Monthly Archive: March 2021

La Marea: Spanish-Inspired Wines “rooted in the sea, the soil and the sea air”

When my Spring Club Release became available for pickup, I contacted the I Brand tasting room to find a day I could stop by for a quiet, isolated outdoor tasting to taste their new releases. In addition to tasting those wines in early March, we have opened several other Ian Brand wines at home in 2021.  I’ll be presenting all of them in 3 separate posts by label:  La Marea, Le P’tit Paysan, and I. Brand & Family. Today’s post is about three La Marea wines, Ian Brand’s label for his Spanish-inspired wines.

More About La Marea from the Winery:  “La Marea, (Spanish for “The Tide”), made by Ian Brand of Le P’tit Paysan, is a tiny winery focused on single vineyard Spanish varietals “rooted in the sea, the soil and the sea air”. Brand believes Monterey and San Benito to be some of the most ideally suited climates in California for Spanish varietals like Albariño, Grenache (Garnacha) and Mourvedre (Monastrell). The proximity to the cool ocean waters Monterey Bay provides an optimal climate for Albarino while the warmer San Antonio and San Benito Valleys closely resemble the Spanish regions where these grapes thrive. This region, once the site of a shallow ocean bed millions of years ago, is one of the few spots in California with a high percentage of limestone found in the soil which gives the wines a high naturally acidity. As with his P’tit Paysan wines, Brand works with fruit harvested at lower Brix, ferments using a combination of native and cultured yeast, and favors neutral oak.”

2020 La Marea Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey AVA, 11.9% ABV, $24 (#269*)

“The Kristy Vineyard grows on the western bench over the Salinas River on the broken sediment of ancient sea beds where it is exposed to the consistent cooling winds off the Monterey Bay. Kristy is a special because Albariño in the vineyard reaches full phenological ripeness at low potential alcohol and bright natural acidity later in the season. Usually picked between 20-22 Brix with a sub 3 PH and nearly 9 g/L TA. Whole cluster pressed and cold fermented to preserve aromatics and freshness. Secondary fermentation is arrested.” La Marea

Winery Tasting Notes: “tropical fruit, lemon zest, subtle spice, lively acidity”

My Review: Pale yellow in color, fragrant Gardenia, grapefruit and lemon curd on the nose.  Vibrant acidity on the flavorful palate of sweet grapefruit, with a lingering lemony finish. March 2021

2016 La Marea Grenache Spur Ranch, San Benito County, 13% ABV, $20? (#270*)

“Spur Ranch Vineyard is part of an 11,000 acre ranch located at a 1000 foot elevation with a fifteen degree south facing slope on the south side of Chalone peak. The soils are high-calcareous content clay over the same mica shist substrate that dominates the Chalone appellation. Fermented whole berry with a small percentage of whole cluster with both native and selected yeast strains. Aged in 100% neutral barrels for 11 months. 135 cs produced.” La Marea

Winery Tasting Notes: “Beautiful and bright representation. Profile firmly representative of its unique micro-climate terroir. Cooler region, allows peak levels of ripeness, while also obtaining low alcohol levels. Freshness, purity of fruit and an elegant, silky style. Endless layers of red fruits fill the nose. On the palate, acid leads, allowing bright red fruits, strawberries, cherries and raspberries to pop with a beam of minerality. Green anise and fennel appear, while the red fruits maintain palate saturation.” 124 cases produced.

My Review: Translucent light cherry in color. Light cherry on the nose, a slight bit of vinegar. Very light on the palate, refreshing, almost as light as a rosé! After opening up, flavors became a little more complex. January 2021

2018 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast, 13.6% ABV, $30* (#271*)

The grapes for this “Central Coast” wine were sourced from San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Clara Counties.

Winery Tasting Notes:  A traditional Spanish Grenache – “red plums, damp earth, baking spice, subtle complexity”

My Review: Bright, transluscent cherry.  Sweet raspberry on the nose, very smooth red currant on the palate, lingering light licorice flavors. March 2021

I Brand’s tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for tastings – reservations recommended.  https://www.ibrandwinery.com/visit

*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.    

