Jessup Cellars

Jessup Cellars has a tasting room in downtown Yountville and is well worth a visit. It was founded in 1996 by Mark Jessup.  Their wines are sold only out of the winery or online.  They are open to the public without reservations although they also have a VIP room and Premier room that may be reserved.  They source most of their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Merlot from the Carneros district.  Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel and Petit Verdot are sourced from districts farther north in Napa Valley.

At the time of our visit the tasting was $20 and included a nice Jessup Cellars 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($28) with soft grapefruit on the palate, a very good, well balanced Jessup Cellars 2009 Russian River Pinot Noir ($48), a decent Jessup Cellars 2008 Merlot ($34) with some soft tannins, a good Jessup Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in French oak for 24 months ($55) and, my favorite, along with the Pinot Noir, the Jessup Cellars 2008 "Table for Four" ($79) that is a blend of 65% Cab, 15% Cab Franc, 15% Merlot and 5% Petite Sirah.  The Table for Four is intended to pair well with almost any dish so that four people at a table could share it regardless of that they ordered.  Also, included in the tasting was a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Port, but we opted to pass on this. Jessup Cellars is also in the Napa Neighbor Program and has a wine club that offers 15% discounts.

Jessup Cellars
6740 Washington St
Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-8523

Visited November 16, 2011