“Côte-Rôtie is a French wine Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France. The vineyards are located just south of Vienne in the communes of Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône, Ampuis, and Tupin-et-Semons.[1] The vineyards are unique because of the steep slopes facing the river and their stone walls. Côte-Rôtie can be rendered in English as “the roasted slope” and refers to the long hours of sunlight that these steep slopes receive.[2]
“The wines are red, made with Syrah grapes and up to 20% Viognier, a white grape used for its aroma. According to appellation rules, Syrah and Viognier must be fermented at the same time, a process known as cofermentation. Because of this combination, Côte-Rôtie wine typically exhibits an almost paradoxical pairing of meat aromas (including bacon) and floral aromas. [2]”
Chesebro 2014 La Mariposa, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 12.4% ABV, $30 ($22.50 sale price) (#163**)
Chesebro La Mariposa: A Côte-Rôtie- inspired wine.
Winemaker’s Notes: “This cofermented blend of Syrah (95%) and Viognier (5%) is inspired by the dense but vibrant wines of Cote Rotie in the northern Rhone Valley. The tannic structure of the cool climate Syrah is focused by the Viognier which also elevates the aromatics. Profound aromatics, deep color and a long finish. Not for the faint at heart but still elegant. Only 79 cases produced.” grapelive rated this wine 91 points.
My Review: Beautiful dense ruby red in color. Robust dark fruit on the nose. Big palate, more like an Old World Côtes du Rhône, meaty and tobacco. Surprisingly low alcohol, yet slightly port-like. The cofermenttion with the Viogner differentiates it from most Monterey County Syrahs. September 2020
Chesebro’s Tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is now open by appointment!
Buying Chesebro Wines:This wine, normally $30, is currently on sale for $22.50 at the Winemaker’s Notes link above in very limited quantities. Updated information on its tasting room hours and reservation link is here. They are open Thursday through Sunday from noon until 6:00 PM by reservation. Chesebro has curbside pickup and has always been great about shipping wines to the East Coast for me.
*Primary sources used by Wikipedia for this excerpt: 1. Inter Rhône: Côte-Rôtie Retrieved 19 January 2010 2. E. McCarthy & M. Ewing-Mulligan “French Wine for Dummies” pg 127-128 Wiley Publishing 2001 ISBN0-7645-5354-2
**Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
It’s rarely warm enough to sit out on our front porch, yet we have experienced many enjoyable afternoons in 2020 to do so. I was pleased to come home one September day to the sight of my husband and our dogs, enjoying one of those warm, sunny afternoons. He was drinking a golden glass of wine. I fetched one immediately. Ahhh! I love to come home to Mercy Chardonnay on the front porch, followed by Mercy Syrah after dinner. A perfect day.
We truly miss being able to stop at Mercy’s tasting room in Carmel Valley Village.
One of the last purchases we made was this 2015 Mercy Chardonnay Riverbed from the Arroyo Seco AVA. We wish we had purchased more! It is also sad that their webpage has been taken down – it was loaded with a wealth of historical wine tech sheets. I will need to rely on information on the label!
A full-bodied Chardonnay on a warm September afternoon.
From the Label: “In the cool, maritime-influenced Arroyo Seco AVA lies a small portion of terrain encompassing an ancient, dry riverbed. The Mercy “Riverbed” Chardonnay is the composition of contiguous vineyards in this area, all of which share shallow, rocky topsoils over hardpan subsoil. Aged in French oak, orchard and tropical fruit aromas, as well as vanilla, spice and mineral notes exude from the glass.”
My Review: Golden in color, with a floral nose, like gardenia. A little buttery, creamy, this is a rich Chardonnay. Honey, floral and a little sweet. We really enjoyed this wine and, as I indicated above, wished we had purchased more of it. September 2020
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
While Parsonage ingeniously sourced fruit from elsewhere in the aftermath of the 2016 Soberanes Fire, we are glad their 2017 vintages are being released! We tasted these wines at a soft-opening test of their COVID-19 social-distancing procedures back in June 2020.
Parsonage learned a lot from our dry run of their pandemic tasting procedures. Heh.
