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God King Slave Wines 2012 Kinfolk
The ambition to create.
The name of this winery derives from a famous saying by Constantin Brancusi, a Romanian sculptor, which states: "Work like a slave; command like a king; create like a god."
And it’s that ambition – to create like a god – that drives winemaker Chris Jiron.
Chris grew up in the Rogue Valley watching wine being made at his family’s small, boutique winery. He experimented with many different career paths in college but was eventually drawn back to winemaking. He studied at the Northwest Viticulture Center and started blogging about Southern Oregon wines. After he finished his studies, he got hired on at Folin Cellars to help out for a season – a short-term gig that has now lasted for years.
Mentored by winemaker Rob Folin (whose wine we featured in August), Chris is unafraid to experiment, break tradition, and let his imagination run wild. Of course, as one of Oregon’s youngest winery owners, the old rules don’t really apply.
Sourcing grapes from wherever he can find them, Chris has become known for his skill in masterfully blending grapes in unusual ways.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
God King Slave Wines, Jacksonville, Oregon
2012 Kinfolk
Chris Jiron’s white blend is called Kinfolk, because it’s made from a family of varietals descended from the Rhone Valley in southern France – and that have found a home in southern Oregon.
As Chris says, like all kin, these these varietals are strongest when united. His Kinfolk blend is 40% Viognier, 30% Roussanne, and 30% Marsanne.
This is a rich wine with notes of stone fruit, flowers and exotic spice, and is a surprisingly complex white wine. The Viognier adds a creaminess to the bright acidity of the Marsanne and Roussanne. Together, their minerality shines through creating a blend of finesse and structure, something that will reward patience.
Only 105 cases made!
A Cellar 503 selection in October 2015, The Artistry of Blends Applegate Valley | Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
