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Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery Review

Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery Review

Address: 1565 Page Springs Rd. Cornville,Arizona 86325.
Phone Number: 928-649-2681
Tasting Hours: 11:00-5:00

Region: Arizona
Reviewer: Diane
Review Date: 10/22/2013
Reviewer: Diane
Rating: 4

The Review

Rod and Cynthia Snapp own this quaint, boutique winery tucked away in Page Springs, Arizona. The small 10.6 acre estate vineyard, located in the Verde Valley, was founded by Rod and Cynthia in 1999. Since then, they have expanded to growing grapes in Scull Valley, just outside of Prescott, and also purchase grapes from growers in Southern Arizona.

Place: &nbspAdjacent to the parking area, there is an abundance of shade trees and picnic tables nestled among the vineyard. Moving in, you will see Javelina heads decorating the tasting room. These small creatures that resemble a wild boar are frequent visitors in the vineyards, hence the winery’s name.

I was greeted by Allyson and Ron who were both very knowledgeable about the wines being served. Also to my delight, Cynthia Snapp was available for a brief talk. Being a woman winemaker makes her somewhat unique for an Arizona winery, and her passion about winemaking shined through her beaming smile.

Behind the tasting room is the actual winery, bustling with hoses and workers. Behind the winery lies the Arizona room, a sunny location used for private events. The room contains a wine bar and lush hanging vines adorn the patio. The vineyard’s fall foliage in the background was truly an experience in eye candy.

Wines: &nbspAs with many Arizona wineries, Javelina Leap purchases some of its grapes from California. The winery’s red wines are predominately made with 100% Arizona grapes, and the next vintage release will include some locally grown white wines as well.

The first sip is of the 2012 Arizona Tempranillo. This classic Spanish grape variety creates thick skins that produce a deep intense inky color. The wine’s ripe plum and berry fruit flavors were rounded off with a vanilla-herb finish.

The 2012 AZ Zinfandel from the Dragoon Vineyard offers nice cherry and raspberry notes with a smooth earthy finish. The wine is quite light in color and soft on the finish.

The 2012 AZ Syrah has smoky dark berry aromas with lingering soft tannins and faint acidity – uniquely Arizona in style.

Next, virtually jumping out of the glass, was the 2011 Estate Legacy Zinfandel, my favorite of all. From the young, six year old vines at the estate, this very limited bottling is a true showing of Arizona fruit. The black colored wine is spicy, teeth coating, mouth filling and jammy with a lingering black cherry finish – absolutely delicious. As these vines age, the depth of this fruit will inherently win awards!

The 2012 Merlot was another surprise. This very fruity ruby-style wine offers cherry cola and a hint of mint. The wine is very pleasant and refreshing, with just the right amount of acidity.

To end the tasting, I was given a sneak preview of the 2012 AZ Barbara from the Wilcox area that hasn’t been released yet. Spicy and young with great potential, this wine is balanced but still sharp with acidity. By release time, it will likely have rounded out and be nothing short of delicious!

Cost: &nbspCompared to other Arizona wineries, the wines were rather expensive ranging from $26 for the Sauvignon Blanc to $55 for the Estate Grown Zinfandel. The winery offers cheese plates, pizzas, and smoked salmon with crackers.