Monthly Archive: October 2022

Let’s Give Paso Robles Some Blog Time!

This is another short blog post about a few wines from Paso Robles which we tasted this Spring.  The Vino Robles was from a Spring trip to DC – another great find at Cairo Wine & Liquor (aka The DC Wine Guy) in Dupont Circle, Washington DC. The two Justin wines were from our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners’ private collection. After the May 7th Monterey Winemakers’ Celebration – we went back to our friends’ house where they opened the Justification. Why we felt the need to open more wine after that event remains a mystery to this day. Alas, no notes were taken, but a good time was had. The Tempranillo was also consumed at their house in May, when we ended up being invited for an impromptu dinner. Really, I was just trying to deliver lemons.

About Vina Robles: “We are growers and makers of expressive, approachable estate wines from Paso Robles, California. “

“Vina Robles is the result of a unique personal trajectory, one that led founder Hans Nef from a rural village outside Zurich, Switzerland to the rugged terrain of California’s Central Coast.

“As a child in Switzerland, Nef learned to appreciate his rural surroundings and the blessings of agriculture. It was this special appreciation that lead him to expand his interests into agricultural land in the southern United States in the early 1990s. At the same time, he leveraged his passion for fine wine into his own wine import business, furthering his appreciation for California wines.

“Each time Nef traveled to the U.S., his desire to grow his own wine became more intense. He discovered Paso Robles in the mid-1990s and quickly became enamored with the emergent wine country. Here, where the Pacific coastline unfolds into rugged ranchlands and cowboy ambiance, a new generation of California winemakers was turning Paso Robles into one of the world’s most dynamic winegrowing regions.

“Nef was inspired to embark on his own idea for a Paso Robles winery, one that would honor his European roots while embracing the unique growing region in order to pursue his dream of producing world-class wines.

“In 1996 Nef selected longtime friend and business associate Hans – R. Michel, a Swiss expatriate, as managing partner. A year later, the duo planted the first of what would later become six vineyards in Paso Robles, and soon thereafter Vina Robles was born. Winemaker Kevin Willenborg joined the team in 2012.”

About Justin: “Our Philosophy At JUSTIN, we combine traditional Old World methods—like hand-harvesting and small-barrel aging in French oak—with New World technology. For example, the “Air Knife”, an ingenious New World process invented by our winemakers, boosts grape quality and efficiency. Once the grapes are harvested, our winemakers—some of the best in the business—gather to sort, select, age, taste, blend, and decide what goes into every bottle.

“Our Vineyards We planted our first vineyard back in 1981 with a mission to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Since then, we’ve expanded both our knowledge of viticulture in this unique region as well as our acreage.

“Our Soil Rich in fossilized limestone from eons of marine deposits, JUSTIN’s soil is ideally suited to creating big, Bordeaux-style reds. The limestone “stresses” the vines, producing grapes that fully express their varietal character…

“Meet Our Winemaker After creating award-winning wine in Napa Valley for 13 vintages, JUSTIN Winemaker Scott Shirley took on the challenge of an entirely new appellation: Paso Robles. He combines a scientific background with an artistic approach, and greets each harvest like a painter facing a blank canvas with endless possibilities.”

Today, I am presenting just 3 Paso Robles wines. Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2019 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Paso Robles AVA, Central Coast, 14.5% ABV, $29 (#847)

Winery Notes: “Petite Sirah is a classic variety grown in California for more than a century, and is well

suited to the limiting soils found in our estate vineyards in Paso Robles. The fruit for our 2019 Petite Sirah was handpicked in the early morning and sorted to ensure quality and uniformity of ripeness. The clusters were further sorted at our new state of the art winery, gently destemmed, optically berry sorted and crushed into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks where pumpovers took place regularly to extract color and tannins from the skins. After pressing, the wine was racked into barrels to complete

malolactic fermentation and aging. While the majority of this vintage was aged in French oak barrels, a portion went into American and Hungarian oak barrels to add complexity. Upon extensive blending trials after eight months of aging, the final lots were selected and blended for overall synergies – structure and minerality from Creston Valley, along with silkiness and expressive fruit from Jardine. The blend was then aged for an additional 12 months in barrels to fully integrate before bottling. The result is a wine displaying complexity, structure, richness and balance.

