Monthly Archive: May 2021

Bringing Enz Vineyard Old Vines Mourvèdre to Light!

I remember tasting today’s wine at one of I Brand & Family release parties back in the good old  (pre-COVID) days.  I insisted we pick up a couple.  I first experienced and learned to appreciate Mourvèdre bottled as a single varietal decades ago at Cline Cellars, which was usually our first stop as we entered Sonoma Valley for our wine tasting trips in the ‘80s.    

About Mourvèdre: “If you love Cabernet Sauvignon then Mourvedre is your bag. Mourvedre (aka Monastrell) is a full-bodied and rustic wine that originated in Spain. Rumor has it that the seafaring Phoenicians brought it over as early as 500 B.C. Seemingly obscure, Mourvedre quite often is used as a blending grape in popular wines such as Châteauneuf du Pape. It’s one of the major grapes of the Rhône, along with Grenache and Syrah.” Characteristics: Blueberry, Blackberry, Plum, Black Pepper, Violet, Rose, Smoke, Gravel, Meat  https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/mourvedre-wine/

About the Lime Kiln Valley AVA: “Home only to Enz Vineyards, Limekiln Valley rests inside the Cienega Valley AVA. Limekiln’s soil is sandy, gravelly loam over dolomite and limestone. The summertime average high temperature is 90°F, with a diurnal variation of up to 50°F.” https://winegeeks.com/appellations/162

Enz Vineyards are tucked away below Calera (somewhat-dated map used with permission of geologycafe.com)

About Enz Vineyard: “Enz Vineyard is home to some of the oldest vines in California, dating back to 1887 when they were planted by original homesteaders and were discovered by the Enz family in 1967. Today, these vines are dry farmed and the picturesque vineyard location is tucked away in the valley in a sheltered basin, surrounded by mountains and blocking it from the rest of civilization.” https://www.winc.com/blog/enz-vineyard

2017 I Brand & Family  Old Vines Mourvèdre, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley AVA, 13% ABV (#357*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Organic. 100% Mourvedre. The Mourvedre block at Enz is just under 8 acres and was planted in the 1920s. It’s a dry-farmed 8 acre block consisting mostly of Mourvedre but also Pais, Carignan, Muscat, Alicante Bouschet on 10 x 10 spacing. Vineyard is at southern base of Mt. Harlan on a 5% incline on north facing slope. Soils are granitic sand with significant limestone and dolomite deposits. The Mourvedre is an isolated genetic line from what’s commonly available in California- the budwood was sourced from original planting in Lime Kiln Valley and brought over from an immigrant from Southern France. Spontaneous fermentation with 50% whole-cluster with stems, other 50% whole berry. Aged on the lees in barrel and puncheon (20% new). 11 months total spent in barrel. Unfined, unfiltered. Bottled and aged 9 months in bottle before release. 125 cs produced.” (found on https://www.vintryfinewines.com/i-brand-family-enz-vineyard-mouvedre-2015.html)

My Review: Ruby in the glass.  Raspberry cherry cola on the nose and a spicy dark raspberry on the palate. So different from most of our big reds and very delicious. May 2021

I Brand’s tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for tastings – reservations recommended.  https://www.ibrandwinery.com/visit.  You can also purchase I Brand wines directly from their website at https://www.ibrandwinery.com/!

Parsonage’s Tanner: The Power of Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignons!

We reassembled the fully vaccinated (yay!) COVID Wine Pod for a patio tasting last week and, for the first time, we were able to move inside when the weather turned chilly and windy. Mr. H pulled out this 2011 Tanner Cabernet Sauvignon to see how it would stand up to the 2011 Napa Cab we had just tasted. Watch out, Napa – let’s hear it for Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignons!

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/.

2011 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $80 (#355*)

The 2011 Tanner stood up well to a Napa 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon!

We had this wine in our collection and opened it to compare a high-end Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with a high-end Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.  We decanted it immediately prior to consumption.  2011 is not known for being a great growing season in California, so we really lucked out with both of these wines. 

