https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/farewell-mr-pinot
I have, of course, followed JoshJensen from the very start. Loved his Pinots quite a lot.
I was first attracted to Josh's work for the Late Harvest Zin (I believe it was a 1976) that he made
at Dick Graff's Chalone Cellars (I think from Enz Vnyd grapes). It was labeled La Noche Cellars (a recombination
of the letters of Chalone). Which is where he made his first wines. Extra credit to anyone else old enough around here
to remember La Noche Cllrs Zin. Speak up, or forever hold your peace.
https://www.ttb.gov/images/pdfs/Lime_Kiln_Valley_comments.pdf
I remember when I made my first visit to Calera. We walked the vnyd and tasted a few of Josh's wnes from btl. I don't remember
a whole lot of that visit, other than the expansive views, except the drive to the steep road up to Calera. I passed this huge junk yard area and there were
thousands of abandoned airplane seats stacked 5-6 high under this pole barn. Have no idea what the intended use
of the seats were. Somebody must have got them for a song and had some sort of vision.
Josh was one of the first to plant Viognier in Calif. His Viogniers were always on the ripe & a bit alcoholic side.
In the early '90's, at the Taste of Vail, they held the first wine Seminar on Viognier. Way off in the corner, pouring his
wines, which included his Viognier, was this young guy. Name was John Alban. I took an instant liking to him.
At the Seminar, they had a panel of these Viognier producers. Included were BobLindquist/JoshJensen/JohnAlban
and one of the first Napa Vlly Viognier producers, LaJota or St.?? Wnry or RitchieCreek. Or maybe Bruce Devlin of Villa St.Helena Wnry.
The Calera stood out for for its ripeness, soft structure, high alcohol, over-the-top character, jiggly,silicone-laden After tasting thru the wines,
the floor was opened up to questions from the audience. Some idiot stood up, addressed his question to Josh: "Josh, how do you
go about making a DollyParton Viognier", with the appropriate hand gestures in front of his chest. It brought the audience down w/ gales of
hilarious laughter. And thus did the term DollyParton Viognier enter the wine lexicon. Danged if I can recall what Josh's response was.
Josh was a regular attendee at the Taos Winter Wine Festival. Larry & Laura had a cabin up in the Taos Ski Valley & we'd do winemaker
dinners on Fri & Sat nights. As someone knowledgeable w/ many of the winemakers, I was tasked to invite winemakers to join us for dinner.
I always would invite Josh to join us. He was divorced by then and always wore these flashy/brightly-colored sweaters & really stood out
in the crowd of winemakers pouring their wines. He asked if he could bring a friend to the Friday night dinner. "Sure". He showed up in this
flashy/colorful sweater and with this flashy blonde lady. He was invited also to the Sat night dinner & showed up in a different flashy/colorful
sweater...with a (different) flashy blonde lady. But Josh was always hugely entertaining and pretty much the life of the party. I gather
he was estranged from his three children. When I'd ask about them, he'd immediately clam up & change the subject.
In addition to being one of Calif's Pinot pioneers, he was one of Calif's most entertaining & colorful characters. I'll miss Josh greatly.
We've lost (another) legend.
Tom