“Tasting Notes: Color: Opaque garnet Aroma: Boysenberry and vanilla with hints of fine tobacco and white pepper Taste: Full-bodied with juicy dark fruits, vanilla and a lively yet creamy finish.”

Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Dense aromas of elderberry and tar meet with wet wood and fresh mushrooms on the dynamic nose of this bottling. The lavish tannins are silky while structural on the palate, framing tarry flavors of baked fruit and smoked kelp.” Matt Kettmann, April 2022

My Review:  Inky in the glass. upon opening, oak and vegetal notes on the nose.  Extremely rich and smooth dark blueberries and blackberries on the palate with an oaky finish. I liked this wine. April 2022

2015 Justin Justification Red Blend, Paso Robles AVA, 15% ABV, $60 (#848) 52% Cabernet Franc, 48% Merlot

Winery Notes from wine.com: “Twenty-five years ago, Justin realized that the elegance, structure, and superb flavors of the winery’s Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes justified a wine that showcased those qualities. Thus was born JUSTIFICATION, a blend inspired by the celebrated “Right Bank” wines of France. Vibrant ruby in color with complex notes of ripe fruit, anise, and vanilla, JUSTIFICATION is delightful now and will age beautifully in your cellar.”

Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Soft red-cherry aromas meet with dark spice on the nose of this 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot blend. Framed by firm, sticky tannins, the medium-bodied palate shows flavors of red currant, cedar and oak.” Matt Kettmann November 2018

My Review: No notes.

2016 Justin Reserve Tempranillo, Paso Robles AVA, 15.5% ABV, $40 (#849)

Winery Notes from the Bottle: “The Tempranillo grape, a classic Spanish varietal, flourishes in the hot, dry climate of Paso Robles. Offering generous aromas of spicy fruit and toasted oak, along with deep flavors of ripe cherry and black currant, our Reserve Tempranillo pairs beautifully with a wide range of cuisines.”

Wine Enthusiast – 94 points: “There’s a compelling density of aromas in the way of blackberry, dark cocoa and savory charred meat on the nose of this bottling. The palate is deep and ripe yet balanced by a dry structure, offering flavors of black cherry, black currant, cocoa and espresso bean.”  Matt Kettmann December 2019

My Review: Ruby in color. Rich and delicious. Having recently returned from a Tempranillo tour of Spain, we super appreciated this wine. May 2022

Tasting Vina Robles Wines:  Open Daily | 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome. “We offer wines from both our Estate Series and Limited Estate Collection. These selections showcase the diversity of varieties we grow in our estate vineyards while highlighting winemaker Kevin Willenborg’s distinct talents and passions.” You can make a reservation here.

Tasting Justin Wines: “JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is more than a beautiful place to drink exceptional wine. It’s a unique viticultural microclimate. It’s a Michelin-recommended restaurant. It’s world-class accommodations. It’s tasting rooms at the vineyard and in downtown Paso Robles, and more.” They have a variety of wine tasting experiences at their estate at 11680 Chimney Rock Road Paso Robles, CA, where they are open 11-5 daily. 

You can also taste their wines at JUSTIN Downtown. “Conveniently located on Downtown City Park, experience JUSTIN’s world-class tasting bar and cozy dining room. Relax and enjoy a wide selection of JUSTIN wines by the glass or by the bottle, accompanied by our chef’s small bites or full menu.” 811 12th St, Paso Robles, Sunday – Thursday 12:00pm – 6:00pm; Friday – Saturday 11:00am – 9:00pm.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Family Reunion Yields More Santa Barbara County Wines!

My recent trip to Los Olivos reminded me that I have a couple of wines from my April 2022 family reunion still to post. I’m not sure who brought us the Greg Norman Estates wine, but a niece-in-law brought the Jonata wine.  While I was stuck at the older siblings table drinking a fine Burgundy (not my wheelhouse), the junior cousins were enjoying this delicious big red blend.  I almost missed out! 

