JCB Salon St. Helena

JCB Salon, St. Helena. In April 2022, Jean Charles Boisset purchased the Keller Building in downtown St. Helena. This was formerly home to Keller Brother’s Meats, a store that was founded in St. Helena in the 1930s. In the book, Stubbed Toes and Grapevines by Janice E. Pond, she describes visiting Keller’s as a little girl. “We bought most of our meat from Keller’s in St. Helena. Keller’s meats tasted better than any other we ate, except momma’s or gramma’s fresh friend chicken on Sunday”.

The building is located at 1320 Main Street. Parking is available curbside on Main Street (if you get lucky), side streets or within a short walk, an open air small parking lot on the other side of Main Street next to Money Way. From stories we have heard, Ernie used to offer kids pieces of beef jerky followed by a line something like, “that jerky is really good, now go tell your parents”! The original sign is still hanging despite the business having long since closed. Later the Kellers sold the business to Ernie who ran Ernie’s Meat Department for many years.

The building has seen numerous tenants over the decades, more recently it was home to La Condesa Mexican Restaurant and the St. Helena Visitor’s Center. This space has been converted into a JCB led food and wine destination. JCB St. Helena packs a lot into a fairly small and narrow space. One might be initially overwhelmed by the dazzle and the opulence but take some time to slowly look around and the visual details will come into ‘focus’.

One of the visual highlights worth noting is the youthful image of JCB sporting long hair, wings and four arms and four legs. Our interpretation of this painting is it represents JCB as a sex symbol, his French heritage, his creative efforts in bridging the gap between France and the U.S. and his uncanny ability to seemingly be everywhere all at once, a necessity in regard to his multitude of accomplishments and businesses.

A menu is located in a glass frame on the exterior of the building at the entrance. Its enticing selection includes a diversity of wines, both from JCB as well as a rare for Napa Valley selection from Burgundy. A number of small plates can be paired with the wines including JCB caviar, salmon, Foie gras, charcuterie and chocolates from local chocolatier Earth & Sky. Flights can be ordered by region, variety or sparkling, white or reds. And pours are available as samples, by the glass or by the bottle. Come here to be dazzled, see and be seen. This space opened in February 2024.

This tasting room is a showcase of creativity if you will, both with the selection of wine offered and the pieces of art and decorative items for sale. It is the vision of creative mastermind, vintner Jean-Charles Boisset. Born in Burgundy he grew up surrounded by vineyards and the wine business. His parents Jean-Claude and Claudine founded their first winery in 1961; today the family collection has grown significantly with wineries located in France, Italy, California and Quebec.

Known in part for the framed newspaper articles promoting Jean Charles’ accomplishments in the bathrooms of his wineries – strategically placed above the sinks, the men’s urinals and near the hand dryers or paper towel dispensers – one doesn’t generally linger longer then needed in restrooms, so these reads tend to be only a brief glimpse into the man’s accomplishments.

Perhaps in the history of Napa Valley there is no one else who has combined such extreme creativity with the financial means to build a continuously growing empire built around wine and food – connected by a visual flamboyance & opulence rooted in unique and memorable experiences. One may only see a part of this empire – but when one starts connecting all the spaces and projects, one realizes how vast a reach the Boisset empire has become – deeply rooted in Napa and the No Cal wine scene in a remarkably short amount of time.

The JCB collection distinguishes itself by focusing on the narrative and stylistic intent behind each bottle, rather than strictly emphasizing specific grape varieties, geographic locations, or single-vineyard designations. This approach is a refreshing departure from the traditional Napa Valley model, where small producers often prioritize the technical minutiae of terroir over the creative vision of the winemaker.

The wines are named numerically, with each figure representing a significant story, personal meaning, or a milestone year in Jean-Charles’ life. He often compares the experience of discovering JCB wines to the appreciation of art and music—two of his greatest passions. Just as one doesn’t need to be loyal to a single genre of music to connect deeply with a specific song, Jean-Charles believes you can form authentic connections with individual wines across a vast diversity of styles and regions. In his world, wine is a subjective, emotional journey rather than a rigid list of categories.