1 Year Later: Getting Back Out There – Please Comment!

Last winter, I began to share my passion for Central Coast wines with our brand-new neighbors.  They knew a lot about Napa wines and French wines, but not so much about our local wines.  We began in Carmel Valley and had planned a trip down the River Road Wine Trail.  And then COVID-19 happened – trip postponed indefinitely. After a while, those new friends became our COVID Wine Pod. We started to replace trips to wineries with occasional wine sharing in our back yards, socially distant. What have you been doing to keep up your skills, practice your craft?

COVID Wine Pod Procedures: Separate Plates and Fire Pits for Warmth!

In the past year, we managed a couple of single winery, outdoor visits, ones at which we could be assured to be just about the only ones there. 

  • We “test-drove” Parsonage’s early indoors procedures
  • A solo tasting at Bernardus, March 2021

As we round the curve on COVID and start to get our vaccines, I’ve managed to set up a few, very isolated tastings – and we finally did that River Road Wine Trail trip one year later, despite the rains and ensuing mud. These neighbors I mentioned have become our new best friends.

  • River Road Wine Trail, March 2021
  • Socially distant in Carmel Valley, December
  • The “Better Half” of our COVID Wine POD

In the coming posts, I’ll be highlighting some of our and my wine tasting experiences in recent weeks in Carmel Valley Village a d down the River Road Wine Trail, with reviews of many of the wines we tasted. (Some will require a revisit for proper reviews…) It can be a lot in a single post, even by winery, so I am still working out the format.

As things open up and we get vaccines under our belt, I’d like to start getting back out exploring wines.  And this is where I need your help!  If you’ve been with my blog from the beginning, you’re pretty familiar with my repertoire of wineries.  Yet I bet my local readers know of some wineries I may not have tried or have even heard of. New tasting rooms have opened, some wineries relocated their tasting rooms, while others await final licenses.

What would you like to see in my blog? Getting beyond the “known!”

I’m asking you today to comment on this blog to tell me what Central Coast wineries are your favorites or ones I should go explore.  Perhaps you’ve had a great experience somewhere or know about a new winery or winemaker.  There is so much to continue to explore in Monterey County (my primary focus), and I have gone as far as Hollister and Paso Robles for limited tastings.   As the pandemic winds down, I will venture a bit further from home.  So where shall we go? 

Please leave me a comment!!

Central Coast Sharon

Boneshaker: Hahn delivers a “ROBUST, FULL-THROTTLE OLD VINE ZINFANDEL”

A recent wine class theme was Lodi.  I had just received my first shipment of Carol Shelton wines, including a 2018 Lodi Zinfandel!  Bingo!  But then I was looking at the wine selections at Grove Market right here in PG and found this Boneshaker Zinfandel.  As I did my research, I quickly learned this label is part of the Hahn Family of wines! A Lodi wine from a Monterey winemaker! I decided to open this one for our class.

Hahn’s Tasting Room on the River Road Wine Trail

From Hahn’s Boneshaker Trade Page:  “Older vines, make bolder Zinfandels.  Bruella Vineyard and Fathom Ranch are owned by Jason and Kimberly Eells, whose multi-generational family has sold grapes to Hahn Family Wines for over 20 years.  These vineyards produce exceptional grapes with a character only found in California, yirlding Zinfandel as rich and spicy as their history.”

2018 Boneshaker Old Vine Zinfandel, Mokelumne River AVA, Lodi, 15% ABV, $20 (#265*)  

I was surprised to learn Boneshaker is a Hahn Family label!

About the Boneshaker from Hahn :   “The quintessential Lodi Zin, Boneshaker is unapologetically big and attractively approachable. The wine’s rich, intense profile comes from gnarled, 50+ year old vines that produce fewer clusters and small berries with highly concentrated flavor and character that offer intense dark fruits, vanilla and spice in the glass.”

