Jordan Wine Country Table - Vol. 16, 2021 - 5

FROM THE WINEMAKER
Beyond the bottle
Maggie Kruse
WINEMAKER
MY SHORT TIME as head winemaker has been incredibly eventful to say the least.
During my years studying viticulture and enology at UC Davis, there was no mention of how
to make wine in the middle of wildfires, and certainly no talk of global pandemics. From
the Kincade Fire evacuations in 2019 to the COVID-19 lockdowns and the 2020 vintage being
bookended by wildfires, we have faced unprecedented challenges in the last two vintages.
Even after all of these obstacles, I'm relieved to report
that our wines had no smoke taint in 2019 and 2020.
Equally important is the fact that we were able to
keep our team healthy and happy throughout our
most essential time of grape harvest. A great deal
of strategic planning, problem solving, creativity
and just plain hard work went into making this last
year a successful one.
Staying positive and charging ahead was not always
easy. One moment, while wrapped up in the stress that
the last year has brought, I received some timely words
of encouragement from my mentor, Rob Davis: " The
1855 classification of top crus in France survived two
World Wars and lost all their vineyards to phylloxera,
yet somehow they came out on top. Jordan will do the
same. " His words have become a personal mantra
of mine to help me focus on the task in front of me
and try not to worry about the unknown. We strive
to emulate the First Growths of Bordeaux in wine style
and hospitality, and this year, I am proud to say that
perseverance can be added to our list of similarities.
In a year when there was not much to look
forward to, I was truly excited for these latest
releases. The 2019 Chardonnay is incredibly French
inspired; it has the fruit profile of green apple, citrus
blossom and lemon curd of many previous vintages,
but what sets it apart is the mouthfeel. The natural
acidity and beautiful minerality leave you salivating
for more. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon was a more
challenging wine to put together. Five major heat
spikes in the summer of 2017 made us grateful to be
working with the most experienced and talented grape
growers in Alexander Valley. Timing in the vineyard
was absolutely key for leaf pulling, crop thinning and
harvest. While 2017 took a little extra effort to make,
we are very proud of this wine. The bright, fresh
cherry and blackberry, combined with the tannin and
spice component from the French oak, will continue to
carry this wine over to the finish line for years to come.
Interacting with Jordan fans and hearing about
their Jordan wine stories is what motivates us to
make better wines. Though I didn't get to chat with
many customers in person, I am appreciative of all
of the virtual dinners and happy hours hosted last
year. Reminiscing over glasses of Jordan gave me that
human connection I needed-even if we were talking
through computer screens. I cannot wait to get back
out in the market and support the restaurants and
country clubs who have carried Jordan on their wine
lists for so many years.
If I don't see you at the winery, I hope we can raise
a glass in your neighborhood.
Cheers,
WINECOUNTRYTABLE.COM 5
http://www.winecountrytable.com
Jordan Wine Country Table - Vol. 16, 2021

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