Edmunds St. John

Edmunds St. John –
– has been around for over 20 years, having started in the mid-​1980s. Steve Edmunds specializes in varieties generally associated with the Rhone Valley of France — meaning that he focuses on grapes like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, Rousanne and Marsanne.
One of California’s original «Rhone Rangers,» Steve produces some of the finest examples of these wines in California — regardless of price. (That’s important, because — shhhhh! don’t tell anyone! — Steve’s wines are grossly underpriced given the $ 50, $ 100, $ 150 per bottle some California wineries seem to be getting for their Syrahs and/​or Southern Rhone-​styled blends.) If you like Australian Shriaz, or the big, in-​your-​face, high alcohol, overripe fruit bombs that Calfiornia seems to offer up these days, keep on reading — there’s nothing to see here. OTOH, if you appreciate qualities like «subtlety,» «finesse,» «depth,» «character,» and «complexity,» then few California wines can match those from ESJ.
My favorite wine of his, going back several vintages, is his Syrah designated «Wylie-​Fenaughty» from El Dorado grapes, after the two vineyards from which the grapes originate. Lucky for me, it’s only $ 25. A bit bigger, a bit more «ooooomphy» is his Syrah from the «Bassetti» vineyard — suggested retail is $ 45, and I’d take it any day over Calfiornia Syrahs costing 2x as much!
Steve isn’t afraid NOT to release a wine just because it «sold reall well last time,» if it’s not up to snuff. As a result, his 2002 «Shadow» is a very tasty Syrah at a really afordable price: $ 12 !!!
Along with the aforementioned «Wylie-​Fenaughty,» my other favorite wine of Steve’s has long been his «Rocks & Gravel» — a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre. At $ 18, this has bargain written all over it. Steve also found some true Gamay noir au jus blanc grapes — the grape of Beaujolais, France — planted high up in El Dorado County, and makes awesome versions of both a «Bone-​Jolly» Red and Rose — both under $ 20.
He also has a really wonderful «Shell & Bone,» a white blend of Rousanne and Viognier, and a very Alsatian style Pinot Gris available for $ 20 and $ 16, respectively.
It’s not fair — I know — I just tried a number of his wines at a trade-​only tasting, and there is no winery tasting room with regular hours. Steve does have periodic «open houses» at which you can try his wines, and they are available at a number of SF Bay Area retailers and restaurants.
Sound like a commercial? Yeah, it probably does. But I do not now, nor have I ever worked for Steve or the winery. .. I just love his wines!