Loyal Fans: Thanks to each and every one of you, Decanting Monterey was nominated for Best Local Blog of Monterey County!! I am so thankful and humbled by this nomination. And now we need your vote!
Please vote for Decanting Monterey as the Best Local Blog of Monterey County. As you know, Decanting Monterey is my not-for-profit labor of love to help educate others about our local vintners and their wines. We are 1 of 4 finalists for this category in the Best of Monterey County MC Weekly. I would be most grateful for your support. Here’s how:
You may need to register with name, email and zip code, but you can also skip that part and just vote. Only 1 set of votes per email address!
Please click on the photo for “Around Town,” then search for Best Local Blog and vote for “Decanting Monterey.”
You will need to vote for 19 other local spots to submit your vote – please look around and make your favorite picks! I have a few recommendations below…
WINE-RELATED VOTING SUGGESTIONS:
Here are some other categories to vote for, all related to our wine industry in Monterey County:
Today marks the third anniversary of Decanting Monterey, A Central Coast Wine Blog! And what a year it has been! With 291 wines presented and reaching over 10,000 views, we have a lot to celebrate. Please read to the end for today’s small ask.
OUR HISTORY
Deep in the unvaccinated period of the pandemic in July 2020, Decanting Monterey was founded on wines from our own collection sampled at home, with or without our neighboring friends and our daughters, who quickly became known as the COVID Wine Pod. It was 2 posts per week and, mostly, one wine at a time. Back then, some wineries had just reopened with their COVID procedures and we still weren’t venturing out much. I also established the @decantingmonterey Facebook page.
During Year 2, as we became fully vaccinated and boosted – and double boosted, we were able to get out to more local wineries at a more deliberate pace. And the COVID Wine Pod was renamed the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod! I also moved to a single post per week and presented a single wine class to my old DC wine group. Most of the posts were based on event-driven or winery tastings and fewer individual, cellar-driven posts. And I started the @decanting_monterey Instagram feed.
During Year 3, I began to get recognition as an entity with some stature behind it:
I have some high-level stats to share with you about Year Three of Decanting Monterey!
www.decantingmonterey.com hit the 10,000 “views” mark! This statistic is very important to me. If you are seeing my blog on social media or via email, please be sure to click the link and open it!
291 wines were presented on Decanting Monterey for the first time.
207 red wines were presented, as well as 62 whites, 20 rosés, and a couple of oranges – including 6 sparkling and 2 fortified wines.
Over 39 distinct varietals were presented with Pinot Noir topping the list thanks to the SLH festival I attended, followed closeky by Red Blends, and Syrah – no surprise if you know me!
Wines from 12 California counties are represented, with 181 from Monterey, 30 from Santa Barbara, 20 from San Benito, 15 from Santa Cruz, 11 from San Luis Obispo, 9 from San Benito – and more! Plus 12 wines from Italy!
Wines from 6 of the 9 Monterey American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) were covered, capturing 39 varietals!
I Brand was the most represented family of wines, followed by Parsonage. I attribute that to the steady and wonderful release events offered by I Brand & Family wines. Parsonage was one of the first local wineries to put Monterey wines squarely on our consumption radar way back when. Their wines match my palate perfectly – what else can I say?
While I have some posts already queued up for Year 3, let me ask my mighty readers: Where should I visit next? Please leave me a comment on this post and let me know what some of your favorite, local places are to wine taste that I should not miss in Year 3! I have a list of not-yet-covered wine tasting rooms and other wine venues to check out – happy to add to it. I don’t know what I don’t know.
SUBSCRIBE
And, if you have not signed up for my free, weekly blog email, I encourage you to do so – the subscription button is on the right-hand side of each page of the Decanting Monterey website. I judge how well I am doing by how many views, subscribers, and comments I receive. Please help me spread the word and please feel free to comment on my posts! And follow my Facebook (@decantingmonterey) and Instagram (@decanting_monterey) sites.
OUR SUPPORTERS
I am grateful to Chesebro, Bernardus, Bunter Spring, Idle Hour, Pierce Ranch and Rombi for their generosity this year in donated wines or discounts. Grateful to Kim Stemler and the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association for their support – what a great resource! And to Erin O’Reilly of tèr·ra·ve·nosfor her partnership and advice as we navigate this world of wine. I remain grateful to those vintners who have comped me wine tastings, given me discounts, and especially those who have comped me bottles of wine! And, of course, the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod!
DONATE
Now, to my ask:
As my avid readers know, Decanting Montereyis a self-funded labor of love to help educate others about our local vintners and their wines. The only “compensation” I receive is free tastings (most places), discounted purchases, an occasional comped bottle, and, most importantly, the appreciation of our vintners. While I do this, I protect your data from being sold or used by anyone other than for my own website statistics. Here is my Privacy Policy.
As I come up on my 3-year renewal of my website, I am asking my readers to consider making a small donation to keep this effort going. I donate my time, energy, knowledge, and to date personally have funded this website and my wine education travel expenses.
Here is what it takes to make Decanting Monterey run:
$1200-2400/year in travel expenses (airfare, car rental only)
While this blog is open and free, donations to this not-for-profit effort are always welcomein any amount! You can donate here: Donate to Decanting Monterey. All donations go toward the operation of this website and to offset travel expenses for out of area wine classes. Even the smallest amount would be greatly appreciated.
So, here we go – Year 4! This should be an even better one! Thanks for your support to me on this crazy journey.
A short recap of the Festival (repeated from previous event posts): The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest.
I did not capture detailed tasting notes at this event; rather, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met. As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would attend this event again for the experience, take a lot more pictures, and focus on any new/new-to-me Central Coast wineries!
In this final post on the event, I am presenting 5 out-of-area (non-Monterey County, non-Central Coast AVA) wineries which make wines with the Santa Lucia Highlands designation. According to the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association, my go-to source for all things Monterey wine, about half of the grapes grown in Monterey County are procured by wineries outside of the county. Today’s post includes Bruliam, Cattelya, Landmark, Miner Family, and Rombauer. Any winery notes are from their websites or from the presenters at this event, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
BRULIAM
I had never heard of Bruliam before. Winemaker Kerith Overstreet was presenting her wines herself, which is always a great thing. Her winery is named by combining parts of the names of her three children. Clever and sweet!
