Shayla B.
Yelp
***3.5 Stars***
If you're a fan of bubbles and fancy schmancy decor, then JCB is definitely the place to be. I'm a big fan of JCB and all of the sister wineries (I recently became a member of DeLoach Vineyards), and I've been wanting to visit this JCB tasting salon in Yountville for a minute now. I had an amazing experience at their old tasting salon in Healdsburg (they recently closed and I'm so sad about it), so I was excited to finally visit this salon in Yountville.
My friend and I made a late afternoon tasting reservation a few weeks prior. Right now it's tasting by reservation only and this spot is super popular, so booking in advance is definitely recommended. Although the inside seating area is closed for tastings, they'll still allow you to look around. And this is something that YOU definitely should do. When it comes to fancy decor, nobody really does it like JCB. Expect extravagant chandeliers, gold painted walls and ceilings, and rhinestone studded wine bottles when you walk into the tasting room.
Of course since you can't taste inside, you'll have to taste on their front patio area. Their outdoor patio area is decent but this is definitely one of those spots where tasting indoors really makes a huge different. I know that times are hard and that many of the tasting rooms have had to adjust to the outdoor tasting only policy, but I felt that this tasting room could have been set up so much better.
The area is covered in a white tent like structure and there are a handful of tables that are spread out more than the 6 feet of distance. It was pretty chilly on the day that we went and they didn't have any heat lamps or outside heaters. I wouldn't have been a big deal, but we had just come from Raymond Vineyards (their sister winery) and they had little heaters in the tents which kept us super warm. Again, I know that they are still adjusting, but I just expected a little bit more from them on that end.
As far as the wine goes, it's delicious. Their No. 81 Chardonnay is actually my favorite, but I also really enjoy just about any of their sparkling wines. That Chardonnay is so creamy with a light butteriness that it just so satisfying. We ended up getting a glass of the No. 81 Chardonnay and and their Sparkling Brut Rosé. Service was mediocre at best. The young lady who was helping us was super sweet but she wasn't as engaging as many of the other sommeliers that I've had at the JCB wineries in the past.
The tastings here aren't cheap either. Even as a member of their sister winery, the tastings aren't free (but discounted). I'm all for paying for a good tasting, but I just feel like I wasn't able to get the full experience. Maybe it's because of COVID, but I probably wouldn't return here until indoor tastings are available again. I just feel like I'm missing out on the full experience. And since I've tasted at their Healdsburg location and had a fabulous experience there in the past, I know that this tasting room has a lot more to offer.
Looking forward to experiencing what this tasting room is like once COVID passes over, but I'm happy that I was finally able to visit.