J. Lynne: Pinot Noir with a Soft Touch

Jennifer (Jen) Lynne Wall is a talented winemaker who has accumulated a slew of medals for the Barefoot Cellars label since joining that winery in 1995. Barefoot still and sparkling wines are value-priced and directed at the millennial generation. The label’s tag line says, “Get Barefoot and have a good time!” Fans of Barefoot wines are called “barefooters,” and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly events are held nationwide. Owned by E. & J. Gallo Winery since 2005, Barefoot Wine Cellars produces over two million cases of ten different still varieties and four different sparkling wines.

Lynne began college at University California Santa Cruz intending to study medicine but headed to Sonoma County after graduation and became hooked on becoming a vintner. She acquired her winemaking skills under the distinguished winemaker, Erin Green, now the winemaker at Pahlmeyer. Like many accomplished winemakers, Lynne yearned to have her own label. With the assistance and support of her husband, Mike, she debuted a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 2003 under the J. Lynne label and many accolades have followed.

The current release, the 2007 J. Lynne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, won a Gold Medal at the prestigious 2009 Sonoma Grand Harvest Awards. The wine was sourced equally from two vineyards: Cameron Ranch and Saralee’s Vineyard, both in the Russian River Valley. The clones are Martinelli and Dijon 777. The wine was 100% de-stemmed, cold soaked for several days, and partly whole berry fermented in tank with proprietary yeast. The wine was matured for 8 months in French oak barrels.

2007 J. Lynne Russian River Valley Sonoma County Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 973 cases, $25. · Vivid perfume of cherries, strawberries and Asian spices. Refined and compelling flavors of fresh picked cherries, raspberries and strawberries with a hint of cola. Moderately light in weight with suave tannins, lively acidity and admirable elegance. A welcoming wine that is easy to drink and notable for its pinotosity.

J. Lynne Pinot Noir is available online at www.jlynnewines.com and is distributed in retail stores in CA, WI, LA, NJ, MN and VA. In California, customers can ask a retailer to bring it in through the distributor, MEGAWINE.