Boëté – A Personal Milestone Celebration Inside the Winery!

I had a milestone birthday over the weekend and chose to celebrate with a private Boëté wine experience at Saunders Vineyard.  We have been members at Boëté since long before we moved back to California – they make big reds in the style I like and, IMHO, deliver the best single-varietal Cabernet Franc and one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in the region.  Our tasting was very special – we were greeted by Jana Saunders, along with Oreo and Cabi, their dogs.  The winery was in full operation. Not only did we get to taste their current releases, but also sampled the not-yet-released 2018 Reserve Cabernet Franc and the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon! We were privileged to get an education by John Saunders on some of the Library wines we have in our wine room, influencing our decision to open the 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for my birthday dinner!

Over the past few months at home, we have opened several Boëté wines, including an older vintage of the Cheval Rouge red blend, and both the 2015 and 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignons (vs. the reserves).

I last published about Boëté wines in February here https://decantingmonterey.com/boete-valentines-event-marries-new-release-with-abstract-art/ and first introduced you to them in August here: https://decantingmonterey.com/boete-exceptional-cabernet-franc-from-carmel-valley/.  

Boëté 2015 Cheval Rouge, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.5% ABV, $32 (#334*)

My Review: Ruby/purple in the glass.  Blackberry and plum on the nose.  Medium-to-full bodied, with flavorful dark berries on the palate, with a slightly chalky finish. Very nice. March 2021

Boëté 2014 Cabernet Franc, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.5% ABV, $50 (#335*)

My Review: Super dark ruby in the glass. Black plum and blackberry on the nose and palate. Still tastes young and not quite resolved. Super smooth. Went very well with our lamb dinner. April 2021

Boëté 2018 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA (#336*)

My Review: Cherry on the nose.  Very smooth on the palate and quite young.  Will be glad to retaste this upon release! April 2021

Boëté 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $50 (#337*)

My Review: Garnet in color.  Fresh crushed berries and chocolate on the nose.  Vibrant dark fruit on the palate on the palate with lingering cherry and vanilla flavors. February 2021

Boëté 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $50 (#338*)

Wine Enthusiast rated the 2017 vintage 91 points: Quite dark in the glass, this bottling from a vineyard near Carmel Valley Village offers blackberry jam and leather on the nose. The palate is thick with firm tannins, delivering dark berry, dark cocoa and violet flavors. MATT KETTMANN, August 2020

My Review: Dark ruby/purple in the glass – nice legs.  Delicious blackberry jam with a hint of vanilla on the nose.  Mouthfilling dark berry jamminess on the palate – very smooth and drinkable at this young age.  Highly recommended.  Might have to buy more of this! March 2021

Boëté 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $?? (#339*)

My Review: Now this was a delicious wine – perhaps one of the best Monterey County Cabernet Sauvignon wines we have ever tasted! Dark ruby in the glass with notes of menthol and nicotiana, maybe a little anise, on the nose.  Dark raspberry and plum on the smooth palate.  A little chewy and savory in a good way.  Would not guess this was a Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!   May 2021

Boëté 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, not released (#340*)

My Review: Deep, rich nose.  Dark fruit and complex tannins, a bit tart.  This wine is so very young. April 2021

You can read more about the winery and purchase their wines here https://www.boetewinery.com/. You can also taste their wines by reservation.  For more information, please call 831-625-5040 or email boetewinery@comcast.net.

*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.