Polyphenols & Red Wine
Justin wanted to share this link from his cousin's research that is directly coorelated to the positive effects of red wine and your gut health. Here is the link! And following are Justin's thoughts on the article.
The polyphenols include the tannin and anthocyanin compounds are present in red wine. I liked the connection between polyphenols and the production of GLP-1 which is a 'NATURAL' version of these new synthetic weight loss drugs.
The article also mentions ellagitannins, which are tannins found in red wines that have been aged in oak.
I thought the part about beige fat was interesting, especially when put in context to the xenohermesis hypothesis. The idea that we have co evolved with these plants to the extent that their production of polyphenols, aka 'fall flavors', can induce a 'caloric restriction' metabolic response in us is fascinating. Maybe they act as natural ques that winter is coming. Maybe this is why people prefer to drink red wine in the winter?
The last thing worth mentioning is that I asked Chris if the polymerization of tannin/anthocyanin we observe in wine affects the bodies ability to take up the compounds by our biome. He responded saying that most studies suggest that fermented foods actually seem to make the molecules more accessible and aid in the bodies ability of uptake.
2024 Spring Wine Club Wines
JB wine club is completely customizable. You pick your wines and you pick your quantities, we just ask that you have 3 wines total in your shipment. Here are the wines we have available for the spring shipment. Please let us know if you have any questions about the wines or the wine club. If you choose not to customize then I will send you 1 bottle of the following:
- 2021 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2021 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2020 Old Goat
Here are our available spring wines:
2023 Rosé of Mourvèdre (54 cases)
- 100% Elephant Mountain Vineyard,
- 100% Mourvedre
Every year Justin makes a rosé for the winery Dancing Fish on Whidbey Island. This harvest Elephant Mountain Vineyard picked more grapes than we needed so we had an excess of fruit. We decided to keep the grapes and make our very own rosé just for the wine club. Elephant Mountain is one of our favorite vineyards and Mourvèdre is our favorite grape for rosé. We could not pass on this opportunity and we hope you enjoy our take on the rosé.
Justin’s Tasting Notes:
- On the nose: Strawberry & Rose Petal
- On the palate: Rhubarb and strawberry flavors. Crisp with a balanced acidity that will pair well with food.
2021 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (28 barrels)
- 57% Elephant Mountain, 29% Two Blondes, 14% Red Willow
- 86% Cabernet Sauvignon/14% Merlot
- 61% Neutral French Oak and 39% New French Oak
We will be sold out of this vintage shortly and therefore have a 1 bottle limit. This wine is most people’s introduction to Justin’s wines and his winemaking style. It is a blend of 3 different vineyards located in the Yakima Valley. When blending these vineyards together Justin created a wine that is balanced, aromatic, full bodied and a great example of Cabernet grown here. 2021 was a very hot growing season and this wine is more approachable than previous wines. It is already smooth and round, with nice tannins.
James Suckling Review: "Juicy, concentrated and straightforward, this sturdy wine is packed with black cherries and blackberries on a firm, tannic structure. Blended with 14% merlot that didn’t soften it too much."-91 points
Justin’s Tasting Notes:
- On the nose: cherry, licorice, slight oak
- On the palate: ripe huckleberry, eucalyptus, chocolate, round tannins, light-to medium bodied with some weight. Very approachable.
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Tasting Window: Now-7 years
2021 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon (9 barrels)
This is one of Justin’s favorite vineyards. He sought out Ciel du Cheval in part because the vineyard is located on Red Mountain, an incredible spot in Washington state for Cabernet Sauvignon, and because the vineyard is farmed in such a thoughtful and precise manner. He also wanted to work with this particular vineyard because the grapes are from a new clone to Washington state. Clone 337 is from Bordeaux, France and has only recently been planted in Washington. The grapes are a bit herbaceous and have more red fruit notes. This vintage has a great weight and volume on the palate and it is a bit more delicate than traditional WA state cabs.
James Suckling Review: "Firm tannins and well-ripened red and black fruit give this wine a hearty, robust expression. The nicely gripping texture carries red cherries, black cherries and sun-baked earth nuances. Best from 2028."-92 points
Justin’s Tasting Notes:
- On the nose: cherry, cedar, baking spice
- One the palate: blackberry, cassis, and tobacco
- Tasting Window: 3-10 years
2020 Old Goat (2 Concrete Hippos)
- 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 11% Malbec, & 11% Petit Verdot
- 89% New French Oak and 11% Neutral French Oak
This is always Justin’s favorite wine. The 2020 vintage marks the point where Justin moves the trajectory of the Old Goat from a Cabernet Sauvignon to a Bordeaux Blend. He is really excited about the direction of this project and is looking forward to sharing this vintage with you. The wine spent 20 months in 89% New French Oak and 11% Neutral. It was then blended into concrete tanks where it aged for an additional 10 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
James Suckling Review: "Generously fruity and handsomely spicy, this full-bodied wine wraps melted tannins around indulgent dried cherry, sweet plum, cinnamon and cedar flavors. It’s big, broad and easy to sip. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 11% malbec and 11% petit verdot. Drink now or hold." 93 points
Justin’s Tasting Notes:
On the nose: black currants, pencil lead,
One the palate: cherry, chocolate, dried herbs
Tasting Window: 5-15 years
2021 Two Blondes Cabernet Sauvignon (6 barrels)
- 100% Two Blondes Vineyard
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 67% New French Oak and 33% Neutral French Oak
We did offer this in our fall shipment but it is tasting so fantastic right now and we are close to being sold out so we thought we would include it in our available wine club wines for spring but with a 2 bottle limit. We have been working with Two Blondes Vineyard for over ten vintages and each year we are reminded why we keep coming back. The aromatics and elegance of fruit is so special and highlights a unique component special to Cabernet Sauvignon from this vineyard in the upper valley of Yakima. The 2021 vintage had record highs which, with this cooler climate vineyard, helped the fruit further ripen creating a plush and elevated wine with floral and complex aromatics.
James Suckling Review: "Exotic and deep, the wine is steeped in blackberry, blueberry, star anise and balsam notes that have a haunting complexity. Almost-silky tannins lend a little grip to the texture without interrupting the wine’s velvety flow. Drink or hold." 93 points
Justin’s Tasting Notes:
On the nose: lavender, blueberry, leafy notes
On the palate: currants, red cherries, dried herbs and silky on the palate
Tasting Window: 3-10 years
2023 Sauvignon Blanc
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- 100% Zillah Vineyard
Spring is almost here, which means the Sauvingon Blanc is about to be bottled. We love Washington state Sauvignon Blanc, the acidity and crispness hit just right and just in time for warm weather. This year we sourced fruit from Zillah vineyards in the Yakima Valley.
Justin’s Tasting Notes:
- On the nose: grapefruit & ripe peach
- One the palate: green apple, lime, and crisp acidity
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