Dec 30, 2022
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Father John Winery
| Owner(s) | Nicholas Maloney |
| Web site | www.fatherjohnwinery.com |
| Link to this site |
Father John Wines is dedicated to the late Reverend John Weaver, a renowned Episcopalian priest. Nicholas Maloney, a Sonoma native and John's grandson, operates Father John Wines. He currently lives in Beaune, France having studied at the world-renown Lycée Viticole. He has worked at Clos du Bois and Porter-Bass in California and Chateau d'Issan in Margaux, Maison Ilan in Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Domaine Rollin in Pernand Verglesses.
Father John was launched in 2010. In California, he works with the Oehlman Vineyard in Graton (Russian River Valley), producing 200 cases in 2012. A Sonoma County Pinot Noir was offered in the 2014 vintage.
Maloney started making a Chardonnay from a single parcel, "Les Larrets Blancs," not far from Corton-Charlemagne and this wine will be available in early 2016.
The wines are sold exclusively to restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area and members of the mailing list.
Articles About Father John Winery
Reviewed Wines
2018 Father John Vau de Vey 1er Cru Chablis
12.5% alc., $85.
·
Light golden yellow color in the glass.
Complex nose presenting with aromas of yellow apple, petrichor, kelp, and straw. Bright and clean on the
palate and slightly viscous in texture, with the flavors of pear and salty apple along with a stony grip. Some
length on the finish and thoroughly enjoyable. Representative of the Chablis genre from well-known producers
in the $100+ price range.
Score: 94.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2017 Father John Vine Hill Road Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $75. Primarily Pommard clone planted in
Goldridge sandy loam soil. 100% whole cluster fermented.
Representative of the Chablis genre from well-known producers
in the $100+ price range.
·
Very light ruby red color in the glass.
Aromas of cherry, cranberry, burnt tobacco and sap. Mid-weight
in style with a toothsome core of Bing cherry, dried herbs and a
hint of stone fruits. Although on the delicate side, the wine
delivers more flavor intensity than the very light color would
predict. Soothing in texture with bright acidity and gossamer
tannins but slightly shallow at the finish. More Russian River
Valley fruit exuberance than the older Mendocino County
bottling.
Score: 92.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2015 Father John Vielles Vignes Mendocino County Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $68. Sourced from a vineyard
located in the Redwood Valley bench planted in the 1960s to Martini clone. Nicholas notes, “The British,
including Jancis Robinson, absolutely love this wine,” and it is sold out. 100% whole cluster fermented, aged in
neutral French oak barrels.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. The nose is whole-cluster-inspired with aromas of
pie cherry, sap, burnt tobacco and sous-bois. Lighter in weight but fully satisfying with flavors of cherry, red
berry and sarsaparilla framed by very fine-grain tannins and crisp acidity. An intriguing connoisseur’s wine that
is beginning to take on some aged (tertiary) character.
Score: 93.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2014 Father John Vine Hills Road (Oehlman Vineyard) Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $55.
·
t cherry red color in the glass. Effusive aromas of red cherry, rose petal and complimentary toasty oak. A
feminine, ethereal wine with delicate flavors of red cherry and cranberry, spice and sous bois. Exquisitely
balanced with a juicy finish that exudes cherry fruit. Chambolle Musigny anyone?
Score: 91.
Reviewed May 11, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Father John Les Luteniéres Bourgogne France Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $80. Imported by Maison
Harbour LLC, Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The nose
offers a mix of cherry fruit and savory earthy aromas. Earth-blessed, modestly sweet flavors of cherry,
raspberry and cranberry are quite inviting. The overall impression denotes sauvage, with a noticeable oak
input. Nicely balanced, improving over time in the glass, with a modest but satisfying finish. This wine was
tasted two days after opening from a re-corked bottle indicating it has good prospects for longevity.
Score: 90.
Reviewed May 11, 2016
ARTICLE »
2013 Father John Oehlman Vineyard Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $55 (sold out).
·
Moderately light reddish purple
color in the glass. Sexy aromas of Bing cherry, spice and raspberry
preserves. Very elegant, but highly flavorful, featuring a cherry-driven
core of vibrant fruit framed by silky tannins, integrated acidity, and
finishing with plenty of cherry goodness. A beautiful wine that hits the
mark in this vintage.
Score: 93.
Reviewed May 11, 2016
ARTICLE »
2012 Father John Oehlman Vineyard Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $55. Partially de-stemmed. Aged 11 months sur
lie in French oak barrels. Fined but not filtered.
·
Moderately light
reddish purple color in the glass. Effusive and persistent aromas of
cherry, cranberry, raspberry and spice. Silky and satisfying on the palate
with mid weight flavors of cherry, cranberry and pomegranate underlain
with a subtle savory herb, oak and citrus note in the background.
Admirable freshness, with juicy acidity, suave tannins, and a long cherry-driven
finish. A relatively demure interpretation of Russian River Valley Pinot
Noir that oozes pinotosity.
