There is no one in the Napa wine universe we admire more than Randy Ullom, the genius winemaster for Santa Rosa-based Jackson Family Wines.

Randy, who stands strong and tall and reminds us of a  dashing Sam Elliott, has been with this  esteemed family-owned wine company since 1992 and was named “An American Wine Legend” by Wine Enthusiast in 2022. He is soft spoken and humble and modestly displays an encyclopedic knowledge of wine.  

Known for crafting the most popular Chardonnay in American, Ullom is lauded for his passion for quality as he oversees 50 Jackson wines and has been the driving force propelling these wines to the pinnacle of sustainable farming and excellence across a distinguished selection of varietals in all price ranges from everyday affordable wines to exalted treasured ones.

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Randy became interested in wine during a three-year stay in Chile, while on sabbatical from college in the early 1970s. His stay inspired a cross-country trek through Chile’s vast wine-growing regions.

So, when Randy introduced us to Dakél wines from Chile’s historic Itata Valley, we sat up and paid full attention. The Jacksons started looking for exceptional Chilean terroir 25 years ago and finally found it in Maricerro amidst the cool coastal mountains just north of Conception. Dakél means to woo or pursue romantically in the native language of the people of Southern Chile.  And we have fallen in love with Dakél wines.

Their 2022 Chardonnay is an elegant wine bursting with apple, citrus and crème brulee essences and on the palate a symphony of ripe melon and star fruit. It has a silky texture enhanced by a refined minerality and we marveled at the hint of salinity at the finish reminding us of the vineyard’s seaside presence. A creamy, exuberant wine priced at about $60.

Dakél ’s 2022 Pinor Noir is intense yet delicate with finesse. We caught red and black fruits on the nose, blueberries and raspberries balanced with floral aromatics of wild rose petals and cedar. The texture is agreeably chalky with superb minerality. A super duper wine with an elegant concentration of flavors and a long finish.  About $85 a bottle.

We applaud Randy Ullom and the Jacksons for their foray into Chile. It has yielded wines of excellence, capable of taking their place among the best of Old World wines. We urge you to be wooed by them. This is one romance that will not go unrequited. https://www.kj.com