Wine Last Sold on: August 23, 2011
Jana Wines
Today's Featured Wine:
2005 Jana Cathedral Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
| Varietal: | Red Blend |
| Region: | California: Napa Valley |
| Total Allocation: | Extremely Limited |
| Avg. Price: | $55.00 |
| Wine Spies: | $30.00 |
The Winery Says:
Jana Wines are named to convey the romance and passion Scott feels for his wife, Jana, and also for the creation of the wines that they love to share. The wines are from the best of Napa Valley varietals. The Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant Bordeaux Blend. The Napa Valley Riesling and Ice Wine are innovative wines that spring from Scott’s winemaking training in Germany.
Awards & Accolades:
90 Points — Beverage Testing Institute
Silver Medal – 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
About This Wine:
Named for Cathedral Rock in Sedona, AZ where Scott and Jana were engaged, this wine epitomizes the Napa Valley. Perfect for that romantic evening and a night of enchantment…...
The small crop and berry size allows for full maturity of the grapes at lower sugar levels allowing us to make a true regional and varietal wine at 13.5% alcohol. Being European trained, this vineyard allows me to produce a Napa Valley Meritage style blend as a balanced, complete wine. The wine was aged for over two years in French Oak creating a flavorful wine with well rounded tannins.
Being European trained, this vineyard allowed Scott Harvey to produce a Napa Valley Meritage style blend as a balanced, complete wine. The wine was aged for over two years in French Oak creating a flavorful wine with well-rounded tannins. It is well-structured, chewy, firm, violets and pyrazines, with hints of mint.
About The Winery:
Scott Harvey Wines are made of the best varietals from the terroir of Amador County, California. These worldly wines include an Old Vine Zinfandel, a Syrah (Rhone), a Barbera (Italian) and a Port (Portuguese). Scott’s roots are in Amador County which has allowed him to develop considerable expertise with these varietals.
History:
Growing up in California’s Sierra Mountains Region, Scott developed a keen interest in winemaking as a high school exchange student in the Rhineland Pfalz region of Germany. Scott attended California State University at Sacramento before beginning practical Enology training at Montevina Winery in Amador County. Back to Germany in 1975, he apprenticed at K. Fitz-Ritter Winery while attending the Weinbau Schule in Neustadt. Once again returning to Montevina Winery, Scott focused on all aspects of winemaking and running a winery. From farming the grapes to effectively marketing the wine, Scott solidified his knowledge and experience. In 1978, at the age of twenty-three, Scott took over as Head Winemaker for Story Winery, also in Amador County.
In 1979 Scott developed an ambitious winery plan for the Santino family. As Winemaker and General Manager of Santino Winery, Scott is credited with placing Amador County firmly on the California wine map. Crafting the best wines possible from the soils and climatic conditions of the region, Santino and later Renwood benefited from Scott’s German training and innovative style. Becoming one of the leading wineries in Amador County, and garnering critical acclaim, the wine world was paying attention. Amador County was now recognized as a world-class wine-growing appellation.
In 1996, Scott was recruited as Partner, Winemaker & President for newly purchased, Folie a Deux Winery in Napa Valley. Combining forces with Lead Partner, renowned Winemaker, Richard Peterson, Ph.D, a formidable winemaking team was launched. Scott pursued his commitment to award-winning Cabernets made from the Estate Vineyards in Napa Valley while continuing his passion for Amador County Zinfandel. Access to Scott’s original Grandpère vineyard in Amador County and close relationships with premier Amador County growers, resulted in award-winning wines all around for Folie a Deux. In addition, Scott’s creation, the “Menage a Trois” line of wines, was an instant commercial success. In 2004, Folie a Deux, now a respected brand, was sold to Sutter Home/Trinchero Winery. Scott was finally positioned and ready to start his own venture, and he had the ideal partner – his wife, Jana, a wine industry veteran.
Scott Harvey Wines, the initial line of wines in the “Creative Wine Concepts” portfolio, was created out of market demand for Scott’s wines – “niche wines that over deliver.” The Scott Harvey line focuses on Scott’s roots – Zinfandel, Syrah and Barbera from the Sierra’s. Approachable, food friendly and full of luscious fruit, these wines have struck a cord in the marketplace. Scott has hit his stride with his new mantra – “Scott Harvey Wines, it’s time!” Stay tuned – this is just the beginning!
Technical Analysis:
Vintage: 2005
Wine Type: Medium Red Wine
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend
Blend: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Napa Valley
pH: 3.48
Residual Sugar: Dry <.2%
Alcohol: 13.5%
Cooperage: French Oak
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Mission Codename: The Church of Bordeaux
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Return to our good friends, Jana and Scott Harvey, and acquire the newest vintage of their Cathedral, a delicious Napa Valley Bordeaux Style Blend
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Jana Wines (Scott Harvey Wines)
Wine Subject: 2004 Cathedral Napa Valley Bordeaux Style Red Blend
Winemaker: Scott Harvey
Backgrounder: Bordeaux wines are usually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet France, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. In France, perfection is achieved with the perfect balance of these grapes. In California’s Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme with large crops of Merlot and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Franc. Today’s 2005 Cathedral is a masterful blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, blended from choice barrels, by master winemaker, Scott Harvey.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark ruby with crimson edging, and a slightly darker core. When the wine settles, after a hearty swirl, tall wine-stained legs for high on the glass wall, and then march slowly downward.
Smell – Medium in intensity with an intoxicating dark fruit perfume that leads with dark mixed berry jam, dark chocolate, spice and brambly blackberry. As the wine opens up, earthy notes of dark dried flower petals, espresso bean and toasty oak round out the nose.
Feel – Smooth and round up front, the wine glides across the mid-palate. Then the wine fills out on the rear-palate, adding weight and dimension. The wine shows a fine balance between power and finesse, with textured tannins and a mild acidity. After a moment, this wine becomes mouth-coating and almost chewy, with a solid structure that lingers long into the finish.
Taste – Dark blackberry, plum and black cherry are integrated with dried violets, leather, licorice, softly burnt espresso bean, soft cedar, spice and dark chocolate.
Finish – Rich and long with flavorful, bold fruit that is supported by the wines smooth, mouth-coating structure. As the fruit fades, hints of spice, oak, dark chocolate and espresso persist for a long time.
Conclusion – We are blessed to be able to follow our favorite winemakers, vintage after vintage, experiencing the evolution of their skill and style. Scott Harvey has blended another fantastic Bordeaux-style blend with today’s exceptional 2005 Cathedral, made under his Jana label. This wine is complex and delicious, with big, dark flavors and deep aromatics. With more than enough Cabernet in the wine to allow it to be legally designated simply as ”Cabernet Sauvignon”, this wine is much more; Though the relative percentages of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc may seem small, each varietal has presence, with the Petite adding depth and the Franc adding a bit of lift. Drinking beautifully right now, this delicious wine will continue to develop for years to come. Be sure to hold a bottle or two back in the cellar – if you have the patience!.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of Jana Wines and Scott Harvey Wines can be seen in this satellite photo.
Average Wine Spy Points: |
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I think I'm being a bit parsimonious about my points because I really like this wine but it isn't exciting me. The mouth feel and smoothness of this wine are wonderful. The flavors are...full but muted, if that makes sense. Definitely decant this wine and I'm going to save my other bottles for a few years, as I think they'll age to even more profundity. It may just be that this wine's complexity is beyond my plebeian taste buds! A strong recommendation for a curious wine.
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