“When she was small, her dad used to say, “You can be whatever you want after medical school.” So she did. After completing medical school (U. of Rochester), residency, and two fellowships (UCSD), she thought winemaking sounded more fun. So she enrolled at UC Davis to study enology and catapulted into the 2008 harvest.
“Starting with a single barrel, Kerith has grown Bruliam Wines to 1000 cases a year (plus/minus). It’s mostly single vineyard pinot noir with a smidgen of Rockpile zinfandel. With delight and an “OK” from the CF-NO (aka the hubby), she added chardonnay in 2017. Cherishing her grower relationships, Kerith has aligned herself with top vineyards and growers to supply her fruit. Today she cherry picks her fruit from the top vineyards in Sonoma County, Santa Lucia Highlands, and her own Torrey Hill vineyard in the Russian River Valley.”
Wine Enthusiast – 94 points: “Baked black raspberry, rose petals tea leaves, smoked sage and a hint of blood show on the complex nose of this bottling. It lands with weight and chalky texture on the palate, which is full of roasted plum and sagebrush flavors, leading into a finish wrapped in sizzling acidity and vanilla-cookie spice.” — Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Black cherry, cola and smoky root beer aromas make for a fairly rich nose on this bottling. Blackberry and red-plum flavors mesh into cardamom spice on the palate, which is clean though hearty and ripe.”
Winery Notes: “Wowza! Beautifully integrated with brambly berries, exotic spices, and hints of soft herbs, the 2019 Soberanes is nuanced and complex. This pinot captivates with fine grain tannins and mouthcoating texture that belie her cellar worthy pedigree. She’s a food friendly, age worthy showstopper. But we won’t judge if you simply sip and find yourself transported.” Wine Spectator – 92 points.
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “An ample show of dust and herbs consume the nose on this bottling, which picks up scents of raspberry and rose as well. The palate’s blend of hibiscus and black tea flavors are wrapped in an oaky spice.” — Matt Kettmann
CATTELYA
We didn’t know what “Cattleya” meant (something to do with Colombian orchids, I think) – or that an out of area winery located in Rohnert Park would make so many Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah wines! I can find very little information about the newly-released vintages. Based on the prices of previous vintages, these well-respected wines likely are priced in the $70 range. In general, we liked these wines and I would like to try them again!
“I grew up in a country where vineyards are virtually non-existent. My exposure to wine was limited only to rare occasions at the dinner table. A few sips occasionally stolen from my father’s wine glass were enough to inspire an all-consuming dream—to become a winemaker. So I packed my bags and left for France. And in that moment I set the course of my life, a never-ending journey pursuing inspirational wines. During the summer of 2001, I immersed myself in all things wine, ultimately earning a BTS degree in Viticulture and Enology from Cognac followed by a degree in Enology from the University of Bordeaux, graduating with honors.
“Driven by the tenacity which first took me to France, I pruned vines during ice-cold winters, trimmed shoots in sweltering summers, and tended to the vines that cling to the sheer slopes of Côte-Rôtie—first at Domaine Stéphane Ogier, then at Domaine Clusel-Roch. At the famed estates of Château Haut-Brion & La Mission Haut-Brion, I completed research for my thesis. This hard work paid off – I had the privilege to work among other family-owned wine producers in Burgundy, Alsace, and Cognac. My passion for wine whisked me around the globe, sending me between California, South Africa, and France for several years before I decided to call California my home.
The birth of cattleya wines
“By the end of 2011, after many harvests perfecting the craft of making wine, I set upon my own adventure—a label known today as CATTLEYA WINES. Meanwhile, I became a viticulturist and winemaker consultant; focused on vineyard optimization to produce exceptional wines from Sonoma and Napa Valley.
“In 2015, I was awarded “Winemaker of the Year” by the San Francisco Chronicle, just over a year after being named one of Wine Enthusiast’s “40 Under 40 America’s Tastemakers”.”
2021 Cattleya The Initiation Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1019)
This wine was very purple in the glass and comes from the Soberanes Vineyard.
2021 Cattleya The Reward Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1020)
I couldn’t locate any winery notes about this inky and lovely wine, but I suggest reading Kerry Winslow’s writeup of it at this link on grapelive.com.
“We are very excited to be offering our 7th vintage from this highly regarded source of Pinot Noir for Landmark. Our partner growers at this vineyard, nestled in the hills on the ear side of the Santa Lucia Range, focus on the commitment to exceptional fruit quality. The single-vineyard source for our Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir continues to consistently provide high-quality wine grapes, year after year. This exciting appellation is enhanced by the maritime influence from nearby Monterey Bay, providing a very long growing season with a mild summer and typically dry fall.
“Medium purple/ruby at the core with a slightly lighter rim, aromas of ripe black fruit, baking spice, oak, leather and subtle roasted coffee notes. The palate is dry, nearly full bodied, with ripe black cherry, ripe plum and vanilla on entry. Toasty oak, tobacco and leather join sustained ripe black fruit on the mid-palate with balanced acidity and mouth-filling tannins that meet the generous fruit nicely through a moderately long finish.”
“The 2021 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir bottling represents our ninth vintage working hand in hand with our grower partners and is once again defined by their commitment to achieving the highest-quality fruit from vintage to vintage. A long growing season, slow fruit maturation, and night hand-harvesting at ideal ripeness allow Landmark to craft a wine of exceptional balance, structure, quality, and longevity.
“Ruby colored at its core with moderate tearing on the glass. Aromas of dried cranberry, cola, cocoa powder, and holiday spice lead to dark cherries. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe red and black fruit that blend into toasted oak. The finish is moderately long featuring notes of porcini mushroom, coffee, and dried orange peel as well as balanced acidity and finely textured tannins.”
My Review: Ruby in color. Berry on the palate. This wine was nice. I preferred its intensity and overall flavor profile over the earlier vintage. Mind you, it was VERY LATE in our tasting by the time we found Landmark. May 2023
MINER FAMILY WINES
We have been long time fans of Miner Family Oracle, a Bordeaux-style red blend. We were quite surprised to see them at this event. They are part of that growing trend to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the renowned Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.
About Miner Family Wines: “Miner is a dynamic family-owned winery tucked along the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation in the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998 by Dave and Emily Miner, Miner Family Winery crafts reserve-style wines by sourcing fruit from Napa Valley and other specially selected California vineyards.
