Keep Wines
Keep Wines
Although based just outside Napa, there’s something distinctly non-trad Napa about what husband and wife and collaborative wine making duo Jack and JJ produce. “Wines made from interesting cultivars, from interesting vineyards!” There’s certainly no doubt about that, with their range including a still red Pinot Meunier, a no added SO2 Counoise, and an Austrian influenced white.
Jack and JJ both come with quite the wine making pedigree, with Jack having worked as assistant winemaker at Matthiasson Wines for 1many years, and JJ being an alumni of The Scholium Project and Broc Cellars. Like all our producers, farming and attention to the land is a priority, with Jack farming a few vineyards himself organically, and all others they buy from being certified. Winemaking is with a light hand and without additives, with the exception of SO2 in small quantities.
If you are wondering where the name “Keep” comes, look at the crest on the label. It is a depiction of Beverstone Castle, a 10th century Norman stronghold in Gloucestershire, where Jack’s father was raised. All that remains of the castle today is what you see on the crest, the moat and the tall keep (from the middle English “kype,” or barrel. This was the defender’s last resort in a siege, and where they stored their most precious possessions, especially their wine!
Clarksburg, California
Extremely unusual, extremely good. An Albariño that is barrel aged for nearly two years before two years further ageing in bottle. Inspired by Raul Perez’ “Atelier,” this is quite the different wine to the richer, more fruit driven Ferdinand Albariño! Extremely mineral, with an almost oxidative sherry-esque edge, umami character matched with some serious saline, lip smacking acidity. No doubt really, considering that the vineyard itself was below sea level millenia ago, and is still chock full of sea shells. Just ripe green melon, toasted and fresh macadamia into a silken, sea spray finish. Oysters are the ultimate match here.
"Delicious, salty, mineral” Bloomberg Bottle Guide, Low Alcohol Wines that taste great
British born Jack Roberts met Johanna Jensen on his first day arriving in Napa. 10 years later, happily married; they are producing wine together under the Keep Wines brand. The image on the label shows Beverstone Castle, an 11th century Norman stronghold in Gloucestershire. It was this historic keep where the owners of past centuries stored their most precious possessions, and their wines. Jack and JJ are dedicated to creating wines influenced by the old world with minimal manipulation and great potential ageing. Jack worked for many years as Steve Matthiasson’s assistant winemaker. He follows in Steve’s steps with his dedication to sustainable, regenerative farming and low intervention winemaking.
Carneros, Napa
A little 2018 experiment with no sulphur for the barnstormingly excellent Kahn vineyard Syrah. The result is excellent. Singingly fresh with depth and body and length to go and go and go. This wine is a text-book example of great winemaking presenting very very classically and with a brilliant chance to age.
This wine hails from the organically certified Kahn Vineyard, which Keep farm themselves. Picked at 23.5 Brix, with 50% whole cluster, fermented half in rolling neutral oak puncheons and half in open top fermenters. Aged for 18 months in neutral oak barrels.
British born Jack Roberts met Johanna Jensen on his first day arriving in Napa. 10 years later, happily married; they are producing wine together under the Keep Wines brand. The image on the label shows Beverstone Castle, an 11th century Norman stronghold in Gloucestershire. It was this historic keep where the owners of past centuries stored their most precious possessions, and their wines. Jack and JJ are dedicated to creating wines influenced by the old world with minimal manipulation and great potential ageing. Jack worked for many years as Steve Matthiasson’s assistant winemaker. He follows in Steve’s steps with his dedication to sustainable, regenerative farming and low intervention winemaking.
Counoise strikes again. That obscure grape that we seem to have several examples of. Just about the only UK merchant that has such! And hey, check out these new cool labels from Keep for their 2020 vintage.
Super violetty and purple with a beguiling nose. Parma violets, fresh pomegranate and lilac. Utterly jewel like, whilst the palate opens in to this heavenly, luscious yet light berry coulis, red currant jelly, cola nut, dried raspberry and strawberry liquorice bootlace wonder. More pomegranate, soft herbs and gentle powdery tannins, almost talc like with a sweet sour finish.
This is a wine that makes you feel like “you’re bouncing on a space hopper” declared Gus Gluck of the brilliant Quality Wines in Farrindgon, sounds pretty great to us right!!
Sourced from the Girard Vineyard, a certified organic site in the Sierra Foothills. They ferment the fruit as whole bunches in a sealed vessel (carbonic maceration) and is aged in solely neutral oak, with no fining, filtration or added sulphur. A little naturally cloudy in the glass but crystal clear and pure to drink.
Press on the previous vintage: Brilliant wine. Pale pink red with a hint of orange. Bright and grainy and light with lovely balance and freshness. It has beautiful red cherry and strawberry fruit with good structure and acidity. Such zip and detail. Lovely wine with incredible elegance. Such a wine, with drinkability, elegance and also complexity. 95/100 . Dr Jamie Goode, The Wine Anorak.
