Bootlegger's Hill
Adrian’s quest to discover his true potential as a winemaker
led him to Bootlegger's Hill Vineyard; the site of Russian River Valley’s
most revered Pinot Noir by classic, old-guard producers.
Pappy Jewell was an entrepreneur of a different shade. As many folks were hard pressed, to say the least, during the Great Depression and prohibition, Pappy saw opportunity. You could say making libations has been in the Jewell family for centuries now as Pappy was a bootlegger in Topeka, Kansas, providing the highest quality of spirit to the town.
Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard shares a similar history, as the name suggests. Once a moonshine operation in the hills of the Russian River Valley, it was planted to clonal selections of Pinot Noir in 2009 by Charlie Chenoweth. Now a different kind of spirit rises from those hills.
2022 Tasting Notes
The 2022 Jewell Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir greets you with a captivating medium ruby hue with a blend of red cherries, violet, redwood nettles and forest floor on the nose. On the palate, this wine offers a medium-plus body with an intense mid-palate with subtle tannins providing structure, leading to a very silky smooth finish that lingers gracefully.
For the best experience, allow the wine to breathe for about 45 minutes, enhancing its intricate flavors and aromas.
Accolades
Vintages
2022 Vintage Notes
The 2022 vintage in the Russian River Valley highlighted opportunities for exceptional wine quality. The region experienced drought conditions, which reduced soil moisture levels and required careful irrigation management to sustain vine health. Pinot Noir crops were smaller than normal due to a frost event early in the season. While this reduced the overall yield, it contributed to greater concentration in the wines, enhancing their depth and intensity.
Warm summer temperatures accelerated ripening, leading to an earlier harvest. All fruit was picked before the significant Labor Day heatwave, ensuring optimal grape quality. The 2022 Russian River Valley wines are expected to showcase vibrant flavors and a rich profile, reflecting the vintage’s unique conditions, the benefits of a focused, smaller crop, and the careful management required during a challenging drought year.
Winemaking Notes
Planted by Charlie Chenoweth and his team in 2010. This vineyard is the fruit source for some of the most famous Russian River Valley producers like Kosta Browne and Patz & Hall. I was lucky to wiggle my way into this amazing vineyard just outside of the town of Occidental. The site once produced moonshine during prohibition, hence its name. For the Jewell project, I source from two different blocks which are planted to the Mt. Eden and the Calera Clone. The Mt. Eden clone contributes structure and the dark tones and spices, while the Calera brings out the beauty in the wine: fragrant cherry blossoms and stony minerality.
