Founder's Reserve
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 8–15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, aged cheddar
✨ Technical Specifications
The Founder's Reserve from JM Cellars represents the pinnacle of John and Peggy Bigelow's winemaking journey in Washington State. Crafted as a limited-production, barrel-selection red blend, this cuvée showcases the very best of the Walla Walla Valley's distinct terroir. Sourced primarily from prestigious sites including their sustainably farmed estate, Margaret's Vineyard—named in honor of Peggy's mother—the wine benefits from the region's unique wind-blown loess soils over ancient basalt. The dramatic diurnal temperature shifts of the valley preserve natural acidity while allowing the grapes to achieve rich, phenolic ripeness. In the cellar, the wine undergoes meticulous small-lot fermentation and extended aging in French oak barrels, resulting in a structured, complex, and deeply expressive blend that honors the founders' vision of world-class Washington winemaking.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1998 by John and Peggy Bigelow, JM Cellars is a benchmark family-owned artisanal winery centered at Bramble Bump, a wooded sanctuary in Woodinville, Washington. Initially mentored by prominent Washington vintners Mike Januik and Charlie Hoppes, the Bigelows evolved from basement garagistes into leading producers of small-lot, site-expressive Pacific Northwest wines. While production operations are based in Woodinville and Maltby, estate fruit originates from Margaret's Vineyard—a certified sustainable and Salmon-Safe site perched within Walla Walla's acclaimed SeVein development. Complementing their estate plantings, JM Cellars selectively sources from venerated Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Red Mountain vineyards, including Boushey, Stillwater Creek, and Quintessence. Winemaking under John and his son Tommy emphasizes precision and texture, utilizing small-batch fermentations in stainless steel, concrete eggs, and French oak barrels. Benchmark cuvées include their signature Tre Fanciulli red blend, Margaret's Vineyard Bordeaux varietals, and vineyard-designated Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, consistently distinguished by vibrant fruit purity and structured finesse.