THE STORY
Since we emerged from the pandemic, I’ve been trying to get Bernardus Winery to host the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society. After two years of asking, Bernardus said yes and hosted our October First Friday WinedUP event! And I have to say that the expertise of Heather Rammel and Ivy, the quality of the wines presented, and allowing us to use their entire tasting room space made for an exceptional evening. It was one of the best attended and most social of our outings to date! We hope to be invited back!
I wanted to ensure we tasted the best of Bernardus with vineyard-designated wines and finishing with a Marinus. I asked for their best Chardonnay, personally selected the Garys’ Vineyard and the Rosella Vineyard Pinot Noirs and requested we finish with a Marinus Bordeaux-style red blend. Heather selected the Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay (which we tasted in the barrel over a year ago) and surprised us with a Signature Marinus as a final wine – that was a bonus! They also surprised us with a significant discount in purchasing the wines we tasted that night. Lovely.
My last big post about Bernardus was here: Bernardus Delights Its Members with an Over-the-Top Marinus Dinner!
ABOUT BERNARDUS WINES:
“Our founder, Ben Pon, viewed wine as an art—an art form that rises above the ordinary. This philosophy continues to inspire Bernardus wines today, reflected in our meticulous attention to detail, unwavering commitment to quality, and the pursuit of crafting exceptional wines.”
THE WINES
Today I am presenting 7 Bernardus wines, including a few from another tasting. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. Some of my reviews are amplified by my good friend Erin from terravenos. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2022 Bernardus Chardonnay, Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.4% ABV, $55 (#1068)
Winery Notes: “The 2022 Sierra Mar Chardonnay exhibits elegant aromas highlighted by a leesy complexity with toasted oak notes. The pallet shows intense white peach with hints of tropical fruits and warm baking spices. This well-balanced wine lingers on the pallet and shows the richness and intensity of fruit grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands.” 94 points- The Wine Independent; 90 points- Wine Enthusiast.
My Review: Golden and viscous in the glass. Grilled pineapple, Meyer lemon, golden apple and a hint of brioche and white flower on the nose. Palate explodes with rich flavors, sweetened by honeydew, balanced by the acidity of pineapple on the finish. Vibrant and flavorful, balanced oak. October 2024
2022 Bernardus Chardonnay, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $55 (#1067)
Winery Notes: “Our 2022 Rosella’s Chardonnay exhibits beautiful fruit forward aromas highlighted by rich toasted oak and caramel notes. The palate is intense, exhibiting ripe peach accented by tropical fruits. This wine is wonderfully balanced, it shows the richness and intensity of fruit grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands, while also having a nice long crisp finish to bring all the flavors into focus.” 94 points- The Wine Independent; 91 points- Wine Enthusiast.
My Review: Golden in color. Caramel and hint of citrus on the nose. Big flavors on the palate with a caramel finish. May 2024
2021 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.4% ABV, $70 (#1445)
Winery Notes: “Shows kirsch and linzer torte notes that hold sway, with a licorice wrapping and a dose of sweet spices on the briar-tinged finish. Drink now through 2026. 443 cases made.” 91 Points- Wine Spectator; 94 points- The Wine Independent.
My Review: Ruby in color. Baking spices like cinnamon clove, dusted with chili pepper and light cherry on the nose. Quite representative of an SLH Pinot Noir on the palate. May2024
2021 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Ingrid’s Vineyard, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $80 (#1446)
Winery Notes: “Our 2021 Ingrid’s Vineyard Pinot Noir exudes spicy, dark red fruit aromas. The wine is very intense and beautifully focused. Flavors exhibit essences of black cherry, ripe berries and subtle toasty oak notes. Our 2021 Ingrid’s Pinot Noir is very structured, allowing for several years of ageing or it can be enjoyed in its youth for its bright fruit expression.” 91 Points- Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Dark ruby in color. A fruity nose and a much fruitier palate than the Soberanes. Bright red fruits mid palate. Smooth tannins on the finish. I could drink this wine. May 2024
2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $80 (#1066)
Wine Enthusiast – 94 points: “Creamy caramel and black cherry aromas make for an immediately appealing nose on this bottling, while layers of lilac and candied rose add loveliness. That plushness carries into the palate, where it’s balanced by an invitingly dank herbal edge. — Matt Kettmann.”
My Review: Dried leathery fruit, countered by bright red fruits (Bing cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate) on the nose and palate. Palate enhanced by Chinese Five spice. Super tart, bright and vibrant. October 2024
2021 Bernardus Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard; Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.7% ABV, $80 (#1075)
Winery Notes: “This has a nice rich feel, with crushed raspberry and boysenberry preserves underscored by hints of mulling spices and red tea. The finish is carried by understated juicy energy as the fruit plays out. Drink now through 2025. 446 cases made.” 91 Points- Wine Spectator; 95 points- The Wine Independent.
My Review: Darker ruby in the glass. A darker, jammier nose than the Garys’. Cocoa and jam on the smooth palate with a spicy finish. This is overall a heavier wine of darker, jammier fruit flavor compared to the bright and tart Garys’. I have become a fan of Rosella Vineyard’s Pinot Noir fruit. October 2024
2018 Bernardus Signature Marinus Red Blend, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $125 (#1447)
Winery Notes: “The 2018 vintage is a stunning wine, exemplifying the superb potential of this unique vineyard. The gorgeous aromas exhibit dark red stone fruits with notes of violets and spice. The flavors are deep and very intense, with cedar, black cherry, cranberry, and boysenberry fruit essences on a long, velvety finish.”
My Review: Once again, I get to the end of the evening and didn’t manage to take notes. I recall it being a lovely, velvety wine brimming with dark berries. I’ll update this shortly, so come back in a week or so!
THE BERNARDUS TASTING ROOM
Welcome to the Bernardus Tasting Room – The first tasting room in Carmel Valley!
“In June 1994, pioneer Ben Pon opened the doors to the first-ever tasting room in Carmel Valley, establishing a legacy that endures to this day. While in the region enjoy a scenic journey along the 17-mile drive from Pebble Beach to our Tasting Room, where you can savor some of the highest quality wines in the region. Visit us!”
5 West Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley. Open Sunday and Monday – 12:00pm to 4:00pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 11:00am to 4:00pm; Friday and Saturday- 11:00am to 5:00pm.
© Decanting Monterey 2024
*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon
Recent Comments