2022 J. Wilkes Zinfandel Highlands District Paso Robles 750 ml

The story of J. Wilkes reads like a maritime adventure translated into terroir. Jeff Wilkes, an accomplished sailor whose love for the ocean ran as deep as his passion for wine, understood instinctively how the Central Coast's proximity to Pacific currents could shape exceptional fruit. 

For nearly two decades, he cultivated relationships while selling grapes for the Miller Family before launching his own label with the 2001 vintage. His dual expertise—reading both wind patterns and vineyard rows—informed a winemaking philosophy that respected the natural rhythms of sea and soil.

When Jeff tragically passed away in 2010, his wines had already earned their place on Michelin-starred restaurant menus across California. The Miller Family, recognizing the irreplaceable loss of their longtime employee and friend, purchased the J. Wilkes brand to ensure his vision would endure. This wasn't merely a business transaction but profound respect for a winemaker whose understanding of Central Coast terroir had elevated their own fruit to new heights.

Today, J. Wilkes continues to embody Jeff's philosophy that great wine emerges from intimate knowledge of place. The French Camp Vineyard, established by the Miller family in 1973, spans over 1,200 acres in the southeastern corner of Paso Robles, resting in Black Mountain's rain shadow. It enjoys a diurnal swing of nearly 50 degrees—perfect for producing ripe Zinfandel with vivifying acid.

The 2022 Zinfandel represents this ethos perfectly—100% Zinfandel harvested at optimal ripeness, fermented twelve days on the skins, then aged in French oak that allows the wine's inherent character to shine through. It's a banging bottle of Zin and a fitting tribute to a great Central Coast vintner. We're proud to share it with you.