Parsonage was the winery that showed us Carmel Valley could make the kinds of big reds I love and is the reason I am a Syrah fan these days. In addition to the big Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines and blends, Parsonage makes some delicious, big Pinot Noirs – their Estate Pinot Noir (below) and their reserve “Hawk” Pinot Noir (reviewed here: https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-reserve-wines-my-kind-of-big-reds/).
The Parsonage Estate Pinot Noir – their lightest red – is still a BIG wine!
Winemaker’s Notes: “While this is the lightest red we make, it’s still bigger than your average Pinot Noir. An easy drinker, this wine does not need to be paired with food. But we like it with roast chicken, salmon or even some cheese and crackers. We get ripe cranberry and a hint of Earl Grey tea. Mouth-watering acidity and elegance on the luscious vibrant finish.” This wine spent ~8 months in neutral oak.
My Review: I’m not a big Pinot Noir fan, yet I really enjoy the richer style of Parsonage’s Pinots. Less complex than the “Hawk,” this is a wonderful, enjoyable wine – smooth and delicious fruit on the bouquet and palate, with a little lingering bitterness. June 2020
2017 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $42 (#87*)
So happy to have the estate wines back – the 2017 Syrah!
Winemaker’s Notes: “Big and rich is a great way to describe our 2017 Estate Syrah. Perfect balance and fully ripened tannins allow for a big, beautiful finish without dissonance. The bouquet is a swirl of toasted French oak vanillins that perform an olfactory fakeout with the very ripe Syrah skins that together say caramel mocha. Right behind that is a ripe black raspberry/black currant fusion. All of these aromatics manifest on the palate creating a melange of bittersweet chocolate caramel accented with sea salt (derived from the umami flavor of Parsonage terroir).”
My Review: Deep purple in color. Black cherry on the nose. Palate bursting with black fruit, spice and bay leaves. June 2020
You can obtain these wines directly from Parsonage here and pick them up at the tasting room onr have them shipped to you. Join their wine club for 20% off. You can also visit their tasting room by appointment only in Carmel Valley Village (“the village”) Monday-Friday 12-5 and weekends 11-5. Make a reservation in advance here.
Estate Vines at Parsonage.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
Bernardus has one of the nicest tasting rooms in the valley – we would always stop in to taste their wines and see what was on sale. They kept telling us we should join their club, but we are very specific in the wines we like to buy. One day, I realized they had a “Marinus only” club and we joined immediately. In addition to lovely allocations of Marinus wines, we have reaped many benefits from private tastings to winemaker dinners since we joined. I exposed you to their wines back in July: Bernardus 2010 Marinus and Parrot Ranch 2005. Let’s dig a little deeper into the Marinus wines, among the very finest wine from Carmel Valley.
We love being members of the Bernardus Marinus-Only Club!
About Bernardus Vineyards & Winery: “The focus of Bernardus is to create wines that flatter the palate and stimulate the imagination. Founder Ben Pon appreciated wine as an art – a form of art that transcends the ordinary. His dream with Bernardus was to make a red wine equal to the finest from Bordeaux.”
From Bernardus: “Carmel Valley is surrounded by the ridges of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Cachagua Valley is a sun-trap, a “bowl” in a high elevation that is shielded from the coastal fog and ideal for growing Bordeaux-style grapes. The daily temperatures vary from over 100° F. during the day to 50° F. during the night…Marinus vineyard soils are varied. They range from clay loam to sandy loam…Each vintage of Marinus represents the artistic interpretation of the vineyard cultivation along with the flavor elaboration in the winemaking process. A blend of Bordeaux varitetais, Marinus is the signature Bernardus wine from the Carmel Valley estate vineyard…”
2011 Bernardus Marinus, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $75 (#156*) Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 23%, Petit Verdot 7%, Cabernet Franc 5%
The 2011 Bernardus Marinus is a Cabernet-Sauvignon-driven Bordeaux blend.
Winemaker Notes: “The robe of our 2011 Marinus is a very deeply-colored ruby-red. The aromas express beautiful red fruits accented by classic notes of cedar and spices. The delicious flavors are very dense and full, with spicy black cherry and ripe plum flavors. The finish is very well structured, promising a long life for this superb bottle, similar to a fine Bordeaux.”