“Winemaker Stacy Vogel uses a combination of old world winemaking techniques and modern technology to make wines that reflect the unique characteristics of individual vineyards or “terroir” where specific varietals grow best. This fusion of superb vineyard sites and thoughtful winemaking allows Miner to deliver elegant, expressive wines.” (from the tech sheet below)
2019 Miner Family Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $75 (#1024)
Winery Notes: “Sierra Mar, meaning Mountain Sea in Spanish, sits just over 1,000 feet and is one of the highest altitude vineyards in Santa Lucia Highlands. This high elevation paired with the naturally thin soils pave the way for low yields of highly intense fruit. This powerful wine offers dark fruit and violet aromas with a smooth, toasted oak finish.” 482 cases produced.
2019 Miner Family Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.3% ABV, $65 (#1025)
Winery Notes: “With nuanced flavors of plum, nutmeg, cedar and cherry, this Pinot Noir is appealing for its velvety texture, finesse and purity of fruit. Rosella’s Vineyard benefits from its hillside location and weather patterns of foggy mornings and long, sunny afternoons.”
2019 Miner Family Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $75 (#1006)
Winery Notes: “This 50-acre vineyard was planted in 1995 by friends and growers Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni along the terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range, overlooking the Salinas River Valley. With plenty of lovely, rich tannins, this Pinot offers up flavors of dark red fruit, subtle oak, nutmeg-clove spice. Aged for 14 months in French Oak.”
ROMBAUER VINEYARDS:
This was another surprise to see at a Santa Lucia Highlands event. Turns out this is their first vintage of this wine.
About Rombauer: “Koerner and Joan established Rombauer Vineyards in 1980, and in 1984 they released their first California-style Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Four decades later–and still family owned–the winery has become widely acclaimed for its distinctive, fruit-driven expressions.”
Winery Notes: “Aromas of plum, cherry, and crushed cranberry are lifted and concentrated on the nose, complemented by light lavender notes and hints of spice. You will find this wine to be rich and silky, with vibrant red fruit flavors, subtle notes of earthiness, and warm spice all finding expression in this beautifully balanced wine. The finish builds on the back palate, a signature of all Rombauer wines.”
A short recap of the Festival (repeated from the previous event posts): The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest.
I did not capture detailed tasting notes at this event; rather, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met. As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would attend this event again for the experience – and take a lot more pictures!
In this post, I am presenting 3 Central Coast wineries which are not in Monterey County. (For local, Monterey wineries, see the previous 2 posts above). Today, this means Sarah’s Vineyard, Three Furies and Tudor Wines. Any winery notes are from their websites or from the pourers at this event, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
One more post is coming about this event! Next week will be out of area wineries making wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.
SARAH’S VINEYARD
We have tasted wines from Sarah’s Vineyard grapes made by some of our local vintners, but this was the first time we were able to taste their wines directly. Unfortunately, I did not capture tasting notes. The winery is located in Gilroy, a short drive from the Monterey Peninsula! The vineyards for their estate wines come from the Mt. Madonna District – we will need to go up and taste those wines and tell you more in a future post!
Marilyn “Sarah” Otteman purchased 10 acres in south Santa Clara County’s Hecker Pass area in 1977. She began the vineyard with an initial planting of seven acres of Chardonnay. The winery itself was founded 1978.
“Marilyn was a creative, free spirit, with a love for the land (she had an actual teepee on the property) and an innate sense of style. Both her and the early wines’ character caught the public and media’s fancy – the ornate Sarah’s Vineyard label quickly developed a loyal following and a reputation for top-flight Chardonnays.
“The small, rustic tasting room soon became a “must stop” for early Central Coast wine excursions. Today, Sarah’s legacy can still be seen in the attention to detail and warm hospitality on display daily around the winery.
Tim Slater, Proprietor & Mad Scientist…
“Tim Slater took the helm at Sarah’s Vineyard when he purchased the vineyards and winery in 2001. Tim in his former life has been a DJ, a musician, and a successful “micro-machining” engineer with many patents to his name. He brought a scientific approach to replanting and modernizing S.V., finely balanced by an artist’s sensibility and a traditionalist’s love of the land.
“Tim is a very hands-on proprietor. He is both grower and winemaker, constantly experimenting in the vineyard and in the cellar. Tim is often to be found in the tasting room, sharing his latest discoveries with guests.
“By channeling both his inner “mad scientist” and his artistic side, the S.V. estate and wines have flourished. Tim’s philosophy is a fairly simple one: bottle by bottle, vintage by vintage, to capture the “music of the vineyard” – to grow and produce some of California’s finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.”
About Tondré Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands:
“Tondré Alarid established a vineyard on his family’s historic ranch in Monterey’s Santa Lucia Highlands. In the hands of his son Joe Alarid, the estate has become one of the S.L.H.’s best known properties. The Highlands’ sparse mountainside soils and windy Monterey Bay-influenced climate produce some of the country’s best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The combination of a perfect site and meticulous farming makes for truly great wines.”
Winery Notes: “The ’21 Tondré Grapefield Chardonnay displays enticing aromas and flavors of white flowers, citrus, and pastry crust. Time in the glass offers up golden apple, pear, and lemon curd flavors and a long finish of spice, vanilla, and peach. The balance of bright acidity and a hint of creaminess from the primarily neutral French oak barrels make this wine a great match for Tim’s recipe for Shrimp Tacos with Mexican Street Corn.” French oak, 25% new, 11 months. 194 cases produced.
Winery Notes: “The ’19 Sarah’s Vineyard Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir has a vast red fruit and floral presence with dark cherry, raspberry, and crushed rose petal notes in the glass. On the palate, the bright fruit is complemented by baking spice, pepper, and a hint of vanilla with smooth, silky tannins. This delightful Pinot Noir pairs wonderfully with Tim’s wine club recipe for Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts.” 461 cases produced.
Winery Notes: “The ’21 Sarah’s Vineyard Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir has cellared beautifully and has delicate dark red fruit and spice with a lovely floral bouquet of violet notes in the glass. On the palate, the rich raspberry and plum fruits are complemented by baking spice, white pepper, and a hint of vanilla with smooth, silky tannins. This delightful Pinot Noir pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken and mushrooms over wild rice.” French oak, 35% new, 11 months. 275 cases produced.
Visiting Sara’s Vineyard: “We are open daily for curbside pickups of wine orders /wine club releases and have patio reservations available daily – reservations are strongly encouraged.” Check their website for details and reservations.
THREE FURIES
Another out-if area, Central Coast winery new to us! They make wines from several regions, each named after one of the Three Furies: Constant Vengeance from Sta. Rita Hills AVA, The Angry One from Santa Lucia Highlands, and The Jealous – not yet released.