Winemaker’s Notes (same link above):  “A vibrant ruby red in color in the glass, this 2018 Zinfandel opens with aromas of cherry, toasted oak, a hint of leather and spice notes. On the palate, perfectly ripe red berry fruit flavors are accompanied by a seamless structure, gentle lingering spice flavors, and toasty finish.” 18,000 cases produced.

My Review:  Inky ruby in the glass.  A perfumey dark cherry on the nose with dark berries, plum and spice on the palate.  Let this one open up to experience its full richness.  March 2021

I purchased this for $19.50 at Grove Market.  You can find it on the web for less quite easily at places including Total Wine – but I didn’t have to pay shipping!

Hahn Tasting Rooms are located a their estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, as well as in Carmel Plaza.  They are open by reservation only – you can find more information 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.    

Paso Robles Melds Ancient Vines, Surfers, Cowboys, Farmers and Vintners to Produce Great Wines!

I brought you Turley Pesenti Vineyard wines here Turley Pesenti: Another Reason to Love Paso Robles Wines back in December.  Well, we opened another one, which I wanted to share with you today!

Turley describes Paso Robles as follows: “A few miles inland of California’s storied Central Coast, Paso Robles is a pioneer’s paradise, where surfers, cowboys, vintners, farmers, and ranchers commingle amidst ancient vines, towering oak trees, and rolling hills.”  Yep, sums it up nicely!

2015 Turley Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard, Paso Robles, 15.7% ABV, ~$50, $38* upon release (#263**)

About Pesenti Vineyard Zinfandel: “This certified organic estate-owned vineyard was planted in the 1920’s on primarily limestone soil. Though the vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, the soil plays the most important role in distinguishing this vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles. The wines have a brightness, with chalk and floral aromas unique to the site, and to Zinfandel in general…With the calcaerous limestone and the occasional carignane vine interplanted with Zinfandel, the Pesenti Zin takes on a unique brightness leading to a “sweet-tart-esque” character.” 

Wine Spectator – 92 Points: “Structure meets zesty fruit in this vivid red, which has black cherry, grilled anise and white pepper flavors that take on speed toward minerally tannins. Drink now through 2026.” TF 05/2018

My Review: Very jammy, plum & berry, on the nose, carrying over to intense boysenberry on the palate, with vanilla on the finish. Overall, very berry. I did not pick up the depth of flavors described by Wine Spectator. Hold for a few more years.  (February 2021)

*The price above is what we paid via the Turley mailing list.  You can find this wine for sale on line from different wine merchants for an average price of $50.  You can also shop online from Turley’s two tasting rooms or join its mailing list here:  https://www.turleywinecellars.com/remotepurchases.  Yay, Turley tasting rooms are open for outdoor tastings! Check it out and make a reservation 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.    

Parsonage’s Repertoire: from Serious Library Estate Wines to a “Downright weird” Blend!

Parsonage Valley Vineyard (photo taken Spring 2019)

On this Ides of March, I wanted to present two completely different (opposite?) Parsonage wines. When we first met Frank Melicia, we knew he made serious wines.  But he also is a bit of an innovator who tries new things, so he makes some fun blends, too.  I’m bringing you one of each in today’s post!

I’ve presented Parsonage to you in several prior posts and won’t repeat about them here (just type “Parsonage” in the search bar to see them all). You can check out their website here:  https://www.parsonagewine.com/.

Bill Parsons always has a story and here is the story he shared with me about our first wine, the 2008 Parsonage Estate Syrah:

“The (2008) vintage was our most celebrated and sought after in our then ten year existence. As great as the Estate version was, the Carmelstone and Rocco (Syrahs) were even greater.

