THE STORY
One of our Decanting Monterey wine partners recently invited me to attend a Corral Wine Co. release party. I was quite excited about the invitation, as we consider their wines as some of the finest in the area. For me it was a rare chance to visit their beautiful Bell Ranch estate, chat up the owners and staff, and mingle with the members. We had a long conversation co-owner and winemaker Adrien Valenzuela who gave us the details about the new red blend, called “Tres Amigos” and the newly released Cabernet Sauvignon.
We were greeted with a pour of their 2022 Monterey County Chardonnay, followed by their 2022 Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) Chardonnay – a stark contrast between the two. The SLH white was paired with potato chips – very good together! I’d say the Monterey Chardonnay would make a great every day white, while I would save the SLH one for a special occasion – like Thanksgiving!
The “Tres Amigos” is a tasty blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. I found it very approachable, drinkable now, and right up my alley. It was paired with Lula’s chocolates. Yum. When I try to compare it to the 2019 “See What You Can Do” Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend, I find them completely different. The 2019 was a much more structured wine, while the Tres Amigos is one I want to serve now.
We also sampled the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, which Adrien says he left in the barrel longer than usual. It was paired with delicious brisket. The flavors in that wine certainly reflect the extra aging. I would cellar that wine for a while.
Finally, we got a barrel sample of their 2023 Zinfandel from the Enz Vineyard in San Benito County. It is aging in once-used French barrels. I have to say it is already a big, delicious beauty, one I will look forward to once it is released. I was too blown away to capture notes, but we all said this could be the finest local Zinfandel yet!
My last post about Corral Wine Co. was here: Corral: Newly Released Pinot Noirs Available Now! I’ve written about them several times – just type “Corral” in the Decanting Monterey search bar.
THE WINERY
From their 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.”
THE WINES
Today I am presenting 4 Corral Wine Co. wines from this November release party. Winery notes come from their website or provided at the release party. My notes are amplified by my Wine Pod partner. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2022 Corral Chardonnay, Monterey County, 13.2% ABV, $38 (#1469)
Winery Notes: “Barrel fermented with 20% New French Oak and allowed to go through complete malolactic fermentation. This Chardonnay will appeal to a wide variety of palates. Composed of precision, minerality, and freshness but also bringing some structure, body, and concentration. Aromas of toasted oak, crème brûlée, baking spices, and roasted nuts with flavors of lemon custard, pineapple, and butterscotch.”
My Review: Yellow with a little green tinge in color. Meyer lemon with grassy notes. Not super buttery, which is a plus in our view! November 2024
2022 Corral Chardonnay, Highlands Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $52 (#1470)
Winery Notes: “Elegant and focused Chardonnay barrel fermented with 33% New French Oak allowed to go completey through malolactic fermentation which brings richness and an oily, silky mouthfeel with a medium to full body. Displaying aromas of tropical fruit, lemon, sweet baking spices, and hints of vanilla and clove. Rich flavors of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and stone fruit that lead way into a long lasting juicy finish because of its bright acidity.”
My Review: Yellow-gold in the glass. Butter deliciousness on the nose. Quite flavorful and classic. The acidity on the finish saves it from being too buttery. Elegant and balanced. November 2024
2021 Corral “Tres Amigos” Red Blend, Central Coast AVA, 14.2% ABV, $64 (#1471) 66% Syrah Highlands Ranch SLH, 20% Petite Sirah, 14% Cabernet
Winery Notes: “Deep purple hued wine showing off its inky color and intensity. With a nice array of aromatics: blackberries, crushed blueberries, black pepper, bay leaf, cedar, and dried herbs; matching its big flavor profile of black fruits, all spice, elegant velvety tannins, and its fresh acidity bringing it a nice long finish.”
My Review: Plum, a little chocolate and deliciousness on the palate. Smooth, with plenty of fruit and so easy on the tannins. Classy label! I want to serve this wine now. I took two home. November 2024
2021 Corral Cabernet Sauvignon, Armory Vineyard, Adelaida District, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo, 14.5% ABV, $87 (#1472)
Winery Notes: “Aromas of dark red cherry, blueberry cobbler, dark chocolate, roasted notes, vanilla, and new leather with hints of tobacco and black pepper. A juicy palate with lots of flavor made up of maraschino cherry, anise, and blackberry; finishing with nice elegant but firm tannins.”
My Review: Purple in color. Black pepper and raisin on the nose, almost a ruby port-like quality (but in a good way). Lots of white pepper and earth on the huge dark fruit palate. Cherry on the finish. That’s a big wine and definitely expresses the Paso Robles terroir. This wine needs to be cellared at least 5 years. We wondered what it would have tasted like had it been decanted. November 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
“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”
Open Sunday – Thursday 12-5 p.m., Friday – Saturday 12-6-ish p.m.
© Decanting Monterey 2023
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