JCB

Our first encounter with Jean-Charles Boisset was a few years ago at Buena Vista Winery. The Sonoma winery had been purchased by JCB a few year prior and despite all the horrible things you usually hear about takeovers from large corporations, we were pleased to find out that they were spending major dollars to renovate and restore the historic property.

This impression of a classy, wine-focused vintner was severely called into question upon my entrance into the JCB Tasting Room in Yountville. It was as if Chanel and Fifty Shades of Grey had a baby that was then dunked in leopard spots and wrapped in red velvet. The walls were lined with cases of expensive (and ridiculous!) items including rhinestone encrusted handcuffs and whips next to designer umbrellas; the worst type of bourgeoisie. The staff was standoffish at best and more interested in cleaning up from the party (orgy?) the night before than in actually educating or selling wine.

It was a lot of look but not a lot of taste. My favorites were the #39—an 11-year-old Crémant with a lovely nose and flavors of butterscotch and biscotti—and the Infinity, a Chardonnay and Gamay blend with hints of melon. None, however, did any of the people in my party like enough to purchase.

If you choose to spend an hour experiencing JCB, there are quite a few options to choose from in Napa and Sonoma Counties. I chose the Yountville location because it also houses JCB’s fashion and epicurean boutiques [read: overpriced clothing and food].