Aside from the obvious, one of my favorite things about wine are the great stories behind the bottle. So of course, when I heard the story of Judy Jordan (of J Vineyards & Winery fame) and her new project Geodesy Wines, I was hooked.
100% of Geodesy’s profits go to WG Edge (Women Gaining an Edge), a non-profit leadership development program that connects young women with a village of leaders to guide, inspire and open doors for them. Geodesy and WG Edge spring from the same roots: gratitude for our land and the generations of farmers who work it.
Please check out my article on The Vintner Project to learn more about this amazing endeavor and how it came to be.
And for a little more about the wines, keep on reading. Winemaker Megan Baccitich crafts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a Proprietary Red from three revitalized heritage vineyards, two in Willamette Valley and one in Napa Valley. And how lucky was I to taste through these amazing wines with Judy and Megan.
2018 Geodesy Wines Eola Springs Vineyard Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills, OR ($75)
So if y’all have been paying attention, you know that I’m back in Chardonnay’s good graces and have been crushing on it, particularly those from Willamette Valley for a minute now. Megan shared that she lets the fruit hang on the vines a little longer than many producers which gives you a touch of hedonism as well as that gorgeous Oregon structure. She wanted the acidity and freshness that we know and love Willamette Valley for, but also wanted some of the fruit density that she was used to in Russian River wines. This. Was. Amazing. Like Bourgogne Grand Cru amazing. A gorgeous pale lemon in the glass and what a nose with a candied apple and mineral. It’s definitely one of those wow wine! Even Mr. Corkscrew said so. The palate offers up lemon, pear, mineral, and salinity with racy, mouthwatering acidity. What a sublime sip. I can’t wait to order more!
2018 Geodesy Wines Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, OR ($80)
As it was Pinot Noir that really got me into wine, these wines always have a special place in my heart. And I certainly love so many of the ones from Oregon. Just about everyone I’ve talked to about the 2018 vintage in Oregon shares that it was an amazing vintage and this one is no exception. With notes of dark cherry, raspberry, baking spice, earth, herbs, and a touch of smoke, this one just kept giving me things to think about. One of those cerebral wines that just continues to evolve in the glass.
2018 Geodesy Wines Sage Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA ($175)
People are always amazed when I tell them that I don’t drink a great deal of Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s just not the most versatile pairing partner and some of the ones from Napa can be overdone. But if I tell you I couldn’t put this damn wine down! I was so happy that it was a bourbon night for Mr. Corkscrew. And no wonder. Judy shared that Sage Ridge Vineyard was a challenging, yet brilliant vineyard to work with. Perched on mountain ridges amidst extremely rugged terrain at 800 – 1400 feet altitude, Geodesy Winegrower Scott Zapotocky says “It is the most extreme viticulture I’ve ever been a part of.” It was certainly worth the effort. Crafted of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it is rich and velvety with a structured backbone and smooth tannins. With lush red and black fruits front and center along with mocha, coffee, leather, and violets it was such a joy to drink. Perfect for a special occasion or whenever if you got it like that!
Cheers to Judy Jordan, Geodesy Wines, and wines with a purpose.
*Cover Image Courtesy of Geodesy Wines.
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