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Mother Jewell, the family matriarch at the turn of the 20th century, was a figure to be revered. “The Old Girl,” having lived to the age of 94, experienced much in her time. When her husband, Charles Jewell, was away fighting the war, she was greeted one day on her doorstep by two gentlemen asking for a drink. Her intuition was on the money as those men came back the next night to ransack her home. They took many valuables, but weren’t able to find Charles and Thomas’ race winnings hidden in the butter churn.
In California, it is rare to find grape vines that are “own-rooted,” or planted on their own rootstock. Most vines are grafted onto a different rootstock to increase vitality. These old, gnarly vines have stood steadfast and determined for over 50 years producing a finite yield of undeniable quality. True gems Mother Jewell would be proud to be the namesake of.
Our 2021 Martini Clone – “Old Girls” opens with an expressive bouquet of pomegranate, garden strawberries, Bing cherry, and wild berries, interwoven with subtle hints of thyme, sassafras, fresh leather, and warm nutmeg. The palate is driven by mouth-watering acidity and a vibrant core of red fruit, where spicy mid-palate notes unfold into layers of wild raspberry, dried cranberry, and bright red cherry. A lingering finish of citrus zest adds lift and energy, promising graceful aging. Enjoy now or cellar through 2033.
Decant 30-60 minutes prior to enjoying
The 2021 Jewell “Old Girls” Pinot Noir, Martini Clone, reflects a restrained and thoughtful approach to winemaking. We layered 15% whole cluster at the bottom of the fermenter, followed by destemmed fruit, allowing a native fermentation to unfold slowly over two weeks, peaking at 80°F to encourage gentle extraction and preserve the delicate character of Pinot Noir. A small fraction of press wine was blended with the free-run to enhance complexity before the wine was racked to barrel, where native malolactic fermentation occurred. Aged sur lie for 16 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered, this wine offers lifted aromatics, refined texture, and a pure expression of site and clone.
In California, it is rare to find grape vines that are “own-rooted,” or planted on their own rootstock. Most vines are grafted onto a different rootstock to increase vitality. These old, gnarly vines have stood steadfast and determined for over 50 years producing a finite yield – just one ton of fruit per acre – of undeniable quality. This single-clone, single-vineyard block is planted in the Starscape Vineyard, located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, and has provided us with beautiful berries full of complexity, richness, and elegance.
On the heels of 2020, which was a rollercoaster of difficult decisions due to COVID and late-season fires, it wasn’t hard to have a vintage that seemed great. In hindsight, however, 2021 was the vintage of a lifetime. We had a dry and cold winter that was followed by a warm spring which led to a balanced fruit set. The lack of rain created smaller yields and more concentrated fruit. We had a very cool August and September, allowing the vines to fully develop phenolic ripeness without compromising the acidity or aromatics in the wines. With time, the 2021 Vintage will prove to be one of the best vintages in California history for Pinot Noir.