Jonata was on my list of wineries to visit during my recent trip, but, while their wine came from Ballard Canyon AVA, their tasting room was closer to the coast.  I’ll put it on my list for next time. Be sure to check out their website below for all details. 

About Greg Norman Estates: “Greg Norman, known as much for his entrepreneurial spirit in the boardroom as his dominance on the golf course, is arguably the most successful athlete-turned-businessman. His unyielding approach to both golf and life earned him the nickname, The Great White Shark. Created from a family passion and strengthened by determination, Greg Norman Estates, founded in 1996, is a collection of fine wines sourced from stunning wine regions in California, New Zealand, and Greg’s homeland of Australia. The selected growing regions are appreciated for the incredible wines they produce and the personal influence they have had on the Norman family over Greg’s many years professionally touring the world. A strong believer in the role of wine as part of an active, easygoing lifestyle, Greg’s aim is to produce approachable yet bold wines to be enjoyed by family, fans and wine enthusiasts alike.”

About Jonata: “The Jonata name refers to an 1845 Mexican land grant, Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, which covers expansive territory across the Santa Ynez Valley. The winery’s estate can be found at the heart of this area…”

“…THE 30-MILE CORRIDOR of the Santa Ynez Valley offers up a diverse array of personalities for grapes and terroir. The warmer area in the eastern section—known as Happy Canyon—is producing revelation-worthy Bordeaux varieties. Meanwhile, on the east-to-west foothills of Buellton, the Sta. Rita Hills serves as a mecca for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But for Rhône varieties, there may be no better AVA than Ballard Canyon not only in the Valley, but perhaps anywhere in the United States. Ballard Canyon, running north and south, gets the best of both regions, with a cooling marine influence from the west blended with the moderation of the warmer Happy Canyon. The result of this mixed climate puts this region on the map as Syrah country. There are less than 20 Ballard Canyon wine estates: Some sit on limestone, some on clay, and some on sand (or a combination of the three). At Jonata’s 586-acre estate, the farm pastures are lined with goats, sheep, and chickens. Off of the ranch, 84 vines are planted to grapes on rectangular-shaped Careaga sandstone. Winemaker Matt Dees, a former plant science major at the University of Vermont, began making wine 20 years ago and traversed from Australia to Napa to New Zealand before he began working for Jonata Owner Stan Kroenke in 2004…” Click on About Jonata above if you want to read the whole Somm Journal article about Ballard Canyon, Jonata, and its winemaker Matt Dees.

Today, I am presenting just 2 wines. Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Sadly, my tasting notes are from my own memory and rather skimpy.  When 25 people are dining at your house for 3 days in a row, something has to give!

2017 Greg Norman Estates Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, 13.9% ABV, $14 (#845)

Winery Notes: “Vivid aromas of fresh strawberry and ripe red cherry supported by sweet clove and forest floor notes. The palate is juicy with bright flavors that mirror the nose. The well balanced, lively acidity that is a hallmark of Pinot Noirs from Santa Barbara makes it an ideal partner with many cuisines.” 12 months in seasoned French oak and stainless steel.

My Notes:  I don’t recall much about this wine except that it seemed fairly representative of an inexpensive, Central Coast Pinot Noir. 

2016 Jonata Todos Red Wine, Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Ynez AVA, Santa Barbara County, 14.9% ABV, $50 (#846)

Winery Notes: “Lovely balance between savory and sweet. Blackberry and black cherry, Mesquite and black truffle. Notes of violets, pepper and five spice powder. Floral, fruit-driven and effusively aromatic. Smoky, sweet and decadent with a massive core of black fruit. Dusty tannins start early and slowly encompass the entire palate. Earthy and complex, but ultimately round and generous with tannins that stretch the fruit to greater lengths. Tremendous grip. Absolutely beautiful today with some air. A decadent and towering Todos. 50% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petite Sirah, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Sangiovese, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Viognier, 1% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Sémillon. 2,426 Cases Produced. Matt Dees, Winemaker  95 Points Jeb Dunnuck | 92 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous.”