Wine Enthusiast Review: “Black and white pepper, boysenberries and roasting pork notes show on the fresh and vibrant nose of this blend of the five red Bordeaux varietals. Light and lively on the palate, it offers lots of boysenberry energy, with more pepper, thyme, cardamom and tea elements. It’s a refreshing change of pace from a cool vintage.” 90 points. Matt Kettmann, April 2016
My Review: Dense, dark red, garnet in color. Black fruits on the nose with deep blackberry and leather. A mouthful of dark, dense fruit. Leather, pepper and licorice on the finish. This Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wine is best enjoyed decanted. August 2020
2013 Bernardus Marinus, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.5% ABV, $75 (#157*) Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 35%, Merlot 30%, Petit Verdot 25%, Cabernet Franc 2%:
The 2013 Marinus is a rich, smooth, and complex blend of deliciousness!
Winemaker Notes: “The robe of our 2013 Marinus is a very deep crimson. On the nose we find dried cranberry aromas accented by subtle spice notes. The palate is intensely flavored with impressions of bright red cherry and plum. The finish shows excellent tannic structure promising a long life for this vintage of Marinus, much like that of a fine Bordeaux.”
My Review: Inky deep, dense garnet in color, this wine has a bouquet of blackberry, plum and cedar. It is rich, smooth and complex in cherry and cassis flavors, with balanced tannins revealing licorice and a touch of leather on the finish. This wine is so delicious, I forgot to stop to taste it and simply began to enjoy it. One of the best wines we have opened lately – and perhaps my favorite Marinus vintage to date (don’t tell 2010!). September 2020
Ooh, ooh – Bernardus is reopening its Tasting Room for outdoor tastings for Wine Club Members only beginning October 8th! By appointment only – read moreHERE.
We’ve missed being able to drop in here to see what they are pouring and what’s on sale!
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
We’ve been trying to get our new friends and COVID wine buddies out to Rombi to taste his incredibly huge and complex Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. And to have that special experience which Sal Rombi provides everyone who comes in to taste his wines. Not only is Sal an expert in winemaking, but also in hospitality. While we haven’t been able to meet up there, we did take our friends a bottle of the 2014 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, which we were able to compare side by side with a Napa Cab! Rombi did not disappoint!
In October, my wine class decided to pay homage to the California wineries besieged by fire and smoke damage. I chose the 2016 Rombi Merlot, as that is a full representation of how the Soberanes Fire affected the Carmel Valley wines. My hat is off to those vintners brave enough to bottle their wines from that vintage – Sal is among the very few.
Damage from the 2020 Carmel Fire provided by Kathy Baker of Rombi Wine.
I wrote about Rombi Wine, reviewed earlier vintages, and a bit about Cachagua in this post: Rombi: Bold, Distinctive Fruit Wrapped in Elegance. His home, winery and estate vineyard, The Carmel Valley Vineyard, are in the heart of Cachagua, where the Carmel Fire recently inflicted damage to so many of our favorite wineries and vineyards. I had the chance to drive way out to Cachagua in late September: a narrow, winding road with lots of blind curves, scorched by the fire. The damage incurred is the kind no one wants to experience. From what I have heard, most of the wineries out there are “OK.” I’ll leave it at OK. Let’s not talk about the 2020 crop.
There was almost a 40-degree difference in temperature from way out there and my little coastal town. The Carmel Valley’s terrain and climate is ideal for creating rich, full bodied wines; the Bordeaux varietals are favorites here, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot comprising more than 70% of the grapes grown in the district. Much of those grapes are grown in Cachagua.
2014 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (153*)**
This was his 8th year of production. His fruit from this vineyard is so flavorful, creating wines with up-front berry and cherry flavors. Rombi’s wines are very big and complex – highly recommend decanting to get the full fruit flavors.
The Rombi 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon stood up to a Napa Cab, in our August tasting.