Score: 92.
Reviewed April 4, 2015
ARTICLE »
2012 Father John Oehlman Vineyard Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $55 (sold out).
Some whole cluster. Aged 11 months on lees in French oak barrels. Fined but not filtered.
·
Light cherry red color
in the glass. Aromas of cherry and sandalwood lead to a middleweight styled wine with vivid flavors of red
cherry, cranberry and raspberry, framed by a kiss of oak. Elegantly composed, with very bright acidity
complimenting the juicy, slightly tart finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed May 11, 2016
ARTICLE »
2018 Father John Vau de Vey 1er Cru Chablis
12.5% alc., $85. · Light golden yellow color in the glass. Complex nose presenting with aromas of yellow apple, petrichor, kelp, and straw. Bright and clean on the palate and slightly viscous in texture, with the flavors of pear and salty apple along with a stony grip. Some length on the finish and thoroughly enjoyable. Representative of the Chablis genre from well-known producers in the $100+ price range. Score: 94. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2017 Father John Vine Hill Road Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $75. Primarily Pommard clone planted in Goldridge sandy loam soil. 100% whole cluster fermented. Representative of the Chablis genre from well-known producers in the $100+ price range. · Very light ruby red color in the glass. Aromas of cherry, cranberry, burnt tobacco and sap. Mid-weight in style with a toothsome core of Bing cherry, dried herbs and a hint of stone fruits. Although on the delicate side, the wine delivers more flavor intensity than the very light color would predict. Soothing in texture with bright acidity and gossamer tannins but slightly shallow at the finish. More Russian River Valley fruit exuberance than the older Mendocino County bottling. Score: 92. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2015 Father John Vielles Vignes Mendocino County Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $68. Sourced from a vineyard located in the Redwood Valley bench planted in the 1960s to Martini clone. Nicholas notes, “The British, including Jancis Robinson, absolutely love this wine,” and it is sold out. 100% whole cluster fermented, aged in neutral French oak barrels. · Light garnet color in the glass. The nose is whole-cluster-inspired with aromas of pie cherry, sap, burnt tobacco and sous-bois. Lighter in weight but fully satisfying with flavors of cherry, red berry and sarsaparilla framed by very fine-grain tannins and crisp acidity. An intriguing connoisseur’s wine that is beginning to take on some aged (tertiary) character. Score: 93. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2014 Father John Vine Hills Road (Oehlman Vineyard) Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $55. · t cherry red color in the glass. Effusive aromas of red cherry, rose petal and complimentary toasty oak. A feminine, ethereal wine with delicate flavors of red cherry and cranberry, spice and sous bois. Exquisitely balanced with a juicy finish that exudes cherry fruit. Chambolle Musigny anyone? Score: 91. Reviewed May 11, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Father John Les Luteniéres Bourgogne France Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $80. Imported by Maison Harbour LLC, Travelers Rest, South Carolina. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The nose offers a mix of cherry fruit and savory earthy aromas. Earth-blessed, modestly sweet flavors of cherry, raspberry and cranberry are quite inviting. The overall impression denotes sauvage, with a noticeable oak input. Nicely balanced, improving over time in the glass, with a modest but satisfying finish. This wine was tasted two days after opening from a re-corked bottle indicating it has good prospects for longevity. Score: 90. Reviewed May 11, 2016 ARTICLE »
2013 Father John Oehlman Vineyard Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., $55 (sold out). · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Sexy aromas of Bing cherry, spice and raspberry preserves. Very elegant, but highly flavorful, featuring a cherry-driven core of vibrant fruit framed by silky tannins, integrated acidity, and finishing with plenty of cherry goodness. A beautiful wine that hits the mark in this vintage. Score: 93. Reviewed May 11, 2016 ARTICLE »
2012 Father John Oehlman Vineyard Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $55. Partially de-stemmed. Aged 11 months sur lie in French oak barrels. Fined but not filtered. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Effusive and persistent aromas of cherry, cranberry, raspberry and spice. Silky and satisfying on the palate with mid weight flavors of cherry, cranberry and pomegranate underlain with a subtle savory herb, oak and citrus note in the background. Admirable freshness, with juicy acidity, suave tannins, and a long cherry-driven finish. A relatively demure interpretation of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir that oozes pinotosity. Score: 92. Reviewed April 4, 2015 ARTICLE »
2012 Father John Oehlman Vineyard Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $55 (sold out). Some whole cluster. Aged 11 months on lees in French oak barrels. Fined but not filtered. · Light cherry red color in the glass. Aromas of cherry and sandalwood lead to a middleweight styled wine with vivid flavors of red cherry, cranberry and raspberry, framed by a kiss of oak. Elegantly composed, with very bright acidity complimenting the juicy, slightly tart finish. Score: 90. Reviewed May 11, 2016 ARTICLE »