Boisset Family Estates Tasting: Buena Vista, DeLoach, Jean-Claude Boisset, and Raymond

Hello Friends,

I recently had an opportunity to jump on Twitter (my favorite little blue bird) and participate in #BWEChat (Boston Wine Expo) wine chat and virtual tasting. I tasted with Janet Fouts (aka The “Social Media Coach”), several fellow bloggers, and the man with a personality that’s as bright and bubby as the JCB sparkling wines in his portfolio -- Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates.

 Boisset Family Estates Line-up

Jean-Charles Boisset, who is from a wine-making family in Burgundy, France, owns Boisset Family Estates (along with his family). It is one of the leading family-owned wine companies with some pretty well-known – even historic, names in its collection (as you will notice below). See the wines I tasted and my notes below. To keep up with the latest happenings at Boisset Family Estates I recommend following them at @Boisset_Wines on Twitter.

Buena Vista Winery 2009 Carneros Chardonnay

1) Buena Vista Winery 2009 Carneros Chardonnay (SRP $20): Buena Vista Winery is a pioneer in the California wine industry; planting wine grapes in (a not so well-known) Carneros in 1969. The winery was acquired by the Boisset family in 2011. The 2009 Chardonnay is medium straw in color with inviting apple, pear, lemon peel, and toasty butterscotch aromas. The aromas extend to the palate with softly framed sweet oak accents that are complemented by good balancing acidity that finishes with a rounded, somewhat creamy medium length finish. This bottling, in my opinion, marries richness, brightness, focused fruit, and barrel influence  -- resulting in an expressive and tasty Carneros Chardonnay. Click here to find this wine.

 DeLoach Vineyards O.F.S. 2010 Pinot Noir

2) DeLoach Vineyards O.F.S. 2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (SRP $40): De Loach Vineyards was one of the first wineries established in the Russian River Valley in 1975. The winery was acquired by the Boisset family in 2003. Dark ruby-colored in the glass, this Pinot Noir offers inviting scents of cherry preserve, raspberry jam, cherry cola, and [sweet] baking spice with underlying black tea notes. The palate exhibits a round, fleshy fruit quality with a smooth texture and a medium-length fruity finish. This selection was one of the table’s most-liked wines during the tasting event. Click here to find this wine.

 Jean-Claude Boisset Bourgogne 2010 Pinot Noir

3) Jean-Claude Boisset 2010 Bourgogne Les Ursulines (SRP $20): Soft red fruit core, “particularly, maraschino cherry,” says my friend Mike, with nice spice qualities, fruited perfume accents and soft mineral undertones set on a delicate frame with (softer, almost subdued, flavors than the nose would suggest), plush tannins, and a medium length, spice-driven finish [with a pleasant sprinkling of white pepper too]. Click here to find this wine.

 Raymond Vineyards 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

4) Raymond Vineyards 2009 Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $35): Early-to-mid 1970’s Napa Valley pioneering estate located in St. Helena which was acquired by the Boisset family in 2009. In the glass, she displays a nice deep purple color with rich and inviting dark cherry, black currant, and mixed berry aromas with hints of cedar and sweet [baking] spice and just a light dusting of cocoa powder. The palate is smooth, [fairly] ripe, and fruit-focused with soft-to-middling acidity, a velvety/rounded texture, delectable tannins and a pleasant medium-length finish. I have had this particular vintage several times in recent months and my notes remain [almost] unchanged. In my opinion it is good juice for the money and if you search hard enough you can find it at the low-to-mid 20’s on the web. Click here to find this wine.

 Sitting on a rock off the bay, watching the tide roll away ...

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: These wines were received as a media sample for this event. Thoughts are my own.

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