NICOLE’S WINE OF THE MONTH

SEASONAL SELECTIONS OF RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY WINES

Award-winning winemaker Nicole Hitchcock shares her monthly wine recommendations, highlighting seasonal selections from the J portfolio.

Nicole Hitchcock joined J in 2015 and has been crafting critically acclaimed sparkling and still wines ever since. In 2022, she was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

“Working with both still and sparkling, the extensive portfolio at J allows her to think about wine from many perspectives… Hitchcock believes that every vintage is an opportunity to discover new questions about wine.” — Jacy Topps (Wine Enthusiast, 2022)

APRIL’S PICK

2016 annapolis Ridge Pinot Noir

ABOUT ANNAPOLIS RIDGE PINOT NOIR

With one sip of Annapolis Ridge Pinot Noir, you’ll understand why it receives high scores from Wine Spectator, James Suckling and Wine Advocate vintage after vintage. The expression of care, time and terroir combine to create a beautifully balanced and full-bodied Pinot Noir with notes of dark berry, cassis, anise, and rose petal, and aromas of blueberry, cherry and plum.

“My family, friends and I go camping on the coast quite a bit …and when I think of coastal camping I think of redwoods, beautiful ridgetops, soaring birds and the ocean crashing…and when I close my eyes and think of this wine it reminds me of exactly the same thing.”
— Nicole Hitchcock

MORE NICOLE’S PICKS TO COME!

Come back every month to discover new wines chosen by Nicole that will add dimension and nuance to your cellar.

March’s Pick

2018 VINTAGE BRUT ROSÉ

“This wine reminds me of spring, particularly the fresh, underripe strawberries that you can find in the farmer’s market.” — Nicole Hitchcock

Earning 91 Points from Wine Spectator (December 2022), the 2018 Vintage Brut Rosé offers a refined take on a classic brut rosé style.

A delicate mousse of lively bubbles greets you at first sip, while notes of bright red fruits, quince and tangerine fill the palate ahead of the crisp, flavorful finish.

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J Winery Top Russian River Wines of 2024

FEBRUARY’S PICK

brut rosè

“This wine makes me think of connection with others, whether they’re with us or far away — it’s all about connection with the  J Brut Rose.” — Nicole Hitchcock

This elegant and delightfully hued sparkling rosé opens with aromas of ripe raspberries, rose petals and slivered almonds. Luscious notes of fresh mandarin orange, roasted strawberries and crème fraîche alight the palate, as lively acidity and steely minerality frame a crisp, lingering finish.

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Top Russian River Valley Wines picked by Nicole Hitchcock

JANUARY’S PICK

2014 VINTAGE BRUT

We conducted the dosage trials for our 2014 Vintage Brut in early 2020, and the wine stood out with its bright tanginess, lime zest, striking minerality and a touch of earthiness – it was clearly the favorite in our tasting. It’s been wonderful to see how those notes have evolved over the past four years and how much of the early attributes are still present in the glass. What really jumps out to me is the generosity of red fruit character on the mid-palate, which may be attributed to the slightly higher percentage of Pinot Meunier in the cuvée. I love how the red fruit notes play off the wine’s fresh acidity and brightness of structure, providing a clean finish — this vintage exemplifies some of the best qualities of Russian River Valley wines.

My youngest daughter was born in 2014, so this is a very personal vintage for me. I crafted the wine for longevity and have laid down some magnums to celebrate the cherished moments in her life.

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UPCOMING EVENTS IN RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

An award-winning culinary team, prized vineyards and unrivaled hospitality — our standard of excellence extends far beyond our portfolio of Russian River Valley wines. Discover all that J has to offer during every visit, special occasion or exclusive event.

EXPLORE EVENTS

J Vineyards is best winery to visit in Sonoma County