2016 Edmunds St. John El Jaleo Shake Ridge - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County (12/13/2017)
This was my first taste of the successor to Rocks & Gravel, and it was a success on two levels. First off it was instantly recognizable as Shake Ridge. There was a familial relationship with the Dirty & Rowdy and Enfield wines I have had from the same vineyard. Second, it was clearly ESJ, with deft balance, moderate weight, and a long finish that echoed a richness/creaminess that I have found in both Les Côtes Sauvages and Rocks & Gravel. The wine was evocative, stimulating and perfectly satisfying. After finishing the bottle I realized I had zero flavor descriptors. It was just an integrated wine that made me happy to drink it.