J’Noon represents the importance of being audacious
Five of my favourite wines that should be on every collector’s list
1 Domaine de la Vougeraie 1er Cru “Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot” Monopole
This elegant and vibrant Chardonnay is from the small village of Vougeot, where I grew up with my bedroom directly above the winery my parents started in our house. My playground included these exact vineyards, where I learned to appreciate nature and the incredible delicacies she provides us, delicious fruit we turn into the most magical of elixirs, wine.
This wine represents my introduction into the wine world, which happened quite naturally and organically and also reflects my evolution in wine, as my sister and I gathered together several estates we acquired over the years with the Boisset family’s first vineyards, to form Domaine de la Vougeraie nearly 20 years ago — a short window in the life of Burgundy, where the vines have existed since time immemorial. The White Vineyard is like a diamond set in the centre of rubies — the white jewel among the great Pinot Noir vineyards of the Cote de Nuits.
2 JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset No. 3 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley & Côte de Nuits – Burgundy
JCB No. 3 Pinot Noir, a blend from both California’s Russian River Valley and Côte de Nuits in Burgundy offers the best of both worlds. I was inspired to make this unique wine as a love letter to two of my favourite regions: my childhood home and the ancestral home of Pinot Noir, Côte de Nuits in Burgundy, and the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, which I believe captures the essence of Burgundy and produces the best expression of California Pinot Noir. In Burgundy, No. 3 unites three of our favorite appellations — Chambolle-Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin and Nuits. St-Georges — with the expressive Russian River Valley pinot noir.
3 Gallo Estate Chardonnay
This gorgeous wine, also from the Russian River Valley, was crafted by my more-gorgeous and amazingly talented wife, Gina Gallo. She is a third-generation winemaker who pays tribute to not only her family’s legacy, but the history of wine in America. Her Chardonnay, an artisanal, small-lot wine, is made from Gallo’s premiere vineyards in the Russian River Valley, and pays homage to the Gallo family’s deep roots in Sonoma. It bears for me the resemblance of Burgundy in California — with elegance, minerality and extraordinary ageworthy character and of course, it sparks memories of love and of the passion Gina and I shared on one of our first memorable moments together.
4 J’NOON Red
J’NOON wines represent a statement for the country of India, and the absolute alchemy of the senses. We worked with Fratelli Wines to create very unique, highprofile, exquisite, high-end wine from India. When I first visited India in 2017, I fell in love with the people, with their genuine interest in food, wine and the local culture. We feel India needs to be known for luxury and style. For me J’NOON represents the importance of being audacious, to be pushing new territories and going beyond the limits we know.
J’NOON Red is a vin de garde, a wine you want to keep and for that you need a very powerful tannic structure to last.
5 JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset Passion Red Blend
While I grew up in the heartland of Pinot Noir, the red wine that practically runs through my veins, I am also completely enamored with Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. While known as a much more powerful grape than Pinot Noir, the way we make our Cabernet is with finesse and elegance. This wine is an emotional crescendo that unites the best of the Napa Valley terroirs to create a harmonious and exceptional blend that captures the essence of the JCB Collection.