones' Family had taken over.

I don't know why you all want to talk to JW1. The one I want to talk with is Mrs. JW!. What a wonderful lady. And what beautiful eyes and beautiful smile. It was indeed a pleasure SJB!

The 1998 Jones'. I've said before that this IMO was one of the best '98s from the Valley. But what I tasted today shots my whole theory down. I would now say this is the wine of the vintage! And holy smoke is it drinking nice right now! Right out of the bottle: a big rich-sugary-fruit nose. And in the mouth this is a wine that all cabs strive to be. It is almost creamy, huge in the mouth, with bursting fruit flavors accented with a whole lot of dark chocolate and coffee. And a nice long finish that just leaves one craving for more. This is one of those wines that gets emptied in the first 10 minutes of being opened. Who knows what it might taste like after an hour in the decanter. It couldn't be better than right out of the bottle!

Now I didn't buy any because I've still got a half dozen in the cellar. It was available today (I think $110) and I got home and kicked myself for not buying some more. And I can't find it for sale on the Napa Wine Co.'s web site (what's with that JW1?). But I gotta tell you... if you are looking for a wonderful wine and are willing to spend 100 bucks... and you can find it... buy it!


Also tasted the 1999. After the '98 it paled in comparison. But this stuff has some more time to go in the bottle.

The 2000 however, had the same stuffing as the '98. Just not ready to open yet.

And the real SLEEPER: The mailing-list offering is coming out on Monday and I would suggest going over to the Jones Family web site and sign up for the mailing list.

OK, back to the SLEEPER: 2001 (is that right JW1?) TWO SISTERS. This is a blend of 55% Cab Sauv and 45% Cab Franc. Tasted out of barrel today and is it juicy! This IMO is a winner and it is only $45. (Of course you know who the two sisters are. JW1's wife and his sister-in-law.)

Now I know it sounds like I am sucking up to Jones but be assured that is not the case. I spent very little time with him today. I had a nice chat with his father-in-law Rick Jones and an even nicer chat with Mrs. JW1, Steph. You can see their pictures over at JonesWine.com. You'll see what I'm talking about.

I met Jones along with his wife. Very nice people. The wife is a riot. Funny & very outgoing. And, they brought a mini-vertical of Jones ('97, '98, '99). All are excellent Wines & very glad to have all in stock. And, I agree that the '98 is 1 of the better wines of that vintage (so far in my experience).

I am glad you (and others ) made it up to the event david. You actually tasted the 2000 The Sisters (the 2001 was just bottled early this month). It think it is a quite nice Bordeaux blend. Sadly only 80 or so cases of the 2000 was made (215 cases were made of the 2001).

Interesting. Of the wines available for tasting, I liked the 99 the best. I bought the 97's.

The 99 is my favorite as well but it needs significant time to shine. For drinking now, the even years are the bottles to open (96, 98, and 00). While I am not as concerned as some with decanting, these wines definitely need a couple of hours in the decanter prior to service.