My Review: Purple in color, chives/wild garlic and raspberry on the nose. Nice legs. Fruit-forward and full-bodied, brimming with delicious brighter fresh fruit. Sour cherries on first sip. Ripe cherry on the palate, with a hint of mint. And a smooth, pleasant lingering cherry and chocolate finish. Good, my Napa Cab fan says. We went back and forth between this wine and one of his favorite Napa cabs – we liked them equally, yet they were so different in flavors. I’m a huge fan of the Carmel Valley Vineyard’s fruit and think I like this one second best of all his vintages so far (2015 is slightly my favorite with even more jammy, up-front fruit). August 2020
2016 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (154*)**
The Rombi 2016 Merlot has intense fruit flavors enveloped in smoke from the Soberanes Fire.
My better half remembers discussing this vintage – Rombi’s 10th vintage of Merlot – with Sal in the tasting room. They discussed how this would have been his best Merlot yet had it not been for the smoke. As I mentioned in this post https://decantingmonterey.com/where-theres-fire-theres-more-than-smoke-taint/, wines produced from a vintage of fire and smoke can be appreciated in the context of what they are.
There is a good review of this wine here on Vivino.com which highlights this is a big, meaty Merlot. Not sure I am allowed to reproduce it here.
My Review: Thick, dense garnet in the glass. Intense berry and deep smokey plum on the nose. A huge wine of intense dark cherry and cassis enveloped in smoke on the palate and finish. Imagine you are grilling ribs over wood chips, inhaling the smoke from the grill while enjoying a glass of a big Merlot. We decanted this wine, as one always should with a Rombi wine.
The lineup at Rombi’s tasting room.
You can learn more about and purchase his wines online at Rombi Wines. You can also contact Kathy and Sal at kathy@rombiwines.com or sal@rombiwines.com for more information about buying wine. In the aftermath of the Carmel Fire, the tasting room remains closed.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
**I have a standing offer from Sal Rombi to replenish my cellar with any of his wines I review. That’s not why I review his wines. I’ve only “cashed in” that offer once…so far.
About Chalone Vineyard: “Perched in the remote Gavilan Mountain Range, 1,800 feet above California’s Salinas Valley, this rugged vineyard sits at the base of an extinct volcano bordering the Pinnacles National Park. Chalone Vineyard is one of the few wineries in the U.S. growing grapes in limestone-based soils, the same as in Burgundy…”
2018 I. Brand & Family Grenache/Syrah, Chalone Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $42 (#151*) 72% Grenache, 28% Syrah
The grapes for this I. Brand & Family wine are sourced from the Chalone Vineyard.
My Review: Transluscent cherry in color. Sweet warm berries on the nose with a big burst of raspberry and cherry on the palate, yet light and refreshing, with subtle tannins enveloped in light caramel on the finish. A little SweeTart with a toasted marshmallow finish. September 2020
I Brand is open for outside porch tastings by reservation only – email them at HELLO@IBRANDWINERY.COM to order wines or reserve a tasting.
*Refers to wines tasted while sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
While hunting down a rosé for a summer wine class, I noticed a 2013 Cima Collina Syrah from Chalone AVA – a Monterey County Syrah for under $25! Since I am not very familiar with Cima Collina or the Chalone AVA, and I love our Monterey Syrahs, I thought I’d give it a try. What a pleasant surprise! I also picked up a 2014 Cima Collina Syrah Tre Gatti Vineyards from the San Antonio AVA – we did a blind tasting of this wine over the weekend. Our friends guessed this was a new world Zinfandel, Syrah, and even one vote for a Petite Sirah.
About the Chalone AVA (from Monterey Vintners & Growers Association): “The Chalone region is nestled at 1,800 feet in elevation in the central part of the Gavilan Mountain Range – set against the dramatic backdrop of Pinnacles National Monument. This region has a long history of grape growing, dating back to 1919. Here are found the oldest producing vines in Monterey County. Chalone was awarded its own AVA designation in 1982. Because of its elevation in the mountain range, Chalone is truly unique among Monterey County’s appellations…” Read more about the Chalone AVA here.
Map of the Chalone AVA from Monterey Vintners and Growers Association (link above).