My Review: Very dense and dark in the glass with a super intense bouquet.  The quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon flavors on the palate and a slight bitterness on the finish.  We all thought this was super impressive.  Well done! May 2021

  • Photo Courtesy of Parsonage!
Open daily for outdoor tastings – plus indoor tastings on the weekends!

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.    

Ancient Roman Winemaking Meets Modern Viticulture!

Wine class this week was Italian varietals produced in the US.  I decided to open the 2017 Wrath Ex Dolio Falanghina I picked up during a wine tasting in March.  I became obsessed with Wrath Falanghina when I read this article about Sabrine Rodems’ own label, Scratch, in Edible Monterey Sabrine Rodems On Exhibit Scratch Coming to Carmel. 

“Owner Michael Thomas has kept Rodems plenty busy with his many often unconventional winemaking ideas, and has given her the latitude to chase different styles, like unoaked Pinot and fiercely oaked Sauvignon Blanc. When they ripped out a block of underperforming Muscat (I’m still crying over that), Michael, an archeologist, decided to plant Falanghina, an ancient Roman grape that was vinified in amphora. So, Rodems acquired a modern day replica of the ancient clay vessel from Italy (called a dolio) and tried her hand at Falanghina in clay. Truly an interesting, textural wine with just a hint of licking a clay pot.”

You gotta try it, right?

2017 Wrath Ex Dolio Falanghina, Monterey AVA, 13.2% ABV, $29 (#352*)

Winery Notes from wrath.com: “The 2017 Ex Dolio Falanghina comes from the two rows of this ancient Campanian grape planted on our estate vineyard. It is fermented on the skins in the dolium (the modern version of an ancient clay fermenting vessel) until dry.  Then racked off and placed back into the dolium for 6 months of aging.  It is left naturally unfiltered and unfined before bottling.  The resulting wine possess very bright, racy acidity that is beautifully balanced with lush fruit flavors and a pronounced bouquet of ripe apricot…Our Ex Dolio Falanghina is a wine with one foot planted in ancient Roman winemaking traditions (fermented and aged in a dolio, not filtered or fined) and one foot in modern methods (modern viticulture and winemaking control measurements to ensure stability). For those who are unsure about drinking a naturally unfiltered wine, we suggest standing the bottle upright in a cooler or refrigerator for a day or two, just as one would handle a vintage Port. Most of the particulate matter will settle at the bottom of the bottle, although there is no issue with consuming it along with the wine.” 72 cases produced. 

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Winemaker Sabrine Rodems and proprietor/archaeologist Michael Thomas emulate Roman winemaking, with this skin-contact bottling that’s aged in a ceramic vessel. Golden yellow in the glass, the wine offers apple juice and butterscotch on the nose, with a hint of citrus. The palate shows dried citrus and bitter orange. It’s funky but enjoyable.”  Matt Kettmann, 8/2020 https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/wrath-2017-ex-dolio-falanghina-monterey/

Is this a White? Rosé? Orange?

My Review:  This is a golden, almost orange wine! There was a lot of sediment/crystallization in the bottle – I had to filter it into my glass.  Light, sweet apricot and gardenia on the nose.  Apricot/apple juice on the palate with some bold acidity and citrus notes. A very interesting and bit strange wine (maybe it is the touch of clay?)! May 2021

You can buy Wrath wines directly from their website or tasting rooms. 

Wrath Tasting Room in Soledad!

Regarding Tastings: Both the winery tasting room in Soledad and the Carmel Plaza tasting room are open for outdoor and limited indoor tastings!  Check out this link for more details: https://www.wrathwines.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.    

Melon de Bourgogne: Daring to be Different with a Mixed Up Varietal!

When we got one of our I Brand shipments, we noted something different, a Melon de Bourgogne!  What the heck is that and why is Ian making it? 