My Notes: Just from memory, I recall this as a big, voluptuous wine.  Resplendent with delicious dark, jammy berries, smooth on the palate.  I liked this wine. 

Greg Norman Estates, located in Paso Robles, has no opportunity for public tastings. 

Tasting Jonata Wines – check out the EXPERIENCES tab on their website.  Tastings are by appointment only: “JONATA wine experiences are offered at our sister winery The Hilt Estate in their new tasting room The Barn. The Hilt Estate is a dramatic property located within a 30 minute drive west of JONATA in Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills AVA.  Located just miles from the Pacific Ocean near the intersection of the historic Highway 1 and Santa Rosa Road, The Barn at The Hilt Estate is ideally situated as the starting or ending point for a Santa Barbara wine trip.

“With wines from two renowned estates—JONATA and The Hilt—The Barn at The Hilt Estate offers one of the most diverse lineups of wine in Santa Barbara County.  From highly acclaimed pinot noirs and chardonnays from The Hilt to JONATA’s sought after Bordeaux varietals such as cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and Rhône varietal syrah, there is something for every palate…”

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Impressive Corral Lineup for the Monterey AWS WinedUP Friday!

 Back in May, I received a call from Phil Arnold, the Vice Chair of the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society. He expressed I could be helpful to their WinedUP Friday wine tasting events because I know so much about our local wineries. The first one I organized was at Parsonage, which I wrote about here: .  The next one was at Corral, which I negotiated for 1 September, the Friday of Labor Day Weekend! I previously wrote about Corral here: https://decantingmonterey.com/come-say-hello-at-corral-wines-new-tasting-room/.

From the Corral Wine Co website: “Corral Wine Company is a production of Bell Family Vineyards. In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, we barreled our first batch of estate Pinot Noir. We’re still in that same barn, but we’ve made even more varietals from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast. We’re a family-owned operations – we’re not fancy, but we make good wine.”

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Corral Wine Tasting Room, which only opened in January 2022, has a very cool and relaxing vibe. Jessica Gatton, their awesome tasting room manager, and I were expecting quite a crowd and I wanted the members to be able to taste all the wines.  We weren’t really sure how it would go, as people arrived at different times, so no one was on the same wine at the same time.  And it was Jessica’s birthday – she had plans immediately after the event. On the verge of chaos, Corral reinforcements arrived, including their co-owners Skip and Dani Wilcox and co-owner/winemaker, Adrien Valenzuela.  The Corral staff all chipped in to pour the wines and the AWS group was very happy. The wine was greatly enjoyed and many purchases wrapped up the evening. Thank you, Jessica, Adrien, Skip, and Dani, for all your hard work, making this an exceptional event! 

As soon as Jacqueline Van Nes, Chair of the Monterey Chapter of the AWS, realized we had the winemaker in the house, she inquired if he would speak to us. Adrien readily agreed! We were thrilled that he was willing to address our group – an unplanned and very welcomed action. 

Corral Winemaker Adrien Valenzuela with Monterey AWS Chapter Chair Jacqueline Van Nes

Adrien shared with us his wine background and training.  A local from Salinas, he said he had left the area and had not planned to come back. He is written up as one of four up-and-coming winemakers in this September 5, 2019 Monterey Weekly article: Four young Monterey County winemakers talk about launching new labels in a time of uncertainty. Here is a quote from the article: “The career paths taken by Monterey County’s winemakers are not always predictable. Adrien Valenzuela studied biology and expected a career in nursing to follow – that is, until he did an internship at Estancia. He is now a winemaker for Constellation Brands in Gonzales, which owns almost 30 different labels, including Estancia and Robert Mondavi.” And now with Corral Wine Co.