While JCB is perhaps most celebrated for its wide array of sparkling wines, the tasting room offers a unique experience rarely found in Napa Valley. Because most local tasting rooms are restricted to regional pours, it is a rare treat to find a space that highlights sparkling wines from outside the county. Although the majority of the portfolio is sourced from Napa, several of Boisset’s Burgundian selections are available for tasting. This includes their exceptional Crémants—sparkling wines produced outside of the Champagne region but crafted using the traditional méthode champenoise to ensure the highest level of quality and finesse.

Select Wines
The 2014 JCB No. 76 Chardonnay is a commemorative bottling named for the year 1976—a pivotal moment in wine history that serves a dual purpose for Jean-Charles Boisset. It marks both his personal introduction to the world of premium wines and the historic anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the tasting that famously elevated the international prestige of California viticulture. Sourced from the cool, fog-influenced vineyards of neighboring Sonoma County, this wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and extensive barrel aging to achieve its opulent character. In the glass, it displays a rich, deep golden hue, hinting at the concentration within. The bouquet is highly expressive, leading with vibrant fruit that is quickly joined by an array of warm baking spices. This spicy complexity carries over seamlessly to the palate, where it is particularly noticeable on the long, lingering finish. The wine is defined by a pleasingly creamy, voluptuous mouthfeel and an intensity of flavor that is rarely encountered in this variety, making it a powerful testament to the heritage it honors.

The 2011 JCB No. 3 Pinot Noir is a very unique and symbolic bottling, originally conceived to celebrate the union of Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo—a marriage of two storied wine dynasties that resulted in the creation of a “third” distinct entity. This unique wine is a literal bridge between continents, featuring grapes that were grown and partially vinified in the limestone-rich soils of Burgundy, France, before being shipped to California for final processing and blending with the same variety from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. Showing graceful nuances even soon after release, the 2011 vintage exhibits a level of structural complexity and depth that sets it apart from more delicate, single-origin Russian River Pinots. The bouquet opens with an alluring mix of bright cherry fruit and deep earthy notes, which evolve as the wine breathes to reveal warm layers of baking spices like cinnamon and clove. On the palate, the wine is characterized by darker fruit profiles and excellent balance, bolstered by a very good acidity that keeps the finish vibrant and focused.

The 2010 JCB No. 1 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a rare and intimate expression of the St. Helena sub-appellation, produced in a very limited run of only 100 cases. Sourced from the gravelly, well-drained soils typical of this warmer central corridor of the valley, the wine manages to capture the region’s characteristic ripeness while maintaining a refreshing elegance. The nose is undeniably pretty, greeting the glass with an inviting medley of cocoa powder, ripe cherries, and warm baking spices, all underpinned by sweet, lifted fruit notes. Unlike many of the more “heady” and weighty Cabernet Sauvignons often associated with Napa, the No. 1 is crafted in a lighter, more nimble style that prioritizes balance over sheer power. On the palate, the wine leans toward a brighter red fruit spectrum, showcasing flavors of tart red currant and succulent red cherry. This makes it exceptionally easy to drink, with a structure anchored by fine-grained, noticeable tannins that possess a polished texture and linger gracefully for quite some time.

The 2010 JCB No. 10 Cabernet Sauvignon may not be ten times as powerful as the No. 1 as its numerical designation might playfully suggest, but it certainly stands as a noticeably different expression of Napa Valley viticulture altogether. While the No. 1 emphasizes a lighter, more ethereal elegance, the No. 10 leans into a far more muscular and brooding profile that demands the taster’s full attention. The nose is immediately appealing, offering an indulgent aromatic layer of dark chocolate and rich mocha that wraps around a core of concentrated darker fruits, specifically ripe black cherry and succulent blackberry. This wine possesses an intriguing richness and a profound depth of flavor that develops beautifully as it sits in the glass. Structurally, it is a formidable bottling, characterized by broad-shouldered, robust tannins that provide a sturdy framework for the fruit, anchoring a finish that is both long and remarkably persistent.

What other tasting room in Napa Valley offers an apple ice wine from Quebec? The JCB Neige (meaning snow in French) is a must have for dessert wine enthusiasts – rich in flavor, with a pleasing palate feel along with plenty of acidity, this wine is sure to please. This produce is produced by Neige Cider, one of the brands within the Boisset Collection.

