Over a year ago, I became friends with Marilyn Curry and discovered we had wine in common. Marilyn and her husband, Barry Kinman, owned Bear Cave Cellars in Paso Robles from 2004-2012. They made my kind of wines, so I am very sad they are no longer in business. I am glad I got to try their Syrah, but didn’t get to try the rest of their big reds. And now they are leaving the Monterey Peninsula for Hawaii, moving from one paradise to another. I will miss her!
About Bear Cave from California Wine Advisor: “Bear Cave Cellars is the creation of Barry Kinman and Marilyn Curry who, in their other lives, are husband and wife as well as partners in the law firm, Kinman & Curry. In a unique melding of two distinctly different businesses, the law office is also the legal tasting room of Bear Cave Cellars. Whether you want legal advice or to try our wines, call our offices. (My note: Several reviews also mentioned this was a very, very dog friendly tasting room!)
“Barry has been making wine since 1991. While living in Sonoma county he had access to top quality fruit from winery clients of the law office, including Kunde Vineyards. In the early 1990’s getting top quality fruit in Napa and Sonoma was not as difficult as it is today. Focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, Barry had the opportunity to work with top quality fruit in what may be the greatest decade of California grape growing – the 1990’s. Barry produced excellent wines from Napa in 1994, Sonoma in 1997 and the Sierra foothills in 2000.
“Paso Robles produces ultra-ripe wine grapes, which lend themselves to the fruit-forward style of wine making. By using a cool fermentation with extended time on the skins our wines all provide a softness and full mouth feel. The winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Zinfandel.”
2006 Bear Creek Cellars Syrah, Gill Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, 15.9% ABV, $26 (#207*)
My Review: Inky and dense in appearance. Aromas of blueberry and blackberry. Rich dark fruit on the palate. At 15.9% ABV, this rich, aged Syrah still packs a wallop. Wish I could have tried their other wines. January 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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