Legacy Wines was spun off separately from Stonestreet in 2012 and remains one of the great properties in the Jackson Family Wines portfolio.

From the winery:

Legacy Wines are rooted in the rich history of Alexander Valley, and drawn from pioneering vineyard sites across the appellation. Founded in 1990 by Jess Jackson, the label was first created to mark the finest cellar-worthy reds from his mountainous Stonestreet estate… Legacy is a standalone project that celebrates the past, present and future of Alexander Valley and is a testament to the importance of passing vineyard and winemaking traditions to the next generation.

Legacy’s Red Wine and Chardonnay are hand selected from the appellation’s soaring mountain estates, hidden heritage sites, and storied old vines… these wines capture the soul of Alexander Valley in each vintage. From canopy management to the final blend, winegrowing decisions put quality and longevity first. Enduring and profound, these wines are a legacy in the truest sense of the word.

ALEXANDER MOUNTAIN ESTATE

Jess Jackson planted the first vineyards on this rugged 5,100 acre site in the Mayacamas mountain range, at Alexander Valley’s eastern edge. With more than 24 different soil types, countless exposures, and growing areas that extend from 400 to 2,000 feet above sea level, the terrain does not make winegrowing easy — but easy was never the goal. Here, the vines must struggle to survive, rooting deep for water and nutrients the thin topsoil cannot provide.

The varietals chosen for Legacy represent the pinnacle of mountain fruit, both literally and figuratively. The vines are perched above the fog line at the very top of the estate and… benefits from sunny, fog free conditions. Year after year, the power and concentration from these high-elevation family vineyards provide the heart of our Legacy.

TASTING NOTES

“The outstanding 1997 Legacy, a proprietary blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 17% Cabernet Franc, possesses abundant jammy black currant/cherry fruit intermixed with lead pencil, toasty oak, and vanilla. Full-bodied and pure, with moderate tannin, this large-scaled effort (14.2% alcohol) can be drunk early, but promises to evolve for at least two decades.” — Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate (12/2000)