About Three Furies: “Three Furies Wines are a manifestation of Winemaker Martin Mackenzie’s insatiable curiosity and quest for truth, power, and beauty in wine.
“Martin, a New Zealand native, crafted wines for world-renowned Stonyridge Vineyard on remote Waiheke Island, New Zealand for ten years before moving to California wine country.
“In California since 2009 as consulting, flying, and head winemaker, Martin has produced wines with top scores, earning high critical praise for his craft.
“Three Furies Wines are Martin’s expression of respect for the power of nature.”
“Three Furies Wines explore the mysteries of the noblest of grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay through limited-edition, single-vineyard releases.
“These wines represent contemplative studies of place, from vineyards sought for their character, where grapes struggle to grow from dry, cracked earth, and where vines are buffeted by screeching maritime gales.
“From this harrowed fruit, we make seductive, delicious wines.
“Our collection currently includes Constant Vengeance from Sta. Rita Hills AVA and The Angry One from Santa Lucia Highlands.
“The Jealous is the third Fury in our collection, not yet released.
“These wines are available to our mailing list only as well as a few carefully hand selected on-premise placements.
“Our current placements include: The French Laundry, Torc, Sante and The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, K. Laz Wine Collection.”
2018 Three Furies Wines The Angry One Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $85 (#1011)
Winery Notes: ““Pure, clean aromatics exhibit bright and floral red fruit notes. Violets, red cherry, pomegranate and raspberry mingle with fresh-bread and mineral notes. Red velvet cake comes to mind. Intense in color with a vibrant crimson hue.” ~ Martin Mackenzie, Winemaker From the time spent in barrel she has been lavished upon resulting in firm tannins offering structure while maintaining racy acidity keeping her fresh and clean. An instant favorite of those who encounter her, she contrasts sharply with the more reticent and brooding older sibling, Constant Vengeance, who demands patience and a certain period of getting to know.” This was the first vintage of this wine.
2019 Three Furies The Angry One Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $85 (#1012)
“Bright hue of crimson-rose red with a good depth of color. Pretty notes of cranberry, blueberries and cherry dominate the generous aromas. Hints of violets, sage, licorice and cedar lurk beneath, hinting at things to come. Initially fresh, bright and firm of structure, the wine soon opens up to reveal pools of glycerol laden fruit, very much reflecting the aromas. Framed with firm but fine tannins the flavors remain through the long-lasting finish. With the acid and structure to age for ten years, The Angry One nevertheless leaves the impression of volume and generosity of fruit on the palate, making it enjoyable upon release as well as for cellaring.” ~ Martin Mackenzie, Winemaker
TUDOR WINES
We’d also never heard of Tudor Wines from Paso Robles. They brought three library wines for us to taste! Impressive! Please note that the Wine Enthusiast reviews are at or near time of release and may not reflect the current taste of these now-library wines!
About Tudor Wines: “Every year our grandfather Tudor used to make wine for his friends and family. It’s a family tradition we continue to this day on the Central Coast of California.
“We believe that in an increasing mechanized world, there are still a few handmade products that stand out. Fine wine is one of them. We select fruit from family owned vineyards and transform it into wine using traditional techniques. These include small fermentations mixed by hand and aging in French barrels. The resulting wine has a purity of natural expression that cannot be duplicated on a larger scale.”
“On the island of Hvar in Croatia, the Tudor family has grown grapes and lavender for hundreds of years in a small village called Velo Grablje. The island of Hvar is the longest Adriatic island. It has plenty of lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards. Hvar is, no doubt, an exceptional island, both in summer and winter. Due to its mild winter climate and rich subtropical vegetation, it has also been called the Croatian Madeira. An average of 2724 hours of sunshine per year makes Hvar one of the sunniest places in Croatia.
“The Tudors began growing grapes in California early in the 1900’s and continue to operate one of the largest table grape vineyards in the country.
“This tradition of growing grapes continued when Christians’ grandfathers moved to California and planted table grape vineyards in the 1920’s. These are Dan Tudor and Sons and Vincent B. Zaninovich farms located in Delano, California. Christian worked at Dan Tudor and Sons during the summer picking seasons throughout high school and college 1988-1998.”
Wine Enthusiast – 85 points: “Has a heavy, jellied taste that detracts from elegance. Hard to tell why, for the fruit certainly got ripe in cherries, cola and raspberries, and acidity is fine. Drink now.”
My Notes: Barnyard and earth. May 2023
2006 Tudor Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $40 (price at release) (#1014)
Wine Enthusiast – 87 points: “A very nice Pinot Noir. Rich and ripe in jammy, pie-filling black cherry, currant and cola flavors, with complex notes of dusty spices and smoky oak, it’s dry and full-bodied, and ready to drink over the next few years.”
Wine Enthusiast – 92 points: “This is a really beautiful Pinot Noir. It’s rich in flavor, but also strong in structure, with good acidity and firm, dry tannins framing a silky texture. The flavors suggest raspberries, cherries and vanilla cream, accented with smoky sweet oak. Drink now.”
Wine Enthusiast: “A very good Pinot Noir. Shows just what you want in a fine coastal bottling, with a smooth, silky texture, crisp acidity, and fine, delicate but powerful flavors. In this case, the wine shows cool-climate notes of raspberries, cherries and red currants, with umami, salty smoked meat and oak-inspired vanilla toast complexities. Drink now–2013.” S.H. (12/15/2010)
My Notes: Best of the bunch – very smooth. May 2023
Taste Tudor Wines: “The Tudor downtown Paso Robles tasting lounge, in the historic Acorn Building, is steps from City Park and every art, dining, shopping and entertainment experience you can wish for in a wine destination. Treasure a glass of highly-rated, Grand Cru level Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Experience unique tasting flights of current releases and rare vintage library wines. Or, enjoy a few sweets and espresso.” Open Thursday-Monday noon – 6 p.m.
Today I am going to try to share with you a few of the wine gadgets that we like to use at home – and a few I’ve been wanting to get!
Products (except for the wines themselves) don’t typically fit in with my weekly posts. Amazon keeps reminding me that Amazon Prime Days are coming soon (July 11-12), prompting me to at least TRY AGAIN! After hours of frustration and research, today’s post is a total experiment. As a novice to affiliate links, I’m sure something is going to look pretty messed up. I hope in the end it will turn into a useful resource on affordable wine gadgets. I’ll add it to my resources page.