“Back then Arvid Singh was the sommelier at the Sardine Factory. Ted Balesteri tasted my wines at a fundraiser at Holman Ranch and asked to set up a tasting with Arvid. I did. It was the craziest tasting I’ve ever done. I opened the Estate and the Carmelstone while he looked for his small spittoon. After he found it I poured one ounce of each. He swirled and sniffed for a long time, then took in a mouthful. He gurgled a bit, then swallowed. He asked me for another shot. I complied. He repeated the ritual two more times without spitting. I asked him what the spittoon was for. He said that all of his career he had always spit. Then he said, ‘but it would be sacrilege to expectorate the greatest Syrah he had ever tasted.’

“I laughed and said, ‘Yeah, very funny.’ It was obvious that I thought he was joking and he got quite angry at me. This was very serious stuff to him. I could probably write several hundred words describing our back and forth. The gist of it was that I challenged the idea that he had an olfactory version of eidetic memory. He said, for instance, 20 years ago he had tasted a Penfolds Grange and thought it to be the greatest he ever tasted until the Parsonage. I said, ‘The Grange isn’t here to defend its ranking.’ He said he had total olfactory recall of every great wine he had ever tasted. I called bullshit on him and he was really pissed at me.

“Finally I apologized and we kissed and made up.😎 When he tasted the Carmelstone it was more of the same, even greater than the Estate. He wanted to buy a lot more than I was willing to sell him.

“Later, I reflected on our tasting and what I had learned. I learned that Arvid and I have identical palates when it comes to Syrah because we both thought the 2008 was the best we ever tasted.

“As a footnote Arvid said, ‘The Grange is not even worthy of being on the same shelf with your Syrah.’ I thought he was a bit harsh on the famous Aussie Shiraz.”

2008 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $90 ($36 release price) (#261*)

The 2008 Parsonage Syrah is a staff favorite – perhaps one of the very best vintages.

Winemaker Notes:  “The vintage was our most celebrated and sought after in our then ten year existence. As great as the Estate version was, the Carmelstone and Rocco were even greater…What a bomb!  This is quite likely our biggest estate syrah ever.  It’s more like a reserve Carmelstone or Rocco from other vintages.  The nose comes with a blast of blueberry, blackberry, curry spices and cocoa.  The color is pure garnet ink.  The mouth feel is monumental with layers of very dark fruit, exotic spice and French oak barrel brulee. The expected signature notes of mineral and game along with hints of liquer and Amarone deliver on an exceedingly long and dramatic finish.”

My Review: Very dark in the glass with dark fruit on the nose to match. Rich dark flavors of black currant and cassis on the palate. Pretty yummy, but clearly should have been consumed some time back.  Definitely need to decant and drink these older wines! March 2021

2016 Parsonage Wild Card, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (#262*)

2016 was the year of the Soberanes Fire affecting Carmel Valley fruit; grapes for this wine were sourced from all over Monterey County.

Winemaker Notes:  “Downright weird from Frank’s twilight zone.  It really shouldn’t work but it does every time eight years running. Syrah, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Pinot Noir, oh my. It’s yummy and if you want to make the effort you can pick out the character of each varietal.”

My Review: Deep beautiful red in color. Plum, berry and caramel on the nose. Maybe toast notes, but that could be my popcorn. Intense fruit up from on the palate – bursting with red and black berry. A little touch of smoke and tobacco on the finish. Pleasant surprise!! February 2021

  • Photo courtesy of Parsonage
Parsonage’s Beautiful Tasting Room and Outdoor Parklet!

Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click here for the details.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. 

*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.    

Squeaking in a Rombi Tasting Just Before the Stay-at-Home Order!

On a lazy Saturday, I get a call from Sal Rombi asking if we’d like to come out for a tasting – like RIGHT THEN!  A quick text to our COVID Wine Squad and we were all in – lucky that our adult daughters could join us on this mission.  It was SO GOOD to see Sal, after what seemed like a very long time.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time together, as well as the outstanding wines. Yes, these are wines tasted in 2020 that slipped through the wine blog cracks – plus a recent tasting of his 2014 Merlot!

  • Sal, always a welcoming host – photo taken July 2020!
  • A treat to taste his big, elegant wines!

