On a good doggie grooming day, I can squeeze in two wine tastings. On this day, after we went to Dawn’s Dream, we made it to Blair and enjoyed a full tasting before we got the hook to pick up our little one. We have a fondness for Blair, as it is the maiden name of one of my best friends. And it is more good wine from Arroyo Seco, one of my favorite sub-AVA’s in Monterey County.We’ve been lucky to catch Jeffrey Blair himself from time to time in their tasting room in Carmel Plaza.
Blair was one of the first wineries I wrote about in my private wine blog and an early Decanting Monterey post: https://decantingmonterey.com/blair-the-small-but-mighty-delfinas-vineyard/. If you haven’t yet subscribed to receive one blog post per week directly to your email, please do so in the bottom right corner below! I do not sell your information!
About Blair Wines: “Delfina’s Vineyard is the very heart and soul of the Blair Estates’ label. Named after our matriarch and beloved grandmother, the vineyard sits on the very first property purchased by our family’s grandparents in the 1920s. Delfina’s house still holds pride of place on the estate, where she would daily cook for the family and ranch workers. She inspired generations of our family; her passion for the land is the core value for our wines.
“Beginning in 2007, Delfina’s grandson Jeffrey Blair began planting Pinot Noir on the family’s old ranch. Jeffrey knew the potential for winegrowing in the area, given the success of vineyard estates in the Arroyo Seco and neighboring Santa Lucia Highlands’ appellations.
“The goal? To grow and produce the ultimate statement Pinot Noir; a Pinot Noir focused on this one piece of land, one piece of family history. Nothing less will suffice to honor Delfina’s memory. Today, Delfina’s Vineyard and the Blair Estate is planted to just over five acres of Pinot Noir, almost two acres of Chardonnay, and one block of Muscat. The “micro” nature of the project allows complete and total quality control from the vineyard to the bottling line – for truly artisan, limited releases of Blair Pinot Noir.”
They have won many medals for their wines, which they proudly display in the tasting room. One other item that caught my eye is the very helpful tab he includes in the wax caps of some of his wines – if only all wineries would make opening their wax-topped bottles so easy!
Today, I am presenting 6 Blair wines. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website. You can read more details about some of these wines here: https://www.blairwines.com/our-wines/Our-wines/
2019 Blair Estate Delfina’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco, $25 (#597*)
My Review: Pale gold in the glass. Mellow on the nose. Smooth and balanced, with tropical flavors. December 2021
2017 Blair Estate Pinot Gris, Arroyo Seco, 14.7%, $30 (#598*)
Winery Notes: “Using free run and a light press, 50% of the juice was fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels; the other 50% in small stainless steel barrels to preserve the lush fruit character. Battonage, lees stirring, was done once a week. The result is a limited release of only 106 cases that is everything a Pinot Gris should be…”
Wine Enthusiast – 89 Points: “Dried lemon peels, orange surf wax and a hint of nuts show on the nose of this bottling. It’s a complex wine on the palate, moving from lemon-like wax flavors to blanched almonds, all with a viscous length to the finish.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: Golden in the glass. Blue/cottage cheese on the nose. Meaty, cheesy, a very distinctive flavor. December 2021
2017 Blair Estate “Matriarch” Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco, $40 (#599*)
Winery Notes: “Orange-blossom, quinine, butter-poached peach and rich nut aromas show on the nose of this bottling. Sour orange-peel flavors hit the palate alongside cashew cream and seared lemon elements, with a dash of honeysuckle on the finish.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: 100% new French oak. Tropical notes with a lime finish. Very balanced and delicious. December 2021
2017 Blair Estate Morgantini Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, 14.3%, $45 (#600*)
Wine Enthusiast Review of the 2016 Vintage: “Roasted cherry, crushed clove and earthy mushroom aromas show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. There’s a sandalwood spice to the sip, where ripe cherries and roasted strawberry flavors are spiced by mace and cinnamon.” Matt Kettmann
My Review: From a warmer climate vineyard just 1 mile away, this displayed darker fruit notes and a richer palate. I liked it and took a bottle home!December 2021
2016 Blair Estate Delfina’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, % ABV, $45 (#601*)
Winery Notes: “From the heart and sole of our Estate Vineyard comes this complex and layered Pinot Noir. Utilizing clones Pommard 4, 115, 667, 777, 828, 943 and DRC we have let Delfina’s Vineyard once again speak her special language. With no interference in the winery the result is a more Burgundian than California style of Pinot Noir.”
Wine Enthusiast – 89 Points: “Baked red-cherry, clove, star anise and cinnamon aromas make for a ripe expression on this bottling, which is starting to show some of its age. It’s lively on the palate, where snappy raspberry and ripe strawberry meet with clove and more baking-spice flavors.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: So different and very light with black tea notes and a light finish. December 2021
2016 Blair Estate “The Reserve” Delfina’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, 13.9% ABV, $65 (#602*)
Winery Notes from the label: “Walking Delfina’s on harvest morning, I left the refractometer behind and hand sampled for the very best grapes. Trusting my palate, I selected just enough fruit for 5 barrels worth of truly exceptional Pinot Noir. Clone 943 came from rows 6, 7, 10, 11 and 13. Rows 17, 19, and 21 thru 23 gave us clone DRC. This is the ultimate 2016 vintage statement for our home vineyard.” – Jeffrey Blair
Wine Enthusiast – 91 Points: “Dried cherry, sandalwood and smoked meat aromas show in this reserve bottling from a vineyard named after the proprietor’s grandmother. The full-flavored palate boasts roasted red-plum, sharp strawberry and roasted pork flavors, combining just enough fruit with plenty of savory tones.” Matt Kettmann, 11/2020
My Review: Jeffrey decides the grapes to go into the reserve before picking them! Oak on the nose, very balanced and richer. December 2021
Blair’s Tasting Room is located in Carmel Plaza, located off Mission Street between Ocean and 7th on the lower level. It is open for tastings daily – Sunday thru Thursday, 11 to 6; Friday & Saturday, 11 to 7. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery at the link above or at their tasting room.
*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.
© Decanting Monterey 2023
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