About Melon de Bourgogne from wine.com: “Made famous in Muscadet, a gently rolling, Atlantic-dominated countryside on the eastern edge of the Loire, Melon de Bourgogne is actually the most planted grape variety in the Loire Valley. But the best comes from Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, a subzone of Pays Nantais. Somm Secret—The wine called Muscadet may sound suggestive of “muscat,” but Melon de Bourgogne is not related. Its name also suggests origins in Burgundy, which it has, but was continuously outlawed there, like Gamay, during the 16th and 17th centuries.”

For more information on the growing popularity on the West Coast of Melon de Bourgogne, I found this excellent article:  https://daily.sevenfifty.com/why-american-winemakers-are-embracing-melon-de-bourgogne/. This article highlights that the original grapes planted in Oregon were mislabeled as Pinot Blanc and this mislabeling spread as the grapes did down into California, including in the Chalone AVA!

About the Chalone AVA from https://montereywines.org/vineyards/avas/: “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.”

The Chalone AVA is located in an isolated spot in the Gavilan Mountains, along the border between Monterey and San Benito Counties.

Graff Family Vineyard is “a small family vineyard on the Chalone Bench of the Gavilan Mountains. Our family has a 50 year history of winemaking in the Chalone Appellation.” If you look at the map, it appears to be smack in the middle of the Chalone Vineyard!

2019 I Brand & Family Melon de Bourgogne, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, 11.2% ABV (#350*)

This wine boasts CA Hwy 146 on its label. 146 runs to the east of Chalone in both Monterey and San Benito Counties, leading into Pinnacles National Park.

Winemaker’s Notes: “…  because Chalone is nothing like Muscadet, we weren’t at all trying to reference Melon’s home turf. We made this wine with 5 days on skins, then barrel fermented and aged on lees for seven months. Due to the terroir and the skin, it’s decidedly broader than typical Muscadets, but has a subtle brawniness that I enjoy…” (found on winebeserkers.com)

My Review: Straw color in the glass. Fresh gardenia and lemongrass on the nose. Slightly sweet with honeycrisp apple and … on the palate. A little bitter on the finish. Has a very familiar taste – yet hard to pinpoint – very Chardonnay-like, which makes sense, yet a bit like a Sauvignon Blanc, too! I enjoyed this wine! April 2021

I Brand’s tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for tastings – reservations recommended.  https://www.ibrandwinery.com/visit.  And BIG NEWS:  You can now purchase I Brand wines directly from their website at https://www.ibrandwinery.com/!

*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.    

Bunter Spring’s “Groovy” and “Far Out” Hippy Red Syrah!

Bunter Spring is a small producer whose wines increasingly come from the Central Coast vice its Napa roots.  From Carmel Valley Road Co: “At Bunter Spring, we strive to make wines that are delicious, and unique. Balance is important. That means a pleasant and harmonious combination of alcohol/sweetness, acidity, and astringency/tannin. Aroma and flavor are obviously important. We achieve interesting and balanced wines by using grapes grown carefully, in the right place, harvested at the right time. Bunter Spring Winery is a family operated winery.” We first discovered them via their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village and have written about them a couple of times previously.

Bunter Spring 2015 Hippy Red Syrah, Napa Valley AVA, 13.35% ABV, $25 (#347*), 45 cases produced.

Winemaker’s Notes for the 2016 vintage: “100% Syrah…Made with organic grapes.  Here, the ‘wild’ yeast really went feral, turning our peaceful little anti-establishment organic fermentation into something like a rampaging acid-fueled riot.  We had to add a little sulfite and then filter the wine to save it from becoming something only a totally stoned commune would consider drinking.  In the end, it was all groovy, if slightly far out.  To honor and illustrate its nature, it got a special name and label.” The 2016 is nearly sold out and the 2017 will be released this summer! Tasting available most weekends by appointment, outside, $20, free with $50 purchase. 

My Review:  We did not decant this wine (as recommended) and probably should have, as it took a day or two to reveal its full flavors.  A bit of sulphur on the nose with a very smooth, juicy palate.  Medium bodied, rich with cherry and berry flavors.

