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Jaxon Vineyards 2011 Tradición
The New World meets the Old World
Jamie and Katherine McCleary were done with the hectic life of commercial freight shipping and wanted to explore their passion for food and wine. Looking for the perfect location to grow grapes in 2007, they hit on a gorgeous little valley between Medford and Ashland on the site of an old pear orchard.
With lots of hard work, they cleared the land and planted four varietals – Syrah, Tempranillo, Grenache and Viognier – to honor the similarities in climate of France’s Rhône Valley and Spain’s Rioja region. The plan? Make the best ‘New World’ wines using grapes with a traditional ‘Old World’ history.
Starting with their first harvest in 2011, the McClearys have turned these exceptional grapes into exceptional, award-winning wine – with help from winemaker Rob Folin of Folin Cellars.
They don’t have a dedicated tasting room yet, but are gracious and welcoming to anyone who wants to visit their home, see their amazing views and taste some outstanding wine. (And if you get a chance to join one of their famous paella dinners, run – don’t walk!)
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Jaxon Vineyards, Medford, Oregon
2011 Tradición
Jaxon Vineyard wines represent the best of Southern Oregon wines while evoking an old world style. Their use of the traditional grapes in Rhône-style, Rioja-style and Bordeaux-style blends brings together the best of both worlds.
The 2011 Tradición is a blend of equal parts Tempranillo and Grenache, producing a Spanish-style red blend.
It’s a rich, succulent wine with complex fruity aromas and earthy flavors that will only become more interesting over time. This wine is firm yet graceful, offering a core of bright fruit framed by toasty vanilla and allspice notes; balanced and lively, in a modern style of an old world blend.
It is, of course, a great match for Jaxon’s famous paella as well as smoked meats and vegetables on your dinner table.
A Cellar 503 selection in August 2015, Wines of Southern Oregon Rogue Valley | Grenache, Tempranillo
