October 7, 2016

LA JOTA Merlot 2013

(Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California) $85

Atomic density is the middle name of wines from Howell Mountain, and this La Jota Merlot is no exception. It thunders out of the glass with vividness, intensity, and astonishing precision. What is most remarkable, however, is that the wine also possesses a sense of beauty and ease. For a merlot born in fierce volcanic mountain rock, it is surprisingly robed by soft finesse.

95 points

Available at La Jota

What is rocío?

A. The term used in Sicily for laying out grapes on straw mats in the sun to dry and concentrate them before making a sweet wine

B. The process in Madeira of gently heating wine-filled tanks in order to darken the wine

C. The Catalan word for long aged whites that have taken on an oxidized almost rancid character

D. The term used in Sherry production for replenishing the wine in one barrel with wine from another barrel

In Sherry production, the process of replenishing the wine in one row (criadera) with wine that has been extracted from barrels in the criadera above it is called rocio (row-CEE-oh). The word means “morning dew” and is a reflection of how gently the wine must be handled when it is moved between criaderas. This continual process of extracting wines from barrels and replenishing other barrels has a lovely name. It’s called correr escalas—running the scales, and it’s done several times a year.

Crianza

The Spanish term (meaning “raised” as in child-rearing) for basic-quality wine produced by each bodega or “winery”. Crianzas are considered every-night drinking wines. They are less prestigious, less costly, and aged for shorter periods than… Continue reading

LA JOTA Merlot 2013

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