Tasting available most weekends by appointment, outside, $20, free with $50 purchase and can be arranged by calling Mar at (202) 744-1343. To buy their wines, check out their current releases and contact Mark by phone or email to order.  Directions are here.  They ship within California and to Washington DC and Florida. 

*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: “unabashed, rollicking wine ready for a good time**”

Special occasions call for special wines – and we’ve had a few relatives visiting – time to open some Parsonage reserves! Why not drink the good stuff?

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/.

2005 Parsonage Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $125 (#345*)

We received this as a library wine in a recent allocation.  This vintage pre-dates the “Tanner” designation. Our experience has taught us that these library wines are ready to drink. 

grapelive  – 93 points:  “Cabernet did really well here in 2005 and I think it is showing much more character as well, I think the grape is star here and it seems to be so correct that I have a hard time finding any flaws! Pure classic fruits and depth make this vintage remarkable and especially noteworthy. Mixed black and red berry, plum, currants, cassis and chewy tannins scream Cabernet and don’t let up. The complex underbrush, herb and tobacco notes are very subtle and the hints of licorice, vanilla and cranberry are lovely.”

We shared the 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with our visiting niece and nephew-in-law one chilly April night.

My Review: Dark in the glass with rich, smooth flavors of cassis and plum.  This wine is drinking well, with the dark flavors reflecting its age.  Two thumbs up! April 2021

2015 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $80 (#346*)

**Monterey County Weekly:  “Hedonistic – that’s how winemaker Bill Parsons describes his 2015 Parsonage “Rocco” Syrah. Not that the wine is self-indulgent, although it does seem hell-bent in pursuit of a good time, spilling bushels of ripe blackberries and blueberries from the glass. The revelry begins with a swirl. Fresh aromas spring from the glass, tromping over the grumbles of pepper and licorice. The party continues unabated on the palate, as dense dark berries mingle with a flirtatious impression of fresh plum. What develops on the fringes – raspy pepper, dry clove, bittersweet chocolate and toasted tobacco – are too faint at first to slow things down. It’s only on the finish that the wine’s demeanor changes, developing a more stolid, earthy character and a richer berry compote aspect that stills some of its liveliness.”

My Review: Almost opaque in color. Big dark fruit – blackberry and currant on the nose. Super rich, smooth dark fruit blackberry, plum and a touch of cassis and cedar on the palate. Sweet-tart on the finish.  It looks like it smells like it tastes. Love this wine, as did our visiting family. April 2021

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 at 19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. 

Parsonage Tasting Room Image (photo courtesy 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.    

Twisted Roots: Deep Roots on the Central Coast!

For the last couple of months, this blog has been on a roll.  With the pandemic winding down and wineries opening up, it only took a handful of wine outings to feed the blog with some hefty articles.  I hope you’ve enjoyed them.  If you missed them, take a look on back!  With our daughter in town, we’ll be slowing this back down to its usual old pace for a bit – until we get out again and create new stories to tell.  Meanwhile, I’ve had some wines in the wings waiting to be presented, so let’s go!

Twisted Roots Tasting Room at 12 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village is OPEN!

Back in January, I introduced you to Twisted Roots as one of several out-of-area wineries which have opened tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village. You can review that post here:   https://decantingmonterey.com/twisted-roots-showcasing-lodi-right-here-in-carmel-valley/. I include them in this blog, as they are part of our local wine tasting fabric. You can read more about the history and current team at Twisted Roots on their website. While mostly known for their big reds, they are also now making a couple of whites and sparkling wines – I look forward to trying those!

2013 Twisted Roots Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi AVA, 14.3% ABV, (#342*)

From the label: “Aromas of warm brambleberry, black tea and clove grace the palate with dark, luscious fruit-firm tannins.  With a finish featuring bright cherry notes, this is a fine wine to pair with most foods and it’s even enjoyable with cheesecake.  A portion of the profits from every bottle sold will be donated to the ALS Association to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease.” The 2015 vintage sells for $33, a very nice price.

