Jim Law

Linden Vineyards

Jim Law is the owner/winemaker of Linden Vineyards and winegrower of Hardscrabble. An Ohio native, he was raised in the 1960’s and 1970’s by parents who loved to share their passion for food and wine. Study in Europe and two years teaching agriculture as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire (Congo) led to the desire to grow grapes.

Jim’s first vineyard job was in Indiana where he traded work for a place to live. He then got a real job in Ohio at Chalet Debonne where he learned the nuts and bolts of grape growing and cellar work. In 1981 Jim was hired to start a winery in the Shenandoah Valley where he fell in love with the area and viticultural possibilities. In the mid 1980’s while establishing Linden Vineyards he consulted for other wineries and taught winegrowing at local Community Colleges. He is currently obsessed with growing the greatest wine and having the happiest vineyard. When not in the vineyard he enjoys cooking, eating in France, and writing for trade publications.

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Domaine Rolet Vin Jaune 1998

Domaine Rolet

This has the same yeasty flor and style as a fino sherry, and the startlingly intense flavours of the Savagnin grape become more evident as it matures.

Made exclusively with Jura’s Savagnin grapes in a way which defies the most elementary oenological laws: 6 years in 3 ¼ filled oak barrels without ‘ouillage’ (topping up) so that nothing disturbs the thin surface film, a veil of live yeasts, responsible for the ‘yellow’ colour of the wine. The wine is then bottled in ‘Clavelins’ holding 63cl, which corresponds to 1 litre of the wine harvested 6 years earlier. At this point the wine is almost indestructible and will age for 100 years or more.

This is a wine of tremendous body that is quite delicious with cheeses from Franche-Comte, Coq au Vin Jaune et Morilles, fish and poultry dishes in rich, creamy sauces.

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