I’ve presented Rombi Wines to you twice before:  Rombi: Bold, Distinctive Fruit Wrapped in Elegance and  Decant Those Rombi Wines: Release Your Full Cachaguan Experience!  Please take a look there for more details about Sal and his wines. 

In today’s post I will review the 2014 and 2017 Rombi Merlots, and the 2014 Rombi Petite Sirah.  We also tasted 2 wines I’ve reviewed before – updated reviews from our recent tasting are here:

  • 2015 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon (one of my favorites): Garnet in color. Deep plum sage and wood scent on the nose. Puckery rich intense blackberry & dried currant on the palate. December 2020
  • 2016 Rombi Merlot (Soberanes fire year): Garnet in color. Sweet ham hock on the nose. Rich underlying fruit, and a smokey finish. If it hadn’t been for the smoke taint, this would have been his best Merlot yet.  Hats off to vintners gutsy enough to still make these wines – appreciate them for what they are! December 2020

2014 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (258*)**

This wine reflects the intense, delicious fruit fruit from Sal’s tiny Carmel Valley Vineyard.

This was his 8th year of production.  His fruit from this vineyard is so flavorful, creating wines with up-front intense flavors. Rombi’s wines are very big and complex – highly recommend decanting to get the full fruit flavors.  (I’ve said this before…)  Sal described this wine as “wonderful” – so wonderful he only has a few bottles left in his personal stash!  I still have at least one more – lucky me.

My Review: Garnet/purple in color. Rich bramble berry and cassis on the nose.  Huge palate of blueberry, blackberry and a touch of acidity, with at first a very dry finish. As it opened up, lush fruit enveloped the palate with a licorice finish. Very big, very complex, very nice wine. January 2021

2017 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (259*)

My Review: Rombi’s 11th vintage of Merlot! Pretty, ruby color with some earth on the nose. This wine might have just been opened and not decanted.  Awfully young and a bit tannic with cherry flavors.  I will need to taste this one again! December 2020

2014 Rombi Petite Sirah, California, 14.6% ABV, $75 (260*)

My Review: Most of these grapes are sourced from Napa.  Deep purple-red in the glass. A very different nose with a touch of barnyard. Delicious, chalky, deep plum and cherry on the palate with a leathery finish. December 2020

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.  The tasting room is open Saturday and Sunday afternoons for an outdoor tasting.  Come on out and spend some time with Sal. 

Our daughters staying socially distant in the comfy outdoor seating at Rombi Wines!

*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. 

Rexford’s Dark and Intense Merlot: Drink Me Now!

While we are up in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, let me bring you another wine also from Regan Vineyard, but made by a different winery – Rexford.  I introduced you to Rexford back in September 2020 here: https://decantingmonterey.com/rexford-unique-wines-crafted-in-santa-cruz-california/.

Joe and Sam Miller, father and son team, say this about their winemaking on their website: “Our style is strongly influenced by the character of fine European wines that pair well with food. We work closely with selected growers to secure fruit that will produce well-balanced wines that are true to the variety and without excessive alcohol. Absolutely minimal cellar handling is used to preserve the full character and complexity that the grapes can provide. Racking and bottling schedules do not follow rigid timelines, but are adapted to fit the development of each wine.  The finest barrels are used judiciously so that oak flavors are not dominant and at most provide a subtle background to the intrinsic aroma and flavor profile of the wine. We do not fine or filter our wines. The wines are exposed minimally to air during production and aging, and they can be expected to continue to improve with several years of bottle aging, though all Rexford wines can be drunk with pleasure on release.” https://rexfordwinery.com/

2013 Rexford Winery Merlot, Regan Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, 14.8% ABV, $35 (#256)

From the Label: “The 2013 Rexford Merlot was made from grapes grown in the Regan Vineyard located on a hillside near Watsonville. This site yields very dark and often intense Merlot that shows similarity to the wines of Bordeaux. We punched this wine down by hand during fermentation and aged it in 50% new French oak. Bottled without fining or filtration, the wine has complex aromas of earth and spice that are true to the varietal. The taste is driven by fruity flavors that are well balanced by tannin and acidity. This excellent Merlot is ready to drink now , but will continue to develop with further bottle age.”

