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When the civil war broke out, Charles Jewell, was a banker in Arcadia, Kansas. Being a prominent figure in his community, he joined the Union army as a lieutenant colonel. Leading the charge at the Battle of Cane HIll in Arkansas, it is quoted that he, “was known as a bold & intrepid officer. Possessing a kindly and generous nature… Even if he knew that he was to lead a forlorn hope, he would not hesitate to offer up his life if demanded…”
Since 2008, Adrian has been among the winemakers leading the charge to put high quality Pinot Noir from Humboldt County on the map. Developing a new winegrowing region is a decades long pursuit to work in harmony with farmers, winemakers, government, media, and of course consumers. It’s a bold pursuit as Humboldt boasts only ~150 acres of grapes in the entire county.
Each Spring Adrian tastes through every barrel in the cellar looking for specific characteristics that, when blended together, culminate into an expression illustrating the terroir of Humboldt.
The aromas of the 2020 Emerald open with intriguing hints of savory pennyroyal and a delightful bouquet of rose petals. Delicate notes of cranberry and cherries beautifully intertwine, infusing the nose with lighter red fruit accents.
On the palate, a burst of bright red currants takes the lead, accompanied by the zesty tang of cranberry, creating a harmonious balance. The intriguing addition of duck fat adds a unique richness to the midpalate, intensifying the overall flavor experience. The journey culminates in a satisfying finish that lingers, leaving a lasting impression and a captivating sense of place for this Humboldt County Cuvée.
2020 was the most challenging vintage I have ever made wine and that was due to two factors, Covid and the late-season wildfires that wreaked havoc on California and most of the west coast. I found that the most effective way to determine if grapes were tainted by the fires was to do what we call a micro-ferment. I picked about 10 lbs of grapes into a small 5-gallon bucket, threw some yeast on the fruit, and fermented it to dry over 5 days. I’d then let the wine settle in the refrigerator for 12 hours and analyze it for aromas and flavors that could have come from smoke taint. Despite the disappointing end to the 2020 growing season, resulting in a fraction of the Pinot Noirs I typically produce for Jewell, the conditions leading up to the fires had been shaping up to be a fantastic vintage as a whole. For this reason, and after careful analysis of the micro-ferments, I was able to take a vintage that many considered unsalvageable and create wines I’m incredibly proud of.
Every year I select my favorite barrels of Pinot Noir from Humboldt County to be designated for the Emerald bottling. This year the Emerald consists of Phelps Vineyard, Ryan Vineyard and Miller Creek Vineyard. Aged in neutral French oak barrels for a total of 18 months. I love the way the high-elevation Phelps Vineyard complements the low-lying, Ryan and Miller Creek Vineyards. Ryan lends darker bramble fruit from the Dijon clone 115 and earth and rusticity from the Martini clone.