JCB Salon, Raymond Vineyards
This opulent space is located in the Raymond’s old pool house in the ‘back’ of the property across from the Raymond’s old primary residence. Walk in guests often won’t know about this lounge space; that is because it is generally only available for private tastings through prior appointments. Like Jean Charles’ other lounges, this one is about elegance, flamboyance and surprises. One such surprise is the sparkling ‘machine gun’ – which apparently will shoot out sparkling wine. Best used on super special occasions. Wines, perfumes, jewelry and lavish decorations all make for a memorable experience. For our readers looking for more information and photographs about these other JCB lounges – view our notes here.

JCB offers tasting flights inside the lounge featuring wines from the portfolio of the Boisset Collection (including some of their most premium offerings) – light snacks may also be paired with the wines. This lounge also features private event space for small groups. Tastings here are hosted at a table or if guests prefer a more casual environment, they can take full advantage of the comfortable sofa.

And also of note is Jean-Charles involvement and partnership with India based vintner, Kapil Sekhri to produce J’Noon wines grown from the Fratelli Vineyards estate located 7 hours by car (if you’re lucky), southeast of Mumbai or about 4 hours from Pune. The inaugural wines were a J’Noon white, a J’Noon red blend and a JCB #47 Brut (numbered to indicate the year India gained its independence from the United Kingdom). These wines were selectively available upon great fanfare upon their debut release in the United States but have since sold out.

JCB Live
We don’t normally highlight Youtube channels but in this case, Jean Charles has become one of the most prolific hosts of winemaking and winery related talent in the history of Napa Valley. JCB Live features numerous videos with winemakers, personalities, wine writers and select Boisset Family employees.

View JCB Live here.

For more information on this unique treasure trove in the heart of St. Helena, visit: www.jcbcollection.com

ARCHIVED/CLOSED PREVIOUS JCB OWNED/LEASES RELATED NAPA/SONOMA SPACES
JCB Salon, Yountville
This space opened appropriately on Valentines Day 2016 and permanently closed in late 2025. There was no other walk-in tasting room in Napa Valley that came close to the diverse and visually impressive selection of interior decor. As one entered, the tasting room was an assault on your senses, and you weren’t sure what to feast your eyes on first. You would want to have paid attention to the details which you would have certainly missed if you tried to absorb this tasting room in its entirety at once – the leopard pattern on the bar chairs, the gold leaf decorating the tables, the golden horn shoe shaped spittoons, the details of the crystal, the interesting selection of books – the list went on and on.

At the height of the JCB presence in northern California there were four JCB tasting experiences/locations within the JCB collection including this one, as well as at Raymond Vineyards in the Napa Valley, inside the lobby of the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco and just off the plaza in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. The Yountville location was always open to the public by walk-in, the JCB lounge at Raymond requires an appointment and it was recommended to make an appointment to visit the one in a room off of the lobby at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.

It was refreshing to discover a tasting room where the staff are extremely well trained in both wine and the heritage of the items for sale here (not always the case with walk in tasting rooms) – but again, this is not exactly a typical walk-in tasting room.

The focus of the wine here was on the JCB Collection; this was an impressive collection of wines spanning multiple continents. JCB does not own a winery, rather the wines are made at some of the wineries within the collection (IE in Burgundy, Napa & Sonoma). Some of the individual wines from each of the wineries were on display (including a wine made with someday music legend, John Legend called Legend Vineyard Exclusive or LVE) – these wines were not tasted here but were able to be purchased on site.

A small side room, that perhaps upon first glance you might have thought this was an ‘offspring’ of the main “Red Room” at Raymond Vineyards was called the Surrealist Room. Here guests were able to enjoy a more intimate tasting over a glass top counter surrounded by a generous helping of the color red and a variety of luxury items for sale (jewelry, wine accessories etc.) Reservations were accepted or if available, this room was also open to walk ins.

JCB partnered with several premiere brands to sell their products within the tasting salons. These include Gaggeneau (high end home appliances, made in Germany), Baccarat (hand-crafted crystal), Bernardaud (porcelain), and Christofle (premium silver decorations). Most everything was available for sale in this salon, including the gorgeous Baccarat centerpiece chandelier (we were quoted $85,000 for this beauty during one of our visits in late summer; staff told us they had already sold three of them just that year.

