Credit for turning me onto this wine goes to Teddy, the bartender at Paradise Grill in Del Mar, CA.  While attending a happy hour function there this weekend, I perused the wine list.  Although there were several interesting selections, none really jumped out and grabbed my attention, at which point I figured I would just order the standard "by the glass" fare.  Teddy the bartender then told me "hey, if you're into cabs, I have 2 bottles of this Jocelyn Reserve left over from a private function a few days ago.  When they're gone, that's it."  I assumed he was just trying to sell me left-over plonk at first, but he seemed sincere, so I took him at face value and ordered the $100 bottle, which was essentially at the middle end of their wine list price-wise.  Retail price if you buy this wine at a wine shop is about $65.00, so the mark-up is pretty reasonable by restaurant standards.

One taste of this wine, and I realized Teddy did me right on this one!  Big fruit forward California blackberry, blueberry and mocha bouquet, multi-layer fruit and chocolate drenching on the palate, and enough tannin that I am sure this wine will continue to improve for several more years, yet the tannins were so well hidden behind this wall of fruit that the wine was accessible right away.  Very well done from this relatively new winery.  500 cases produced.

4 stars.  Only one bottle left at Paradise Grille in Del Mar, but can be purchased at the winery's web site.  If I get a list of local retailers, I will try to update the site.

 

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