He also shared the Corral story and trajectory. Their first vintage was in 2018, with a mere 500 cases, with fruit sourced from Monterey, Paso Robles, and Gilroy.  This past year, that number reached 1400 cases and now they are expecting 2600!  Nice!  While some of what they produce comes from Bell Ranch in the Carmel Valley, they have been fortunate to obtain fruit from some notable Monterey County vineyards (Zabala in Arroyo Seco, KW Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and Massa in Carmel Valley). And they are expanding their acquisition of fruit from specific areas of Paso Robles, as well as from the Enz Vineyard in San Benito County. 

Phil Arnold got up to say a few words about the Monterey Chapter of AWS, a young chapter that started in January 2020, right before the pandemic. It is a great group of people interested in learning more about wine.  In addition to the first Friday WinedUP events, they host an annual BBQ, wine judging and other events. If you are interested, you can join them by becoming a member of the national AWS here:  https://americanwinesociety.org/.  The AWS is “America’s largest community of wine explorers”! Then you can join the Monterey Chapter. Membership is quite affordable and they are a non-pretentious and friendly social group. 

Today, I am presenting 8 Corral wines from the AWS tasting event, 2 of which have been presented here before, with expanded tasting notes. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. You can read more details about some of these wines on their webpage here. 

2019 Corral Zabala Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, $28 (#604)

Winery Notes: “Bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit, such as guava and grapefruit dominate along with some fresh cut hay, lemon blossom, wet stone and racing acidity.”

My Review:  Very light, pretty in the glass. Grapefruit, guava and grilled pineapple on the nose. Yummy palate of lychee, mango, papaya, sweet grapefruit and hay, with some minerality on the finish. Love Zabala VIneyard and find this to be a very attractive and sophisticated wine.  I’d like to feature this wine in a future class! March/September 2022

2020 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, $26 (#605)

Winery Notes: “Bright and fresh aromas of strawberry and orange blossom, with nice, bright acidity.”

My Review: Dusty rose (“ballet slipper pink”) in color.  Sweet bouquet of white peach, with a light palate of white peach and honey and a touch of smoke on the finish.  This is a 2020 rose (fire year), afterall. A classic pool wine. Only red wine they made from 2020. March/September 2022

2021 Corral “Pancho’s Chard” Chardonnay, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 13.1% ABV, $36 (#839)

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Winery Notes: “Crisp & refreshing acidity, with aromas of citrus and honeysuckle.”

My Review:   Light in color, with the scent of “Melon de Bourgogne” and lemon on the nose. A bit of a wine spritzer look and taste in the glass. Fairly lemony palate – “like a lemon bar! This is such a new release that they don’t even have the labels yet! September 2022

2019 Corral Pinot Noir,  Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $52 (#840)

Winery Notes: “Composed of two different clones from two vineyards in the heart of The Santa Lucia Highlands, this Pinot Noir shows off a lighter body, bright, red fruit and earthiness.” From the Highlands Ranch & KW Ranch Vineyards.

My Review: Transparent dark ruby in the glass.  Perfume on the nose.  Palate laden with alcohol.  This wine seems young and not ready for release – might need to open up more or settle down. September 2022

2019 Corral KW Ranch Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $58 (#841)

Winery Notes: “Rich flavors of cherry, plum, and nutmeg. Elegant and lasting finish.”

My Review: Inky ruby in the glass.  Smells like dark fruit, almost raisiny.  Very bold on the palate – big and smooth.  I’m not a Pinot Noir lover, but I truly like this wine! As with the 2018, I would not have guessed this was a Pinot Noir if I were doing a blind tasting.  This is one of my favorite wines from today’s tasting. We thought we had this wine at home, but it was the previous vintage, so I will have to rectify that! September 2022

2019 Corral Enz Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel, Lime Kiln Valley AVA, San Benito County, 14.8% ABV, $48 (#842)

Winery Notes:  “Light-medium body, old vine Zinfandel. Red fruit and spices.”

