Team C&J
This Winery Is Permanently Closed.
Winery Rating
Located at:
158 Main St, Jerome, AZ 86331
Wine Club Rating
Price Range For Tasting
The eagerness of Caduceus Cellars to embrace experimentation in the Arizona desert reminds us of the wineries in Valle de Guadalupe that we love to visit. Who knew that there was a winery in Jerome growing Nebbiolo and Refosco?!
Owner and winemaker Maynard James Keenan is something of a Renaissance man out here. This rock star not only makes all of the wines for the brand (he even schedules his tours around harvest), but he has set up a viticulture program with a local community college, made a documentary about his work, and is an active advocate for Jerome’s burgeoning wine scene.
There are so many celebrity names attached to wine brands these days, but it’s rare that the famous name attached to the bottle is actually the winemaker. Maynard set up shop in Jerome, Arizona, a decade before he started making wine here.
While it may seem a bit “out of left field” for this rockstar to start a winery in Jerome, Maynard’s Italian great-grandfather was actually a winemaker, too. In other words, the family’s passion for wine runs deep.
For a deep dive into the founding of Caduceus Cellars, take a look at their documentary, Blood into Wine.
Merkin Vineyards 2022 Chupacabra Rosa, 85 PTS
A crisp rose wine (pink table wine, as Merkin Vineyards calls it) of Grenache and Carignan. This Jerome wine is aged in concrete to preserve the flavors in the grapes. Dark red fruit, spice, and blackberry greet the palate.
Caduceus Cellars 2022 Nagual del Marzo Rosé Sangiovese, 85 PTS
We weren’t expecting to find a Sangiovese rose on our trip to this Jerome winery, but there you have it. 100% Sangiovese aged in stainless steel and oak to add a little body to the palate. Very fruit forward and dry.
Caduceus Cellars 2022 Nagual del Agostina, 85
A blend of 80% Vermentino and 20% Malvasia Bianca: not a blend you see much in the US. A light on its feet wine with notes of crunchy pear, but also just enough weight on the palate to give the body some heft.
Dos Ladrones, 85 PTS
50% Chardonnay, 50% Malvasia. The Chardonnay adds richness, while the Mavasia adds acidity and balance. The nose has plenty of floral elements, and the palate is on the dry side with notes of orchard fruit and citrus.
Lei Li Nebbiolo Rosé, 78 PTS
A crisp rose wine from Arizona made of 100 estate-grown Nebbiolo. Lots of bouncy passion fruit and tropical fruit. A good rose, but it won’t knock your socks off.
Our takeaway: We found all of the white and rose wines were average to good. Nothing really jumps out on the whites, but the Nagual del Agostina is clearly the standout.
Airavata Ganacha, 83 PTS
This estate bottled Grenache is decent. Lots of red berry fruit, hints of spice, and a slight herby quality. Would be great with a rustic lamb dish.
Kitsune Sangiovese, 65 PTS
The first thing we noticed about this wine is the nose. It felt off and really threw us for a loop. The winery describes this bottle as earthy with ripe red fruit, but it’s hard for us to get past the funky nose. It’s also worth noting that this bottle of Sangiovese from Arizona wine country is an eye-watering $60 a bottle.
Le Cortiguane Oneste Barbera, 84 PTS
Barbera is a workhouse grape that rarely disappoints, and this one stayed true to that theme. A good wine with approachable red fruit.
Primer Paso Syrah, Durif, Malvasia Bianca, 80 PTS
A big wine with robust characteristics of earth, dark pitted fruit, and dark berry fruit. Hints of oak and tobacco add intriguing spice.
Anubis Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Aglianico, 87 PTS
Our favorite of the red wines is one crafted in the manner of a Super Tuscan. This wine has a good tannic structure, is well-balanced, and offers an excellent finish.
Caduceus Cellars owns seven vineyard sites in Arizona, including:
Judith – a 2-acre vineyard in Jerome planted to a mix of Nebbiolo, Aglianico, Tempranillo, and Malvasia Bianco. These half-acre blocks (Malvasia isn’t quite a half-acre large) create the Nagual del Judith wine. Each vintage of this wine varies and depends on what the blocks produce each harvest.
Galileo – a 4.5-acre vineyard site located in Cottonwood and planted in Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano. The Galileo Vineyard can be viewed from afar at the new Merkin Vineyards hospitality outpost in Cottonwood.
Marzo – located in Cornville, Arizona, the Marzo Vineyard is 2.5 acres and planted to Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Agostina – a 3.5-acre vineyard planted to a curious mix of Monastrell/Mourvedre, Albarino, Lulienga/Lignan Blanc, & Malvasia Bianca. This site is also located in Agostina.
Eliphante – The second largest of the Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars vineyards, this site, which is near Cornville, is planted to 30 acres of vines and 20+ varieties (Barbera, Durif, and Souzao, just to name a few).
Buhl – The jewel in the portfolio is Buhl. The largest of the vineyards, this site is home to 67 acres of vines, some of which are over 40 years old! Very old for Arizona grape vines. Here, winemaker Maynard Keenan sources Syrah, Grenache, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese.
SWC/YCC – An acre of Negro Amaro is planted at the Yavapai Community College Campus/Southwest Wine Center. This petite vineyard is used to teach students at the university about viticulture.
Caduceus Cellars has tasting rooms in Scottsdale, Cottonwood, and Jerome. The Jerome tasting room is charmingly rustic, with lots of exposed brick and polished wood tables. Guests can order small plates of olives, crackers, and charcuterie to enjoy while they sip at their table or sidle up to the big countertop bar.
Our hostess, Ally, was great. She made sure our experience was comfortable and informative.
We should also mention that you can taste wines from Merkin Vineyards, the second label of the brand, when you visit the tasting room.
We had a great time at the Caduceus Cellars tasting room in Jerome, Arizona. If you want to explore Arizona’s growing wine country, this is a great place to start. Winemaker Maynard James Keenan has laid quite a foundation here, and his efforts to bring attention to this lesser-known wine region are paying off.
Where to buy Caduceus Cellars wine?
You can buy Caduceus Cellars wine from the website or at retailers throughout the US, Canada, and Australia. For the complete list of where to buy, click here.
Who owns Caduceus Cellars?
Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards are owned by winemaker (and former Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer frontman) Maynard James Keenan. He started the brand in 2004.
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