My disclaimer up front: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I have identified each link as #ad. And the Decanting Monterey privacy policy remains the same: We aren’t sharing your data for any purpose beyond this blog – not for advertising or any other purpose other than the security of this blog and analytics for this blog only.
Everyone has their own preference in wine accessories and tools. Today I’m listing a few of my favorites here. I will tell you why for each one – check them out. And I’m also including a few products I wish we had. While some of these are not the exact item I own, I have tried to find reasonable substitutes. I recommend reading the reviews before you buy.
You can find all of Amazon’s wine accessories via this
We are long-time fan of the #ad Ah-So Wine Opener Corkscrew Wine Bottle Opener Two-Prong Cork Puller. This is a very simple device that allows you to shimmy out the cork without damaging it. For traditional corks, this works great. With a number of cork-substitutes, it can be really hard to get the cork out with an Ah-So. This is a very affordable one on Amazon – not one I have owned or tried. You can search for Ah-So on Amazon and choose from a variety of options.
The Brookstone Compact Wine Opener #ad is one of the easiest cork extraction tools we have used in a long time. We own two of them and highly recommend this product. Some of the larger, fancier ones require a lot of torque. Even some well-known brands aren’t designed for ease of use. This one is smooth and easy every time. This one will be on special during #AmazonPrimeDays.
For serious wine collectors, I highly recommend The Durand #ad. It has both prongs and a corkscrew to help you remove the most fragile corks. This is a must-have-on-hand for older, valuable wines.
AERATORS
If I have just opened a red wine and don’t need to decant it, I like to use an aerator. It can make a world of difference in the taste of the wine. There are many kinds of aerators available. We have owned the VinOair Wine Aerator and Wine Pourer #ad for years. I also witnessed it in action at a winery taste test of an un-aerated and aerated wine. The difference was quite discernable!
DECANTERS
Decanters are also essential items in the serious wine collector’s home. Style can be largely a personal choice, influenced by your wine aeration needs. We have all kinds at our house: from a simple blown glass, to one that you can spin on the table to aerate the wine. A very simple one can do the job. And, even though we have 4, I am super tempted to get a 5th one I first saw at Barghetto’s tasting room. Here are a couple I found on Amazon:
The Godinger Wine Decanter Carafe, Hand Blown Wine Decanter Aerator #ad has a sleek, sophisticated appearance, while having the broad base for aeration – at an affordable price. This is very similar to one we use at home. This one will be on special during #AmazonPrimeDays.
If you have an old wine or an unfiltered wine, you might want to use a strainer. Let the strainer collect all that sediment instead of having it show up in your glass. The Norpro 242 Stainless Steel Funnel with Strainer, 3-Inch Mouth Diameter #ad has a tube narrow enough to fit back into a wine bottle. We do not have one of these, but it is on my wish list. Ours is too wide to fit back in the bottle – lesson learned!
WINE PRESERVATION
We’ve all seen those expensive wine preservation systems. Are you wondering if you need one? If you are going to finish that really expensive bottle in a day or two, IMHO, it isn’t worth it. Here’s a much more affordable option:
The Vacu Vin Wine Saver Pump with Vacuum Bottle Stoppers (Black)#ad has worked reliably for us over the years. I’ve tried other systems and don’t find them as effective as this simple device. You simply pump out the air, creating a tight seal and preserving your wine. We’ve had ours for many years and they still work well. This one will be on special during #AmazonPrimeDays.
WINE CHILLERS
Want to keep your white or rose wines chilled after they have been opened? Here are a couple of ideas for you! We have a marble one which we keep cold in our wine room – it is ready to go all the time. We have a terra cotta one we have to fill with cold water and refrigerate in advance. And our friends have a cool freezer pack one, easy for transporting! There are many options on Amazon – the ones below are a couple which appear similar to the ones I have seen in use. I’ve added a third one that looks like a “cool” idea for carrying wine to a party.
Sometimes you may need to ensure a bottle of wine makes it around the table – or that the pours are consistent. We like a 2-ounce pour for wine tasting purposes. They aren’t a perfect device and there is a trick to getting them to work correctly.
I have a huge favor to ask of each of my readers – but it needs to happen today July 8th or tomorrow July 9th: Please consider nominating Decanting Monterey – A Central Coast Wine Blog www.decantingmonterey.com as the Best Local Blog of Monterey County.
As my avid readers know, Decanting Montereyis a labor of love to help educate others about our local vintners and their wines. I share with you my local wine adventures, highlight new releases and events, and spread the word about our local vintners and their wines – all without compensation. It would be an honor to be nominated – but that needs to happened today or tomorrow.
Here’s the link to nominate: Best of Monterey County MC Weekly. You will have to register with name, email and zip code. Please click on the photo for “Around Town,” then search for Best Local Blog. Please type in: “Decanting Monterey – A Central Coast Wine Blog www.decantingmonterey.com” and submit the nomination. That is it! You are done!
If Decanting Monterey makes it to the final ballot, you will then have the chance to vote for it from July 27 to August 16.
Before I launch into today’s post, Decanting Monterey has reached a milestone:1,000 wines presented since the beginning of the pandemic! 🎉🍷 Yes, some of these were written and posted elsewhere before I began this website, so the total includes non-Central Coast wines. Nonetheless, that is a staggering number in just over a 3-year period, even if I do say so myself! And we have a special wine today as number 1,000. Read on!
A short recap of the Festival: The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest.
I did not capture detailed tasting notes at this event; rather, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met. As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would attend this event again for the experience – and take a lot more pictures!
In this post, I am presenting 3 more local wineries. I define local as having their vineyards, winery or tasting room in Monterey County. Today, this means Mer Soleil, ROAR and CRŪ. Any winery notes are from their websites or from the pourers at this event, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
More posts are coming about this event. Next week will be non-Monterey wineries that are still in the Central Coast AVA. And the following week will be out of area wineries making wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.
MER SOLEIL
I was super excited to go to the Mer Soleil winery. As I mentioned last week, we had thought this event was going to be outdoors and were surprised it was indoors – an excellent space for this large event. We were taken aback by how HUGE the barrel room was. It was quite an experience to be in there.
“Mer Soleil began thirty years ago with a drive from the Napa Valley down to the Santa Lucia Highlands in search of the best land to plant Chardonnay.