About Cima Collina from A Taste of Monterey: “Cima Collina produces artisan wines from small Monterey vineyards. The idea of an “artisan wine” is the partnership with growers who meticulously cultivate vineyards, the insistence on using only carefully chosen fruit, and the creation of wine on a barrel-by-barrel basis.
“The focus on Monterey vineyards is an acknowledgment that this region is now and will continue to produce wines that are interesting, compelling and unique. Many factors conspire to make this a truly gifted region for growing grapes. With the cool maritime climate, well-drained soils and energy of their winemaking colleagues, a dynamic renaissance is currently underway in our region.
“From the rugged Big Sur coastline to the prairie lands of south Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco, every vineyard develops its own set of diverse flavors. It is their passion to discover these local flavors and produce unfined, unfiltered wines that reflect a sense of place. Each of their food-friendly current releases, reflect Winemaker Annette Hoff Danzer’s commitment to authentic artisan winemaking, with dedicated growers, carefully chosen fruit and the creation of wine on a barrel-to-barrel basis.”
Cima Collina has had a tasting room in Carmel Valley Village since 2012. I learned that Albatross Ridge had moved into that tasting room. What I didn’t realise at the time was that Albatross Ridge actually took over both the winery and tasting room in 2019 after the death of one of the prime family members running the business.
This 2013 Cima Collina Syrah from Chalone is a rich, delicious wine.
Winemaker Notes condensed from the label: The Antle Vineyard is “…on the southeastern edge of the Salinas Valley in a protected, warm, beautiful south-west facing site of decomposed granite/gravelly loam soil…: This wine is made from a “…“Phelps” clone of Syrah – the oldest clone of Syrah in California…” This wine “…is lush with textrue & fruit but also offers layers of complexity often missed in California Syrah as it furnishes aromas & flavors of licorice, rosemary, white pepper with a seamless, delicious mouthfeel and finish…”
My Review: This was a big, dense wine and reminiscent of an Australian Shiraz. Very full and smooth on the palate. Cassis on the finish. We really liked this wine and bought more of it. As of 10/2, there was at least one bottle of this vintage left at Bottles n’ Bins in Pacific Grove. Worth finding this Syrah from the Antle Vineyard, Chalone AVA in another vintage. June 2020
2014 Cima Collina Syrah Tre Gatti Vineyards, San Antonio AVA, Montrey County, 13.5% ABV, $23 (#148*)
This 2014 Cima Collina Syrah from San Antonio was quite tart upon opening.
Winemaker Notes from the label: “Tre Gatti is a carefully managed 5 acre vineyard in the southernmost reaches of Monterey County…planted on…a southern-facing rocky hillside whitewashed with limestone-rich soil. The head-trained vines are a unique selection of Syrah that produces lower yields and uncommonly small berries in compact clusters. We vinified these grapes in open-top fermenters then aged the resulting wine in French Oak for 14 months.”
My Review: Purple in color. Unfiltered. Deep red fruit and pepper on the nose. Acidic, sour cherry on the palate “like sucking like a cherry Jolly Rancher.” After the tartness dissipated, one of our friends indicated they liked it. I’d say stick with the Antle Vineyard, Chalone AVA Syrah from Cima Collina, if you can find it. October 2020
The 2012 vintage of the Cima Collina Syrh Tre Gatti Vineyards was rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast. You can find that review here.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
We discovered Bunter Spring while wine tasting in Carmel Valley Village. The tasting room was a bit mysterious – rarely open. We finally caught them open and had an engaging conversation with Mark Bunter. An older couple was in the tasting room – through them, we learned the “Spring” in Bunter Spring was a former Washington DC colleague of my husband! We occasionally catch both Bunter and Spring in the tasting room. One of our favorite Bunter Spring wine is the “Hippie Red” – 100% Syrah from Napa. We opened this 2016 Cabernet Franc for Labor Day. After a few emails with Mark, I discovered this wine is actually from the San Antonio AVA!
The Bunter Spring Tasting Room at 9 Del Fino Place in Carmel Valley Village.