My Review: Beautiful dark ruby in the glass.  Nose of dark fruits, pepper and violets.  Very jammy, mocha (cocoa powder), with some licorice on the finish. I’m a long-time Zinfandel fan and took one home! On a previous visit, Larry Bell played mystery wine with this wine with me – while I suspected Zinfandel, I didn’t think he was making one.  And he did – and it is good! September2022

2019 Corral “See What You Can Do” Red Blend, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $62 (#843)

Winery Notes: “50/50 Cabernet & Syrah blend with notes of cranberry, pine needles, and all spice.” 50% Cabernet from Massa Estate, Cachagua (Carmel Valley AVA); 50% Syrah from Zabala Vineyard (Arroyo Seco AVA) 75 cases produced.

My Review:  Inky in the glass.  Mocha, plum, dark berries and vanilla on the nose.  Palate of sharp berries and spearmint with vanilla and anise on the finish.  This wine is very young for all this big fruit from some of the best vineyards in our area. Recommend cellaring for a year or more – if you can resist!  One of our favorite Corral wines. September 2022

22019 Corral Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, 14.5% ABV, $52 (#844)

Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit: blackberries, blueberries tobacco, black pepper, and toasted baking spices. Rich in flavor, full bodied with a long finish.”

My Review:  Beautiful dark ruby in the glass.  Smoke and alcohol on the nose – not a ton of fruit.  Palate is smooth and rich with dark berry flavors and yummy.  This is my favorite, current Corral wine – we keep buying more because we keep opening it at home! September 2022

We’d love to pour for you at our Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village: 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA!  Hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm; Friday and Saturday: 12:00 – 6:00ish pm; and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. They have two tastings:  The Cellar Rats (referring to Larry and Skip) ($20 for 4 wines) and The Maker (referring to their winemaker, Adrien) ($25 for 6 wines). 

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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At Rombi, It is More than Just the Exceptional Wine!

A visit to Rombi Wines in Carmel Valley is always a good time.  Sal Rombi treats everyone like a best friend – he is full of stories and such a gracious host while we enjoy some of the biggest wines made in all of Monterey County.  And our visit with him in July was no different.  We were fortunate to have him all to ourselves.  We were able to catch up, hear some stories, and taste his current releases, most of which I have had the fortune to taste before.

 In May of 2021, I gave you a preview of Rombi wines to come here: https://decantingmonterey.com/rombi-a-preview-of-wines-to-come/.  Back in the tasting room in July 2022, I am happy to find these wines are now available for everyone to try!  I’ll be re-presenting those wines here, but also adding a few others – including some wines which would now be considered “library” wines from my own collection. 

The fruit from Sal’s Carmel Valley 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.  Actually, we have been double-decanting and double-aerating them for best results…unless you really want to wait a day after opening. Who can wait? I mean, it is not like we decide at noon that we will have one of his big Cabernet Sauvignons after dinner.  It is usually an in-the-moment decision.

I exchanged a few dog-related texts with Sal in September. The last time we visited him in July, our dog messed up the extremely difficult dancing dog puzzle we had been working on. Separation issues. While we knew almost immediately he had eaten a few blue pieces, we didn’t know until we competed this now even more difficult puzzle that he had eaten 68 pieces. 68!!

But what I learned in our brief exchange of texts is the concern of our local vintners regarding this heat wave we’ve been having throughout the west. Harvesting at 115 degrees is not good. I found this informative article about Central Valley grapes from 2020. Fresno State Winemaker Tom Montgomery is quoted in that article as saying this: “Above about 90 degrees …the vines — the metabolism — starts to shut down. And that’s a protective measure for self-preservation. So they’re conserving water and not transpiring and not ripening fruit. Sometimes we see them stall in very hot weather.” We are all hoping for the best outcomes for the 2022 vintage. Sal did tell me later that everything is looking good for his grapes! I’ll be keeping my ear to the ground from our other local vintners as we make the rounds.

In today’s post I will present 8 wines past and present! These include what he is currently pouring in the tasting room plus some wines from our home collection. I think we started collecting Rombi Wine with the 2010 vintage. I’ve presented Rombi Wines to you several times before – just type “Rombi” in the search bar!

