Joseph-Jibril Bazzano Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022

Creating a wine brand is an ultimate act of collaboration and draws on a wider-reaching community than most wine enthusiasts know.  The many facets of winemaking the general public sees (i.e., vineyard management, winemaking technique, aging program) are the foundational decisions of “who are we” and “what do we offer.”  However, even before the wine is in the bottle, a myriad of business choices descends, begging answers for questions about labeling, permitting, brand design, storage, etc., etc.  For those winemakers trained in viticulture, this side of the business can seem daunting and, dare we say, boring.  However, these hurdles are mere leaps before presenting the product of their hard work and passion.  In the case of this Chardonnay, the brand’s two owner/winemakers, Bobby & Jaam, lovingly referenced the child-rearing quote of “it takes a village” in describing the inception and fruition of their “baby,” the Joseph Jibril wine label.  Wine industry friends, colleagues, and the like rallied around the two to lend a helping hand in harvest, share expertise in Excel spreadsheets and accounting, and allow the use of their winery equipment.

The two friends met while working at Kosta Browne winery in 2018.  Bobby found wine late in life, as many do, with a career working in restaurants before “retiring” and beginning his wine studies.  After getting a few wine classes under his belt at the local junior college, he transferred to Cal Poly, where he earned a degree in Wine & Viticulture.  Jaam knew he was destined for winemaking as a teenager, stating how he appreciates that wine “involves all aspects of the human experience.  From the artistic to the social, from scientific to physical, making wine encompasses it all.”  His intrigue took him across the globe, chasing harvest seasons in Spain, Chile, Bordeaux, Australia, and finally, Sebastopol, California.  By the end of their tenures at Kosta Browne, the pair had worked up to positions as the Cellar Master and Chardonnay winemaker.

Friend (and eventual mentor) Scott Schultz of Jolie-Laide wines presented Bobby and Jaam with an opportunity to join the opening team of a new cooperative winemaking and tasting space led by Schultz.  Knowing the two were dreaming up a wine brand, Scott offered them “sweat equity” by assisting Jolie-Laide in establishing this new facility in exchange for access to the winery, business management advice, and logistical help.  So, it was off to the races, surrounded by a community of like-minded, similarly eager, and passionate wine folks to guide them in their inaugural vintage of 2021.  They chose the name Joseph-Jibril (a combination of their middle names) to signify the personal nature of winemaking.

In 2022, Bobby & Jaam secured two tons of organic dry-farmed Chardonnay from the Bazzano Vineyard in the Russian River Valley.  The 25-year-old vines are lovingly cared for by farmers Joe & Sandy Valera.  These berries enticed Bobby & Jaam with their racy acidity that translates to a Chablis-inspired style of Chardonnay upon final vinification.  Gentle foot treading took place before pressing and a native fermentation in a combination of neutral oak puncheons, French oak barrels, and stainless steel.  They allowed the wine to undergo only a partial malolactic fermentation and halted the process once it reached the desired flavor profile.  Aging continued in the three vessels for approximately four months.  Bright citrus notes and delicate white flowers power the aromatics of this Chardonnay, with bracing acidity and lean minerality on the palate.  Loads of ripe stone fruit, green apple, and lemon zest fill each sip of wine.  Enjoy this fantastic Springtime white wine on a picnic blanket while you soak in the warm sunshine and breathe in scents of freshly budding flowers.  Only 135 cases produced!