From Bunter Spring Winery: “Bunter Spring Winery is a family operated “garage” winery in the Coombsville AVA in the southeast corner of Napa Valley. We make small-lot wines for sale to friends on our mailing list and to a few restaurants and wine shops. Bunter Spring was licensed in 2008, by Mark Bunter, after a brief (thirty years) internship in the wine cellars of people with names like Sebastiani and Mondavi. It all started in 1977 at Bill Cadman’s Tulocay Winery, just up the hill from Bunter Spring, where Mark took on a volunteer bottling line position. Mark got interested in winemaking and started making small batches of wine for fun in the family garage, with free grapes. After helping pick scrounged “second crop” grapes from nearby vineyards for a few vintages, Dad Arnold (Arnie) helped plant a small vineyard on his own property (evidently, owning a vineyard was deemed the lesser of two evils). Within fifteen short years, Arnie was ready to let Mark start selling the family Syrah instead of just giving it away. We don’t rush things at Bunter Spring.”
Bunter Spring 2016 Spring Cabernet Franc, Monterey County, 13% ABV, $25 (#145*) 87% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot
The 2016 Cabernet Franc comes from the San Antonio AVA!
Winemaker’s Notes from the Back Label: “These grapes come from the warmer, southern end of Monterey County. Aged for eleven months in once used French oak barrels. Smells and tastes of ripe red cherries, fresh spearmint, green tea, hardwood, and dark chocolate. We bottled this early to capture its fresh fruit and lively tannins.”
My Review: Garnet with purple edges in the glass. Warm nose of blackberry and dark plum. Tart red fruit on the palate, with a lingering blackberry and cassis finish. I like this wine, but I think I am going to really like his 2017 Cabernet Franc from Carmel Valley (86% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon), skipping the Petit Verdot! September 2020
To buy their wines, check out their current releases and contact Mark by phone or email to order. They ship within California and to Washington DC and Florida. Last I checked, their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village had not reopened. In better times, it is open on the weekends or by appointment.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – includes non-Central Coast wines.
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to the San Antonio AVA and Pierce Ranch. The San Antonio Valley AVA is not one you can easily drive to – it is tucked away toward the southwestern end of Monterey County, past Arroyo Seco and nestled between the Big Sur coastline and Salinas Valley, with climate more like that of Paso Robles than the rest of the Monterey AVAs.
Appelation America has an excellent description of this AVA: “Had the Monterey grape growers and wineries of the 1970s looked at the history of grape growing in the county a little closer, they may well have planted their Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the newly approved (July, 2006) San Antonio Valley AVA, located in the southern extreme of the county. This growing area was one of the first places in the United States to be planted with grapes, as early missionaries recognized that the region’s climate was ideally suited for producing wine. The original mission, San Antonio de Padua, established here in 1771, remains standing to this day, as a symbol of this region’s rich heritage and its significance in the history of California viticulture.”
According to the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association, (my go-to resource for all things Monterey Wines – on Facebook at Monterey Wines), “As one of Monterey County’s warmer AVA’s, San Antonio Valley experiences a large daily degree differential. Warmer weather allows fruit to fully mature while colder night temperatures preserve balanced acids and sugar ratios. This climate lends itself well to many Bordeaux and Rhone Varietals as well as Zinfandel.”
The charming Pierce Ranch Tasting Room in Cannery Row is open for curbside pickup.
Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation. From Pierce Vineyardsweb page: “Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation centered in southern Monterey County’s San Antonio Valley appellation. We produce limited-run, estate-grown wines with an emphasis on Spanish and Portuguese varieties.” I spoke with their tasting room manager in late September, who informed me that Pierce Ranch received many awards in the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition, including Gold Medal and Best Tempranillo for their 2017 Tempranillo (will be reviewed in a future post), and Silver for the 2017 Touriga, Petite Sirah, and Malbec!
2017 Pierce Ranch Touriga, San Antonio Valley AVA, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#31*)
The 2017 Pierce Ranch Touriga was awarded a Silver Medal at the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition!
From the bottle: “Perched in a highland valley at the southern tip of Monterey County, our vineyards, with their wide variation in diurnal temperate and rocky soils, provide an excellent setting for the classic grape varieties of Spain and Portugal. Among these, Touriga – a native of Portugal’s Douro Valley – is undoubtedly one of the most promising. Estate grown in a hilltop block of our Y Ranch Vineyard, the 2017 vintage offers up a lovely, sumptuous wine with solid tannins and truly intriguing aromatics. A limited-run bottling, it was fermented in a single, small lot and aged in French oak for 18 months. Rich black currant and black plum are accompanied by traces of spice and floral notes.”
