2017 Georis Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.8% ABV, $36
Merlot got an undeserved bad rap in the movie, Sideways. That was so 2005 – so let’s get our Merlot on! There are many fine California Merlots out there worthy of our attention. Continuing on our march of wines from Cachagua, let’s talk Georis, which is known for its Merlots.
We have always had a fondness for Georis. Why? Walter Georis’ brother, Gaston, was my husband’s French teacher at the Monterey Institute for International Studies (now Middlebury). And, right next door to Georis’ tasting room in Carmel Valley Village was Corkscrew Café (now at 1 Pilot Road), where we often dined al fresco when wine tasting in the valley. In our early days of visiting the valley, we’d either taste Georis wines at the winery or at Corkscrew, but never both. After all, someone had to drive home.
From the Georis winery’s webpage: “Walter Georis was born of a Belgian father and a German mother who immigrated to the US from Belgium in 1956 when Walter was eleven years old… After having spent his teen years in Southern California, Walter decided to move north to Carmel where he pursued a career in fine arts. Soon after arriving in Carmel, Walter designed a family restaurant, Casanova that would become internationally renowned for its cuisine and style, and its wine cellar… Walter decided to combine his love of fine wines with the challenges and rewards of growing grapes and producing first class wines. In 1981, after consulting with French experts…, he bought a ranch in Carmel Valley and soon planted the grapes that would produce the first crop of Georis wines. The vineyard is located in the mountains of the upper Carmel Valley, California, 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Our 14 acre vineyard is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir grapes. Our terroir is sandy clay loam with gravel and river rocks. Some small vineyard areas include chalky soils.
“Since 1982, Georis Winery proudly produces a variety of wines exceptional in quality. Georis wines represent authenticity, integrity and a commitment to terroir expressive wines. Our philosophy is to respect European wine-making traditions while embracing the generous California climate of our appellation. Our objective is to craft wines with complexity, elegance and finesse. Our Estate wines set us apart from other producers. Earthy, opulent and fruit forward, they reveal complex tannin, minerality and dry finish.” www.georiswine.com
Georis describes this wine as follows: “Rich and bold yet elegant with sumptuous aromas of mocha, savory chocolate, and black berry fruits. The palate is extremely generous with hints of young berry, black berry, black spices, and silky tannins.”
My Review: Ruby/purple in color with plum/blackberry on the nose, brimming with cassis, vanilla and chocolate notes, solid tannins and a cherry finish. A very delicious, big wine.
Best place to buy his wines is from his website or at his tasting room. The Georis tasting room is at 1 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village. Their indoors wine tasting bar and room is very large (for better times). Their outdoor spaces are incredible for significantly socially distance tables for any sized party, even a larger, private event, as appropriate. I would feel very comfortable coming to Georis to do winetasting of his primarily great Merlots. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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