Guests were able to enjoy their tasting at the sit-down bar or at one of a number of tables. And at the time of our latest update to this review, one of the more unique tastings in the valley was held over one of their digital tables. Not really sure how to describe this experience – one places a coaster on the table’s screen and an array of information about that day’s tasting flight shows up allowing one to choose from a variety of educational information about the wines being poured. Descriptors of the wines – often with sexual innuendos (voluptuous, liberating, etc.) would be digitally ‘passed’ across the table as desired. These tables were designed by New Mexico based Ideum Inc., design company.

JCB Yountville, Winebar (formerly Salon Privé)

The Atelier
This space was located within the same building ‘next door’ and was accessible from the salon via a connecting door inside. Walking into this shop around lunch time was sure to spark some sort of culinary salivation. Choose from a variety of specialty items sourced from both Napa and Sonoma including caviar, meats, cheeses, mustard, specialty teas, honey (from hives at both Raymond Vineyards and DeLoach Vineyards) and other fine delicacies. In addition, special culinary trays, lunches, cheese and charcuterie boards, specialty sandwiches (one of the better ham sandwiches we have tried – certainly not made from a typical ham) and specialty lunches were available.

Note: as of our latest update to this review the Atelier closed in 2021 and by Fall the same year, JCB Lounge has since expanded into this former Atelier space offering additional space for JCB wines and related lifestyle produces.

For a more private and intimate tasting experience, the Salon Privé was located directly behind the main tasting salon in another building (reservations required). This space was a bit lighter and airier than the main tasting room. Artfully decorated, whimsical at times the personality of Jean-Charles Boisset was clearly evident.

Roses were a primary theme with a ‘bouquet’ of red hanging from the ceiling. A small side room was used for sit-down tastings. Visitors to the old Cornerstone tasting room that was located here will not recognize the current look in this space.

Senses by JCB
This space was located in the JCB Village – directly next door to the JCB tasting salon. It was a lifestyle luxury space featuring products for both men and women including beauty, fashion, fragrance, a perfume bar and a full skin care line with products from around the world. The Medi-Spa, offering SENSES Advanced Aesthetic Therapy is a space within the store providing 10+ skin care treatments (reservations required). NOTE: this closed in early 2021 and as of our latest update to this review became the home for Cornerstone Cellars; we keep our notes and photos here for historical reference only.

JCB The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco was the smallest of the JCB lounges (can seat up to 20 people). This lounge permanently closed in mid 2024. Easily accessible, this lounge was located in a small room next to the reception in the lobby at The Ritz-Carlton. Like the other JCB lounges, this space also offered a variety of tasting flights along with a fine retail selection of luxury items.

And slightly different than the other lounges, guests were able to enjoy some light food options prepared by Parallel 37 (the exception restaurant, also located on the ground floor).

Very few things will pull us up to cold and foggy San Francisco: Los Angeles is our city of choice. However, when something connected to Napa Valley is involved, we will make the trek to most anywhere. And we have.

JCB Healdsburg
This space was located at 320 Center Street on the northeastern corner of the central plaza (in downtown Healdsburg, slightly over an hour drive from JCB Yountville). This luxe space was fairly large, combining several spaces from previous tenants. Featuring the traditional JCB Hallmark, one walked into the space and felt like they were whisked away to another time. A time of opulence and flamboyance with a smattering of elegance thrown in.

Arguably the centerpiece here was the golden grapevine which is composed of a number of grapevine trunks and roots which has been painted bright golden – adorned with a number of ‘chameleon’ golden objects of art. The Emerald Room features fine furniture imported from France (greenish in color). Visitors who wandered in or tasteed in the Blue Room (the back space) invariably glanced toward one of the walls containing a painting that was somewhat reminiscent of Michelangelo’s Last Supper. In reality this was a contemporary painting depicting who Jean Charles would like to share his last meal with; his wife Gina was portrayed as were important historical figures such as Ghandi and Mother Teresa.

Plenty of luxe brands were for sale (similar to the other JCB lounges) including pieces from Baccarat and Bernardaud. Also, there was lots of sit-down space for tastings. And not always mentioned in the same sentence as the JCB lounges, but should be, were the hosts. Always young, usually women, usually blond and sophisticated they were always well versed on the JCB collection of wines.