Sal has always been generous to Decanting Monterey, whether it is replenishing my home stock or giving me new wines to try.  I will always let you know when a winery has comped me the wine – which a few have done.  Since this is an all-volunteer effort, it is small gestures like these that make operating my blog affordable – in an indirect way! One example is that I now possess the 2019 Merlot, which is not yet released – we’ll wait for the right occasion to open this one for a review. Another donation is noted below. These gifts don’t change my reviews – they are opportunities to taste unreleased wines, share with me more of a wine I really like, replenish my stock, or in some cases wines to present in my all-volunteer classes.

2018 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (#326) (Tasting Room)

This was his 12th year of production.

My Review: Beautiful dark ruby, raspberry swirling in color. Intense berry and a little must on the nose. Mouthfilling tart dark berries on the dry palate. Very good and well balanced. If the 2012 is any indicator, I’ll try to put this away for years to come! March 2021/July 2022

2012 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $65 (#836) (Home Library)

We shared this wine with our wine pod partners in early August. I have to say, these “library” Merlots are drinking incredibly well. I think we all were extremely impressed. Just proving that it pays to hold onto these wines!

My Review: Super dark and beautiful in the glass. Nice bouquet of dark plum, cherry, sagebrush and graphite on the nose. Rich palate of dark cherry, dark black raspberry, olive tapenade, tarragon and some tannin. Drinking great, but could last another 10 years. July 2022

2017 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#328) (Tasting Room)

My Review: Deep ruby in color. Distinctive, intense berry, Cassis and caramel and vanilla on the nose. A classic Cabernet nose. Intense flavors on the palate. Graphite, lean “St Estèphe-like.” Dark, intense fruit on the palate. That’s pretty good. Tongue-coating. March 2021/July 2022

2016 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $ (837) (Tasting Room)

My Review: This was the first time we had tasted this new release, affected by the Soberanes Fire. Dark ruby in the glass, tastes a bit like BBQ ribs with some ash on the finish.  I like BBQ ribs…just sayin’.

2013 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, $65 (#838) (Home Library)

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Rich dark raspberry on the nose. Pretty rich and smooth dark berries on the palate with a very dry finish. While I retain a special spot for the 2015 vintage, the 2013 is one of his best we have tasted. We double decanted and double aerated this wine before tasting. January/May 2022

2011 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#100) (Home Library)

Sometime back, I asked Sal about the 2011 growing season.  He indicated it was a good season – one in which “nothing weird” happened.  This was also his 5th year of production, so he felt he was really hitting his stride.  I told him we really had to let this wine open up before we experienced the delicious, distinctive fruit we remembered from his 2015 vintage.  He reminded me that one must always, always decant his wines. 

My Review: Beautiful deep ruby color. After it opened up, plum and cassis backed by complex tannins on the nose.  Cherry and some tartness on the palate, with the acidity balanced out by lovely round, dark berry fruit flavors. It finishes dry, dotted with spearmint and tobacco notes. For our recent September tasting, we only single decanted and aerated this wine, but it would have benefited from being double decanted and double aerated. We should know better by now!  After it fully opened up and also on day 2, this was still drinking deliciously. July 2020/September 2022

2014 Rombi Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, 14.6% ABV, $75 (#260) (Tasting Room)

My Review: 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. Drinking well. August 2020/July 2022

2018 Rombi Petit Verdot, Napa Valley, 14.4% ABV, $75 (#329) (Tasting Room)

This is Rombi’s first Petit Verdot! He shared with us the small fact that Petit Verdot is the last fruit to ripen. I likely had commented that I used to think Petit Verdot was a touch vegetal.  Perhaps others aren’t patient enough for the fruit to ripen fully!

My Review: Inky ruby/purple. Great nose of mocha and blackberries. Full bodied, with rich, dark berries and so smooth on the palate. Blackberry and blueberry with a touch of menthol tobacco mid-palate. Licorice dry long finish. Still the best Petit Verdot I’ve ever had! I like this wine. Sal gave me one to take home. March 2021/July 2022

Visit the Rombi Tasting Room: If you have not yet had the opportunity to taste Sal’s wines, I highly recommend visiting him on a Saturday or Sunday, 12-5 at One Center Street, Carmel Valley Village. You can learn more about 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 their wines. 

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