My Review: Plum in color, with a nose of raspberry jam with the sweetness offset by acidity, like a sweet tart with cinnamon on the finish. The nose carries over to the palate – raspberry and sour cherry with bubble gum, mint and cedar notes; tannins and clove on the lingering finish. It becomes a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon-like the longer it is open. This smooth wine is very young – cellar it for a while.
Pierce Ranch 2017 GSP, San Antonio AVA, 14.9% ABV, $22 (#56*) 62% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 2% Petite Sirah
Instead of a “GSM,” this is a “GSP” – with Petite Sirah instead of Mourvèdre!
From Pierce Vineyards: “Originating in our vineyards in southern Monterey County’s San Antonio Valley appellation, our GSP is an estate-grown blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. Benefiting from the abundant sunlight, rocky calcerous soils, and wide diurnal temperature variation of our region, the 2017 vintage is a versatile, medium-bodied wine full of bright fruit and with a lively, buoyant, character. Handcrafted on a limited scale, its components were fermented in small lots and aged in French oak for 15 months. Notes of wild strawberry, cherry, and raspberry are accompanied by traces of florality.”
My Review: Light in color, this wine has a sweet, bright berry nose, Bing cherry and berry on the palate and a little leather on the finish. I was hoping for a bigger wine, so I would have preferred less “G” and more “S” and “P.” For those of you who like a lighter red, this may be the wine for you! May 2020
2015 Pierce Ranch Petite Sirah, San Antonio AVA, 15.8% ABV, $25 (#95*)
I liked this so much, I went back and bought another! The 2017 took Silver at the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition!
From Pierce Vineyards, “…Located in the southernmost tip of Monterey County, the newly declared San Antonio Valley appellation is already showing itself to be an ideal region for producing nuanced, complex Petite Sirah. Consisting entirely of fruit sourced from our Y Ranch Vineyard’s rocky, hillside Block 1, this, our 2015 bottling, provides and elegant expression of the variety with excellent depth and solid tannic structure. Produced on a very limited scale, it was fermented in small lots and then aged, unracked, in French oak for 18 months. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, black currant, and black plum combined with a savory component and traces of spice.”
My Review: Very deep purple, dark in color. Nose of cinnamon rolls. Blueberry and blackberry on the palate – very smooth with a touch of sweetness – at 15.8% alcohol, it is creeping up on port-like qualities with dark plum and currant flavors. A very easy drinking Petite Sirah. A bargain at $25 – I bought this wine again, along with other vintages. July 2020
2016 Pierce Ranch Claret, San Antonio AVA. 13.8%, $28** (#142*) 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Petit Verdot, 13% Malbec, 1% Grenache
I enjoyed this Claret over several days – the flavors remained consistent – not overly complex, yet very delicious.
Pierce Ranch Claret Notes: “…Benefiting from the region’s high elevation, rocky soils, and wide variation in diurnal temperature, the 2016 vintage is a nuanced, well-balanced wine with an elegant texture, restrained fruit, and a solid tannic structure. Produced on a very limited scale, its components were fermented in small lots and aged in French oak for 18 months. Flavors and aromas of red cherry, black currant, and plum combine with hints of cedar and tobacco leaf.”
My Review: Raspberry and blackberry on the nose. Raspberry, tart cherry and plum on the palate, with a smooth, licorice finish. This is a very tasty, everyday Claret.
Check out their Facebook page at Piece Ranch Vineyards for their weekly specials. This might be the chance to get some of their wines before they sell out (such small production means the favorites are gone before we even know they are there). You can order their wines via Pierce Vineyard Tasting Room or at (831) 372-8900, and they’ll arrange for curbside pickup or shipping (which is just $5 anywhere in California.) Also, they recently started shipping to DC and Virginia, my friends!
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
**This wine was given to me by Pierce Ranch to review.
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