Winemakers Jack Roberts (Mathiasson Wines Assistant Winemaker) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability. In the vigneron tradition they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.
Oakville, Napa Valley
Pinot Meunier is one of the all important grapes that makes up the classic Champagne blend. The fruit from this vineyard is usually all destined for sparkling wine, but Jack and JJ decided to make a still red from it.
From the famed Yount Mill vineyard in Oakville - a certified organic site planted on alluvial soils. Jack and JJ chose to incorporate 20% whole clusters and the fruit was gentle pressed, aged in neutral oak barrels. One small sulphur addition at time of bottling, with no fining or filtration.
Lavender, cherry coulis, black pepper macerated strawberries. Ripe raspberry and cranberry flavors along with roast coffee beans and violets. Made with great restraint and love. Medium-light bodied, gentle tannins, acidity that engages the palate and elevates the flavors. Serve just chilled and paired with a charcuterie board.
About the Producers
Winemakers Jack Roberts (Mathiasson Wines Assistant Winemaker) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability. In the vigneron tradition they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.
Clarksburg, California
Delta White 2021 - an unusual blend of 50% Gruner Veltliner, 25% Pinot Gris and 25% Chardonnay: a fab fresh and frisky white for Summer 2020! A little honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose, chalky freshness, with a fuzzy peach skin and apricot palate, river rocks and a salty lime finish.
From the Lost Slough Vineyard, right next to the Sacramento River Delta, hence the name. The cooler air and loamy soil from the Delta give this wine a rare minerality not seen in most California white grapes. Stainless Steel fermented, sur lie aged for 6 months before bottling. Honeysuckle flower on the nose with a stunning stone fruit finish, river rocks on the palate. Native yeast fermentation, unfined/ unfiltered.
British born Jack Roberts met Johanna Jensen on his first day arriving in Napa. 10 years later, happily married; they are producing wine together under the Keep Wines brand. The image on the label shows Beverstone Castle, an 11th century Norman stronghold in Gloucestershire. It was this historic keep where the owners of past centuries stored their most precious possessions, and their wines.
Jack and JJ are dedicated to creating wines influenced by the old world with minimal manipulation and great potential ageing. Jack worked for many years as Steve Matthiasson’s assistant winemaker. He follows in Steve’s steps with his dedication to sustainable, regenerative farming and low intervention winemaking.
Sonoma
From the organically farmed Sonoma Broadway Farms. During harvest 2021 Keep were offered some Chardonnay from the Merlot vineyard they farm. They jumped at it and made their first ever co-ferment - 65% Merlot, 35% Chardonnay. Perfect blend of tannin structure and vibrant fruit with the minerality of the Chardonnay coming through on the finish. Strawberry and black currant on the palate. Native yeast fermentation, unfined/ unfiltered. Neutral oak for six months.
About the Producers
Winemakers Jack Roberts (former assistant to Mathiasson Wines ) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability. In the vigneron tradition they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.
A nose of great depth without heaviness. Torn rose petals, brambles and dusty dark fruit. As it opens in the glass (or decant it) one gets balsamic drizzled baked figs, sous bois, kalamata olives and blackberries. Silky tannins - a spellbounding wine. Something Southern Rhone-esque, crossed with slightly Italian notes. A worthy wine of these special vines.
If you haven’t heard of the Evanghelo vineyard, well - you’re about to be introduced to something truly special. This is the oldest known Carignan vineyard in the world - some 140 years old. Head trained, dry farmed, twisted vines that even survived phylloxera due to the sandy soils. These ancient vine’s roots roots dig deep down, up to 40 feet to find water, producing superbly balanced, out of this world fruit. It is doggedly maintained by owner Frank Evanghelo amid the encroachment of developers and San Francisco's suburban sprawl. As co-owner and winemaker Jack says; stepping onto the Evangelho vineyard, you feel like you are on another planet, the large head trained, arthritic knuckled vines are grown in powdery sand dunes and stranger yet is the rarity of grape vines in Contra Costa."
Winemakers Jack Roberts (Mathiasson Wines Assistant Winemaker) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability. In the vigneron tradition they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.
Sonoma
From the Organically farmed Sonoma Broadway Farms. This is the first Keep vintage of Merlot from this fantastic site. Pressed midway through fermenting to lock in the crunchy lean Merlot flavors and than aged for 18 months in barrel to soften the tannins and enliven the fruit. Juicy and medium in body, with terrific balance. Bramble flowers, fresh plum and red currant with a soft tannin finish. Total crowd pleaser and an amazing wine.
About the Producers
Winemakers Jack Roberts (Mathiasson Wines former Assistant Winemaker) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability. In the vigneron tradition they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.