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Father-and-son vintners Joe and Sam Miller consistently deliver solid wines, including this twist-top Merlot that’s aged in 50% new French oak. Its boysenberry fruit is awash in the green peppercorn, herb and crushed graphite character associated with the mountainous region. That pyrazine touch hits the palate, along with black pepper and dark chocolate spice, accenting the tangy red fruit.”  Matt Kettmann, July 2017

My Review: Rich garnet in color. Plum, vanilla, spice, cedar, blackberry and cassis on the nose.  Complex on the palate – smooth, rich cherry and cedar with some structure.  Cassis and a touch of licorice and lemon on the finish. Pretty delicious. January 2021 

Check out their current releases on their website. You will find several “firsts” there:  a red blend, a Cabernet Franc, plus their 2017 Merlot from the Black Ridge Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara County! Their prices are mostly $30-35 per bottle and they are currently (as of 3/5/2021) offering free shipping with the purchase of 3 or more bottles.  Sounds crazy good, eh? 

Stay tuned for the reopening of their winery tasting room in Santa Cruz later this month!

*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.    

Bargetto Scores a Silver Medal for its Dolcetto!!

In our early days in Monterey back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, we occasionally tried Bargetto wines down on Cannery Row.  Way back then, we were tasting Napa and Sonoma wines and were not impressed. But things have changed, both on the winery’s end and in my exploration of Central Coast Wines.  When my wine class chose a theme of Dolcetto wines, I decided to go local! 

Here are a few highlights from this good writeup of Dolcetto here: “Dolcetto is a dark-skinned wine grape from the Monferrato hills of northwestern Italy…Often viewed as Piedmont’s third red-wine grape, Dolcetto is something of a poor cousin to Nebbiolo and Barbera…A typical Dolcetto wine is intensely and brightly colored and offers dark, gently spicy aromas with earthy undertones of almonds – or walnuts in more tannic examples…”

About Bargetto: “The Bargetto winemaking heritage began with brothers Phillip and John Bargetto who from Castelnuovo Don Bosco, a small town in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. They brought with them years of winegrowing experience when they established BARGETTO WINERY on the banks of Soquel Creek in California…The original Bargetto family winery was located in San Francisco from 1910-1917. The name of this winery was South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company. With Prohibition on the horizon the winery was closed and the brothers moved to Soquel in 1917…The third generation of Bargettos now direct the operation of the winery. BARGETTO WINERY represents the oldest continuous-operation winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their pioneering spirit continued with the establishment of Bargetto Regan Estate Vineyards, near Corralitos, California in 1992. Here, cool-climate varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Grigio are carefully nurtured to produce BARGETTO WINERY’s estate wines. In keeping with the family heritage, the winery also incorporates northern Italian varietals from its Estate Vineyard into its flagship LA VITA wine.”

2017 Bargetto Dolcetto SCM Regan Vineyard Heritage, Santa Cruz Mountains, 13.5% AVA, $35 (#255*)  98% Dolcetto 2% Petite Sirah (290 cases produced)

The 2017 Bargetto Dolcetto received a Silver medal in the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition!

Winemaker’s Notes from the Bargetto Web Site: “This 2017 Dolcetto has a beautifully deep ruby red color, and opens with aromas of black cherry, black pepper, and toasty oak.  It follows with notes of plum, black cherry, savory spice, and floral potpourri on the palate.  This wine is full bodied, with big rich tannins.  Although Dolcetto is historically known for being a low-acid wine meant to be drunk early, this Santa Cruz Mountains rendition has plenty of acid and structure to age beautifully.” 