“We put down roots in the region, drawn in by its down-to-earth vibe, rich farming history and weather that could not be more ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Started by Chuck Wagner — known for founding Caymus Vineyards with his parents in 1972 — Mer Soleil is now led by Chuck’s son, winemaker Charlie Wagner. Inheriting his family’s love of farming and adventurous spirit, he first spent time at the Mer Soleil vineyard in middle school as “punishment” when he got in trouble for bringing firecrackers to school. Like other members of his family, Charlie feels most at home in the vineyard. He has led Mer Soleil’s evolution, creating both SILVER unoaked Chardonnay and a more recently released Pinot Noir. Charlie is always eager to escort people in his truck down the area’s rustic roads, so that they too can experience a place unlike any other.”
2013 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1000) 🎉
Winery notes from wine.com: “Golden and sun-kissed, the 2013 vintage opens up with evocative scents of lemon and peach, layered with the subtle toasted notes of freshly baked bread. The palate is full and fresh, with ripe flavors of fruit blossoms and a hint of mango balanced by natural, vibrant acidity. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a finish that is lengthy but never heavy, its mix of oak, butter and fruit characteristics blending seamlessly and leaving a harmonious, lingering impression.”
Wine.com Wilfred Wong Review – 90 points: “The 2013 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay is a teaser of a wine; begins with up-front butterscotch and crisps up towards the finish, with some nice acidity; youthful when I tasted it, which was pretty nice, time will bring into better balance. Right now, I serve this with Dungeness crab, if the season ever opened, but lobster Newberg would do nicely in its place. Medium yellow color; heady aroma of butterscotch and cream, big apples too; full bodied, surprisingly crisp on the palate; dryish, medium acidity, well balanced; playful ripe apple and wood flavors stay nicely focused; medium finish, lively aftertaste.” (Tasted: December 10, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
My Review: Golden amber in color. A musty nose with whiskey notes. Rich, deep flavors on the palate. Pretty impressive. This was the very best Chardonnay we tasted that day. Why taste any more? May 2023
2021 Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $18 (#1001)
Winery Notes: “Fresh from start to finish, Mer Soleil SILVER is a pure expression of Chardonnay, produced from the ideal coastal conditions of Monterey County, California. Never seeing the inside of an oak barrel, it is fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and small concrete tanks imported from Burgundy, France. This wine features scents of creamy citrus and a distinct minerality that evokes wet granite encountered on a hike. SILVER is round and layered on the palate, with vibrant acidity and depth.”
My Review: Clear in color. Lychee on the nose. A light palate. Would be great on a hot day or paired with food. Too light on its own. May 2023
2021 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14,5% ABV, $24 (#1002)
Winery Notes: “Taking its name from the sea and sun – the two forces of nature that shape its exotic character – this wine is as dramatic as the place where it is sourced. With morning fog, bright sunshine and gusting winds, the Santa Lucia Highlands (40 minutes south from Monterey, California) has an extended growing season. Grapes stay on the vine longer, leading to the development of intense aromas such as custard and toasted almonds, rich fruit flavors and enlivening lemon/lime.”
ROAR
Roar was also at the top of my must-taste list for this event, but we were not alone! At first, we were daunted by the line to taste, but realized it moved very quickly, so we jumped in. We had a chance to try 3 Pinot Noirs and one Syrah. Sadly, due to the crowd, I did not capture detailed tasting notes, just overall impressions. I was glad to finally try these wines!
About Roar: “ROAR Wines welcomes you to experience our handcrafted wines from family vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands of California. Four generations of farming here has given us 100 years of experience working this terrain. Our tradition of meticulous farming has played a large part in elevating our region to the highest quality of wine California offers. Please join us to learn why our wines and vineyards are unique to anywhere else in the world.”
“Gary and Rosella Franscioni started ROAR Wines with the knowledge that Pinot Noir had a shining future in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and a dream that their farming know-how would translate amazing grapes into amazing wines. Rosella’s Vineyard was planted on their home ranch in 1996, followed by Garys’ Vineyard in 1997 in partnership with the Pisoni family. The first vintage of ROAR was released in 2001, made from these two vineyards. From the beginning, Gary and Rosella’s mission was to make wines that they themselves would love to drink. Their approach was met with critical recognition almost immediately. Two more beautiful vineyards were planted about a decade later: Sierra Mar and Soberanes. Today, Gary and his sons continue to improve and innovate in the vineyards and winery to produce the best quality their land can create.”
K&L said this about ROAR: “Josh Reynolds writes on the family behind the wines of Roar in Vinous: “Gary and Rosella Franscioni planted their first vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands in 1996, at what is now known as Rosella’s vineyard. The inaugural vintage for ROAR (named for the winds that come off the ocean) was 2001, and the family has since expanded to include the Sierra Mar vineyard and, in partnership with the Pisoni family, the Garys’ and, most recently, Soberanes vineyards, all of which must be counted as among the New World’s elite sites for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and now Syrah. The Franscionis’ sons, Adam and Nick, have been steadily assuming more duties here, with Adam coming on board in 2011 and Nick in 2017. ROAR is another winery whose style has been making a gradual shift from emphasizing richness to focusing on finesse and detail.” (09/2020)
“Turns heads with elegance, charm and charisma while never letting you forget the power of her femininity…Deliciously floral, with raspberries and rose petals. There is a touch of bold elegance in its supple texture. Like Versailles – serious, but pretty.”
My Notes: Smokey
2021 ROAR Wines Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1004)
“Quick witted and intuitive, more cowboy than scholar in the earthy, grounded way. Perseveres to get it right…Juicy berries, leather, herbs, and chapparal are tell-tale flavors of this Pinot. Earth and herbs underly flavors of freshly picked, perfectly ripe red cherries and blackberries.”
My Notes: Balanced.
2011 ROAR Wines Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $75 (#1005)
“Our adventurous maverick, the first to jump into the pool or off the cliff. But don’t be fooled, this explorer is complex and sensitive, a deeply layered original…Dark mountain berries and spice dominate this Pinot, with a stream of fine minerality snaking through. Wild, savory elements interplay with plump fruit flavors. A delicate, yet mysterious red that plays well with many cuisines.” 93 points Wine Spectator
My Notes: This library wine was the best of the bunch. Grateful this wine was shared with us.