My Review: Translucent ruby with a garnet ring in the glass.  Dark fruits of cherry and cedar notes on the nose.  Dark fruit flavors of cherry and plum with a bit of mushroom and earth mid-palate.  Almost slightly sweet on the finish. Yep, this is a Lodi wine alright!  March 2021

You can buy Twisted Roots wines on their website and at the tasting room.  Check out their webpage to hear more about their wine tasting options – inside and outside on their patios.  Nice!

*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.    

Boëté – A Personal Milestone Celebration Inside the Winery!

I had a milestone birthday over the weekend and chose to celebrate with a private Boëté wine experience at Saunders Vineyard.  We have been members at Boëté since long before we moved back to California – they make big reds in the style I like and, IMHO, deliver the best single-varietal Cabernet Franc and one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in the region.  Our tasting was very special – we were greeted by Jana Saunders, along with Oreo and Cabi, their dogs.  The winery was in full operation. Not only did we get to taste their current releases, but also sampled the not-yet-released 2018 Reserve Cabernet Franc and the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon! We were privileged to get an education by John Saunders on some of the Library wines we have in our wine room, influencing our decision to open the 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for my birthday dinner!

  • A beautiful start to our afternoon!
  • This delicious food platter accompanied our private tasting!

Over the past few months at home, we have opened several Boëté wines, including an older vintage of the Cheval Rouge red blend, and both the 2015 and 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignons (vs. the reserves).

A rare photo of the 3 of us celebrating my birthday at Boëté! This is our half of the COVID Wine Pod!

I last published about Boëté wines in February here https://decantingmonterey.com/boete-valentines-event-marries-new-release-with-abstract-art/ and first introduced you to them in August here: https://decantingmonterey.com/boete-exceptional-cabernet-franc-from-carmel-valley/.  

Boëté 2015 Cheval Rouge, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.5% ABV, $32 (#334*)

The Cheval Rouge is a red blend comprised of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

My Review: Ruby/purple in the glass.  Blackberry and plum on the nose.  Medium-to-full bodied, with flavorful dark berries on the palate, with a slightly chalky finish. Very nice. March 2021

Boëté 2014 Cabernet Franc, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.5% ABV, $50 (#335*)

This was the first vintage of the Cabernet Franc that took me to the moon – I have been a huge fan ever since!

My Review: Super dark ruby in the glass. Black plum and blackberry on the nose and palate. Still tastes young and not quite resolved. Super smooth. Went very well with our lamb dinner. April 2021

Boëté 2018 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA (#336*)

Oreo made sure we were tasting wine properly: Pet the dog, sip the wine, pet the dog…!

My Review: Cherry on the nose.  Very smooth on the palate and quite young.  Will be glad to retaste this upon release! April 2021

Boëté 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $50 (#337*)

My Review: Garnet in color.  Fresh crushed berries and chocolate on the nose.  Vibrant dark fruit on the palate on the palate with lingering cherry and vanilla flavors. February 2021

Boëté 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $50 (#338*)

Wine Enthusiast rated the 2017 vintage 91 points: Quite dark in the glass, this bottling from a vineyard near Carmel Valley Village offers blackberry jam and leather on the nose. The palate is thick with firm tannins, delivering dark berry, dark cocoa and violet flavors. MATT KETTMANN, August 2020

My Review: Dark ruby/purple in the glass – nice legs.  Delicious blackberry jam with a hint of vanilla on the nose.  Mouthfilling dark berry jamminess on the palate – very smooth and drinkable at this young age.  Highly recommended.  Might have to buy more of this! March 2021

Boëté 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $?? (#339*)

An extremely special birthday wine!

My Review: Now this was a delicious wine – perhaps one of the best Monterey County Cabernet Sauvignon wines we have ever tasted! Dark ruby in the glass with notes of menthol and nicotiana, maybe a little anise, on the nose.  Dark raspberry and plum on the smooth palate.  A little chewy and savory in a good way.  Would not guess this was a Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!   May 2021

Boëté 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, not released (#340*)

Winery was busy while we were there!