My Review:  Dark ruby red in color.  At first, the nose was plastic, violet and perfume.  After open for 1.5 hours, the “plastic” subsided and was replaced with cherry notes.  By the next day, I’d add red currant to the bouquet.  Palate at first continued the nose, but as it opened, some blueberry, more cherry and black currant emerged, a bit astringent with a very dry finish.  By the next day, this was a heavier, tasty red.  January 2021

You can purchase Bargetto wines here:  https://bargetto.com/ or visit them at their tasting room at 700-G Cannery Row, Monterey, or their historic winery and tasting room in Soquel.  Tastings are by reservation only.

*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.    

Santa Barbara’s Tensley: “get out of the way and let the vineyard speak for itself”

I encouraged our mostly East Coast wine class in February to pick a Central Coast wine to share (virtually, of course).  I kept it broad – might be hard for them to find a Monterey County wine, so anywhere from the San Francisco Bay and Livermore all the way down to Santa Barbara County. I had been eyeing this Tensley Syrah (link from wine.com) in Wine Spectator and was thrilled to learn my husband had ordered some from K&L Wine Merchant – as though he were reading my mind!  The variety of wines presented was fascinating, spanning Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties! 

This map depicts the counties/AVAs of the wines presented in this class (plus Santa Cruz). Map credited to https://www.wineandvinesearch.com/united_states/california/central_coast.php

Here is a vintage ordered list of everyone’s wines– each one had a story, perhaps for future blogs:

  • 2019 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, 15% ABV, $40 from K&L
  • 2018 Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant Cuvée Oumuamua, Monterey County, $19 at K&L (WE 93 + Top 100)
  • 2017 Robert Hall Cavern Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, 15.0% ABV, $40 Costco
  • 2016 Donati Family Vineyard Claret, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, 13.8% ABV, $17 at Pearson’s (DC) ( I previously presented this wine in my Paicines AVA class for the Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar, Fall 2019)
  • 2016 Gainey Vineyard Chardonnay, Sta Rita Hills AVA, 13.6% ABV, $22
  • 2015 Fess Parker Epiphany Grenache Blanc, Santa Ynez AVA, 14.1% ABV, 4 cans for $25 at Rodman’s (DC)

About Santa Barbara wines from the wine.com link above: “With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.

“Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.”

About Tensley also from wine.com:

“In 1998 Joey Tensley launched Tensley Wines with one hundred cases and one single goal – to start a well-priced, Syrah-driven brand that let the unique vineyards of Santa Barbara County speak for themselves…The wine press began taking notice of Tensley in 2001. That year Matt Kramer of the Wine Spectator named two of Tensley’s 2001 Syrah’s to his list of the Top Ten Wines in the World and Robert Parker scored all the ‘01’s in the high 90’s, calling them “serious, hand-crafted efforts.”

“In 2008 Food and Wine Magazine named the 2006 Colson Canyon Syrah “Top Syrah in America Over $20.” Two years later, Robert Parker gave the 2008 Anniversary Series Colson Canyon Syrah 99 points, and The Wine Spectator named the 2008 Colson Canyon Syrah #17 of its Top 100 Wines in the World. The 2007 Colson Canyon Syrah was ranked #22 the year before…

“While Tensley and its reputation have continued to grow, Joey has stayed true to the philosophy he had from day one – make quality wine that is well priced and always, “get out of the way and let the vineyard speak for itself.”

2019 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, 15% ABV, $40 (#253*)

Jeb Dunnuck rated this wine 96 points; drink now or hold through 2039!

“The 2019 Tensley Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah is elegant, showing perfumed notes of violets on the nose but it also packs a punch with its smoked meat notes, deep purple fruits and notes of graphite and pepper. The light touch of new oak balances the chocolate of the wine with notes of vanilla. This wine is rich and approachable now. It can also age beautifully over the next 12 years.”

My Review: Deep rich red color.  Bright cherry bubblegum and plum on the nose.  Super rich, tongue-coating palate, with round, deep berry flavors after it opened up.  A bit of perfume on the palate. February 2021

*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.    

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