2021 ROAR Sierra Mar Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands (#1006)
“Otherworldly like a sage or maybe a wizard, its aura is expansive and ethereal with an air of sorcery and magic emanating from its soul…Freshly cracked cloves, crushed blackberries, and expansive breadth of texture mirror the mountain wilderness it comes from. A softening finish of dark chocolate lingers on the tongue long afterward.”
My Notes: Deep garnet in color. Raisiny rich. I’d like to taste this one again. May 2023
CRŪ
This was my first chance to taste a CRŪ wine – and it was appropriate that my first wine of the day was a Chardonnay. CRU was on my short list of wineries I had not previously tried. Now that they have a tasting room here, we need to plan a road trip!
About CRŪ: “Deeply rooted in family & friends, CRŪ Winery sources fruit from some of the finest vineyards throughout the Central Coast of California.
“With a focus on Burgundian and Rhone varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah – which are best suited to this region, we craft wines for quality everyday drinking.”
Winery Notes: “We have long admired wines crafted from the Sarmento Vineyard and in 2020 were delighted to have the chance to produce a Chardonnay from it. This wine is a gorgeous balance of bright fruit and toasty notes imparted by aging in French oak barrels.
“It opens with notes of Meyer lemon, pineapple, butterscotch and vanilla that develop into mouthwatering flavors accented with a hint of honey and hazelnut. The finish is long, creamy and leaves you wanting another sip.”
Aged 13 months in French oak barrels.
My Review: Light honey in the glass. Butter and tropical notes on the nose. Balanced palate with minerality on the finish. The nose outperforms the palate in this wine. Overall, very nice. May 2023
Visiting CRŪ: CRŪ has two tasting rooms. One in Madera, where the winery is located, and a relatively new one in the Santa Lucia Highlands, which I have not yet visited – sounds like a Decanting Monterey Wine Pod outing! CRŪ Santa Lucia Highlands, 37500 Foothill Rd. Soledad, CA 831-678-0300
“Visit our beautiful tasting room in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Located in the Paraiso Vineyard, the CRŪ Winery Santa Lucia Highlands tasting room is perched on the east-facing terraces of the Santa Lucia Mountain range with stunning vineyard and valley views.”
Last year, I was offered a media ticket by Chef’s Palette Spice Rubs to go to the Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival, but I was unable to go. This year, I decided to ask the festival directly! I was generously offered early access tickets to this year’s event on May 13th. Thank you so much!
As my avid readers know, Decanting Monterey is a self-funded labor of love to help educate others about our local vintners and their wines. The only “compensation” I receive is free tastings (most places), discounted purchases, an occasional comped bottle, and, most importantly, the appreciation of our vintners. I was grateful for this opportunity.
We were surprised to find that the event was indoors – inside the large barrel room of Mer Soleil. We ditched our hats and sunglasses and went inside. The event reminded us a bit of the California red barrel tastings that Addy Bassin’s MacArthur Beverages in DC used to hold. I miss those events and am sad they are no longer happening.
The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! Here’s the list from the event website:
Belle Glos | Bernardus Winery | Bruliam Wines | Caraccioli Cellars | Cattleya Wines | Clarice Wine Company | CRU Winery | Folktale Winery & Vineyards | Hahn Family Wines | Integrity Wines | J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines | Joyce Wine Company | Kori Wines | Landmark Vineyards | Luli Wines | Mansfield-Dunne Wines | McIntyre Vineyards | Mer Soleil | Miner Family Winery | Mooney Family Vineyards | Morgan Winery | Odonata | Pessagno | Pisoni Vineyards | Puma Road Winery | Rexford Winery | ROAR Wines | Rombauer Vineyards | Sarah’s Vineyard | Scheid Family Wines | Siduri | Testarossa | Three Furies Wines | Tolosa | Tondre Wines | Windy Oaks | Wrath
We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest. We stuck to that approach – but stopped for a bite to eat before we started tasting wine. There were so many delicious food options – and the portions were not exactly “finger food” but more of a mini meal! Here’s who was there (from the event website):
Ardent Culinaire | Carmel’s Hidden Gem | Carmel Valley Ranch | Cheesecake Dreamations | Chef’s Palate Spice Rubs | Chef Jacques Zagouri | Dollycakes | H Jackson Events | Lula’s Chocolates | Luigi’s | Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy | Real Good Fish | Schoch Family Farmstead Cheeses | Star Market | Woody’s at the Airport | Yafa Carmel | Zio Brand Meats, and more.
The pork sandwich provided by Chef’s Palette Spice Rubs, a delicious schnitzel, Schoch Dairy cheeses (which makes the only Monterey Jack cheese produced in Monterey), and Lula’s Chocolates were a few delicious. Yes, Lula’s Chocolates…yum.
If you like good food – and love Pinot Noir – this is the event for you!
Our strategy worked pretty well. For the most part, we did not have to stand in line and tried many wines from wineries we had not experienced before, as well as catching up with a few well-known-to-us wineries. I tried to take notes and pictures, but the whole thing was a bit overwhelming. We did have some good conversations with the new-to-us wineries.
One of my biggest takeaways was how many out of area wineries were present, banking on the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA name on their bottles. After all, according to the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association (my go-to resource on Monterey wine), Monterey County is the largest producer of Chardonnay in the United States and the largest producer of Pinot Noir in California and roughly 50% of Monterey County grapes are purchased outside the county.
I’ve broken the coverage of this event into several posts, beginning with our true Monterey County wineries. To make it even more special, I am starting today with 2 local wineries we had not heard of before this event. They deserve it! Any winery notes are from their websites or from the pourers at this event. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Instead of detailed tasting notes, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met through this event and impressions of the wines we tasted.
I will present the rest of the Monterey wineries the following week, then the other Central Coast wineries, wrapping with the out of area wineries. And, consistent with our tasting strategy, I have only included wineries we have not presented before.
As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would gladly attend this event again – and take even more pictures!
Let’s go!
LULI WINES
We had never heard of Luli Wines. This was our very last stop on this day and was a great discovery. Yes, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – but also a very nice Syrah, a varietal I seek out wherever we taste. We had no idea in the moment that this was a very special Sara Floyd-Pisoni Family project!
“Wine offers expression of people-in-relation rather than selves apart. Luli, the result of a partnership between a master sommelier, a distinguished vineyard manager and an expert winemaker, provides a particularly happy example of the way in which wine creates community, because Luli is itself a collective enterprise. Sommelier, grape-grower, and winemaker, we three approach wine from different angles, but work synergistically to craft exceptional hand-crafted vintages at comfortable prices. We thrive together—and have fun doing so. And why not? The pleasure of wine supplies us with a way to enjoy life. So open a bottle, pour the swirling liquid into a glass, and celebrate, as we do, the bonds between family and friends.
