By Lorrie s. LeBeaux

Being a person born and raised in New Orleans, a winery named Jazz Cellars intrigued me.  I contacted the founders Joe Lazzera and Bob Smith after looking at their website www.jazzcellars.com   The story evolved because the founders and proprietors attended the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) many years ago. They realized that they had a profound love of Jazz and wine, so the concept of Jazz Cellars was formed. I love the musical quotes on the back of the labels that remind us of the connection of New Orleans, Jazz and wine. I often write about Jazz and my classmate Lance Ellis who is a New Orleans Jazz artist and how he loves his wine and jazz. I also, have fallen in love with the Boney James CD “Sweet Thing.” Now, I can add Jazz Cellars wines to my list of new found loves. I liked all of the wines, and as a mother of two, we don’t have a favorite child, but I must say I am in love with the Jazz Cellars Syrah 2006 Las Madres Vineyard Carneros, and the Jazz Cellars 2007 Zinfandel Sonoma County. Carneros wines have always had a place in my heart due to the luscious fruit its appellation yields, and this wine does not disappoint.   As wine lovers we do tend to like certain characteristics in our wines. I’m just a sucker for fruit forward wines. I also feel like I’m experienced enough to recognize why wines taste the way they taste; it is due to the terroir or place where the grapes are grown, the winemaker’s skill level and his or her style. Style for me is being true to the grape. The less manipulation of the grapes, the better the wine in most cases; this is my “purist” attitude in reference to wine making. I also think wine labels want to create a mental logo or palatial imprint in their wine, and most labels do “say something” when a consumer drinks their wares.  I think Jazz Cellars is saying, we love great wine, great Jazz, and for all to experience the joy we feel when we drink our wines.  I got an opportunity to sample their wines; so, I would like to share with you my tasting experience.

Jazz Cellars Viognier 2007 Catie’s Corner Vineyard Russian River Valley
This Viognier was a pleasant surprise! Most Viognier wines have more residual sugar than I tend to like in a white wine. This wine was more like a sister to Sauvignon Blanc, still maintaining the characteristics of Viognier. Lots of floral notes and grassiness on the nose, with tropical fruit on the palate with a lively acidity on the finish best describes this lovely white wine. I could see this wine easily paired with shellfish and grilled fish. My personal pairing would be a crab cake with a wonderful creamy spicy sauce.

Jazz Cellars 2007 Zinfandel Sonoma County
This Zinfandel has the fruit forward flavors of blackberries and hints of blueberries, plums, and cocoa. I loved it! It was so easy to sip. I just wanted to taste and taste, well you get the picture. This wine pairs well with pork or any meats on your grill. Zinfandel, and especially one filled with fruit always taste good with BB-Q sauce; especially a sauce with honey, spice and smoke.

Jazz Cellars Syrah 2006 Las Madres Vineyard Carneros
This wine has that great Carneros fruit that wine lovers love! Flavors of dark fruit, cocoa, pepper and vanilla is integrated in this wine with medium tannins. I must admit, that I love Syrah! I opened this wine and sampled it alone, then with my Sunday dinner of pot roast with chopped sage and rosemary as the “leading stars” in my gravy. Sage has always been my “go to” herb when pairing Syrah; Rosemary has been my “go to” herb with beef. So, I decided to “mix it up” while cooking my pot roast. The result was a tender roast, with wonderful gravy. The Syrah made the meal a perfect pairing.

Jazz Cellars 2006 Petite Sirah Eaglepoint Ranch Medocino
Petite Sirah is petite in “name only.” This varietal is not for the faint red wine drinkers. I like Petite Sirah. It is a great wine for a big juicy porter house steak or rib-eye steak that has a little fat to make the steak flavorful and to compliment the firm tannins of a big red wine, like this Jazz Cellars 2006 Petite Sirah.  The Petite Sirah is dark, inky, and has a nose of dark fruit, smoke and vanilla spice. The palate has notes of dark fruit, spice, coffee and hints of lead, which I think represents the tannins. This wine benefits from decanting about a half hour or so before serving.  Now, if one wanted to serve a gourmet burger with a hint of blue cheese in the middle of the burger or melted on top; I would call this a “fabulous –casual” pairing. 

In closing, I know that we are in a tough economy right now and our purse strings may be held a little tight. But, we have to treat ourselves at least once in a while. In New Orleans we have a saying, “Don’t cheat yourself, treat yourself!” I think that is what makes us “go on” and have faith to believe, “The best is yet to come!”