My Review: Deep, rich nose.  Dark fruit and complex tannins, a bit tart.  This wine is so very young. April 2021

You can read more about the winery and purchase their wines here https://www.boetewinery.com/. You can also taste their wines by reservation.  For more information, please call 831-625-5040 or email boetewinery@comcast.net.

*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.    

Rombi: A Preview of Wines to Come!

When Sal Rombi gave me the opportunity to preview some future releases, I jumped in my car and drove to his tasting room in Carmel Valley Village.  Sal had a box of wine for me to take home – I am a lucky girl!  I fund this blog out of my own pocket, so I deeply appreciate the occasional donation of wine for the purpose of the blog – and I will always tell you when that happens.  We tasted most of these with the COVID Wine Pod and tasted/retasted some with the Bailey-Houy clan! I’ve presented Rombi Wines to you several times before – just type “Rombi” in the search bar!

Rombi’s Generous Support to Decanting Monterey!

Rombi’s fruit from his Carmel Valley Vineyard is so flavorful, creating wines with up-front intense flavors. His wines are very big and complex – resist the temptation to open them too soon! And we highly recommend decanting to get the full fruit flavors.  (I’ve said this before…)  In today’s post I will review five wines –most not yet released!

2018 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (327*)

The 2018 Merlot is not yet released – but highly recommended!!

This was his 12th year of production. 

My Review: Beautiful dark ruby, raspberry swirling in color. Intense berry on the nose. Very good. Well balanced. I’ll put this away for years to come! March 2021

2018 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (328*)

Sal Rombi considers his 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon on par with his 2015, my favorite vintage!

My Review: We decanted this wine just before drinking. It needed much more time to breathe. It is a very young wine – almost a crime to even open it for this tasting! Dark ruby in the glass. Dark berry and pencil lead on the nose. Rich dark berries on the palate – black cherry, blackberry, chocolate and a very dry finish – the tannins are still very present in this wine – a big finish. I get hints of that berry fruit so distinctive from Carmel Valley Vineyard, woven into this big, structured wine. Needs more time. Resist the temptation to open early! We all agreed this might be his best Cabernet Sauvignon yet. April 2021

2017 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (329*)

This 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon has been released and is currently available from Rombi Wines!

My Review: Garnet in color. Intense berry, cassis and caramel and vanilla on the nose. A classic Cabernet nose. Intense flavors on the palate. Graphite, lean “St. Estèphe-like.” “Like biting into a poached pear.” That’s pretty good. Tongue-coating. Highly recommend picking some of this up now! March 2021

2018 Rombi Petit Verdot, Napa Valley, 14.4% ABV, $75 (330*)

This exceptional 2018 Petit Verdot can be purchased in Rombi’s tasting room now!

 My Review: Inky purple. Great blackberry nose. So smooth. Blackberry blueberry with a touch of menthol tobacco mid- palate. Licorice dry long finish. It did taste a bit like we were drinking it “while sitting in a freshly mowed field.” Best Petit Verdot I’ve ever had! March 2021

2017 Rombi Petite Sirah, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.6% ABV, $75 (331*)

The 2017 Petite Sirah won’t be released for a couple of years!

The fruit for this wine comes from Galante Vineyards in Cachagua, thusly relocating Rombi’s sourcing from Napa to Carmel Valley! 

My Review: We decanted and tried this wine twice.  On the first try, the COVID Wine Pod declared it not ready for consumption and we didn’t drink it.  On the second try, with a different audience, we got the following: Berry and alcohol on the nose. A bit sour on the palate at first, later smoothing out into big berry fruit flavors as it opened up further in the glass. Went well with our celebratory meal. Even Sal says it is way too soon to sample this wine – it won’t even be released for a couple of years! March & April 2021

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.  Come on out and spend some time with Sal. 

Sal Rombi, outside his tasting room in Carmel Valley Village, March 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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