“Sara Floyd, our sommelier, owns Swirl Wine Brokers and has a long history finding and distributing delectable wines for restaurants. Mark Pisoni, our grape grower, coaxes the vines to produce top-notch fruit with which Jeff, his brother, crafts outstanding vintages. With Luli, we set out as a team to create a new line of wines from high-quality fruit that is both affordable and top-notch.
“Luli wines are sourced from vineyards in or near the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Pisoni family’s home base. Together with Sara, the goal of Jeff and Mark is to illustrate the very best this beautiful wine region has to offer. Accordingly, we purchase grapes from old friends in the area and in this way stay close to the process of farming.
“We live wine. We are a master sommelier, grapegrowers and winemakers. Our partnership—Sara Floyd and the Pisoni Family—came together from different aspects of the wine business. Sara is a Master Sommelier, the owner of Swirl Wine Brokers and has a long history in wine and restaurants. The Pisoni Family is known for its eponymous vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands and for Pisoni Estate and Lucia wines. Deciding that we would make a great team and noting the shortage of handcrafted wines at reasonable prices, we set out to create a new line of wines that you would love, at prices you can afford. We seek high quality fruit and craft exceptional wines.”
Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet: “…The 2022 Luli Chardonnay presents itself with a bold lemon-hued core that stretches to the edge of glass, where tinges of youthful green brilliance become perceptible. Ripe notes of red apple, fresh pear, and subtle hints of stone fruit act as a veritable aromatic orchard, while undertones of flint and baking spice add complexity. Seamlessly traveling from nose to palate, this Chardonnay continues with flavors of crisp apple, toasted vanilla bean, and a hint of lemon oil. Aging in 100% neutral oak and without any malolactic fermentation allows the truest expression of this variety to shine. Chalky texture from sur lie aging and fresh acidity from the influences of the Pacific Ocean create a dazzling and lengthy finish.” 1,129 cases produced
THE VINEYARD: “The Lemoravo Vineyard is set 400 feet in elevation in the southern hills of the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vineyard is planted among the decomposed granite alluvial fans that make up a series of isolated islands among the bench lands. This site places the vineyard in rugged soils and heavy fog. As a tribute to this land’s history, the name is a three-word portmanteau as a tribute to the region’s former crops: Lemons, Oranges, and Avocados…”
TASTING NOTES: “The 2021 Luli Lemoravo Vineyard Pinot Noir is a refreshing example of the dynamic terroir and climate within the Santa Lucia Highlands. Deep ruby to its core, this wine slowlyunfolds with layered aromas of strawberry crème, fresh-cut sage, red cherry, and sandalwood. Staying true to its aromatic profile, flavors of candied Bing cherry, kirsch, black tea, and fresh earth immerse the palate completely. This is a deliciously complex Pinot Noir that finishes with noticeable texture, youthful acidity, and soft, silky tannin.” 142 cases produced
2021 Luli Monte Linda Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $40 (#995)
THE VINEYARD: “Residing high above the Salinas Valley at almost 715 feet in elevation, Monte Linda Vineyard is in the southern portion of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. This vineyard sits above the morning fog line, allowing for greater sun exposure, while at the same time seeing cooler nighttime temperatures, allowing the vines to rest and achieve a longer growing season. These conditions, along with the vineyard’s rocky soils, create deeply textured wines with notable structure…”
TASTING NOTES: “Sporting a youthful, purple-tinged hue, this Pinot Noir packs a bouquet of vibrant aromas of black cherry, plum, and a spicy undertone of vanilla, clove, and cinnamon. On the palate,
soft tannin envelops juicy flavors of dark berry compote, while savory notes of baking spice and earthy hints of forest floor create added complexity. The coastal influences of the Santa Lucia Highlands permit long hang-time for each pristine cluster, resulting in optimum berry development and ripeness as well as preservation of age-worthy acidity.” 94 cases produced.
THE VINEYARD: “The 2021 Syrah was sourced entirely from various sustainably farmed vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vines are well-trained, carry low yields and are planted to a variety of different clones. Soils are well-drained and primarily granite in composition. These factors, combined with the fog and cool winds of the Santa Lucia Highlands provide wonderful growing conditions for Pinot Noir.”
TASTING NOTES: “Sporting richly hued shades of dark ruby and near purple, the 2021 Luli Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah is a hidden gem crafted from a notoriously difficult vintage in this prestigious Californiaappellation. Each swirl in the glass brings new life to this savory and spicy offering, with notes of freshly ground coffee, dark chocolate, new leather, and spiced plum filling setting the stage. As this deliciously pure Syrah coats the palate, waves of blackberry crumble, red cherry, and black pepper pair with hints of dried herbs de Provence and subtle meaty undertones to create a complex mélange of flavors. Approachable to its core, this wine still possesses structured tannin and remarkable acidity which suggests it will continue to age for years to come.” 475 cases produced
My Review: This Syrah was inky in the glass with rich, smooth dark fruit flavors. It is a lovely Syrah – and without what I call the Central Coast Syrah funk! I would like to try this wine again and again. May 2023
MANSFIELD-DUNNE
We had never heard of Mansfield-Dunne before and were very excited to learn about this winery. There wines were impressive. Its vineyards are here in the Santa Lucia Highlands, while its winery and tasting room, interestingly, are in San Francisco!
“Mansfield-Dunne is a grower-producer of Santa Lucia Highlands wines. Only by owning our vineyards and meticulous organic farming, are we able to represent the true essence of the Santa Lucia Highlands — for us it truly starts in the vineyard…
“Our two estate vineyards show the breadth of possibilities in the Santa Lucia Highlands.
“Since 2011, we have been producing estate Pinot Noir from Peterson Vineyard and have added additional wines from Peterson and Cortada Alta as nature and vineyard development have allowed. Our Single Vineyard wines provide age-worthy expressions of what the Santa Lucia Highlands are capable of, while our Appellation wines show how our two single vineyards compliment each other. The full range of wines is driven by a desire to showcase what grows best in the Santa Lucia Highlands and the range of the appellation.”
VISIT Mansfield-Dunne: “Mansfield-Dunne is a grower-producer of Santa Lucia Highlands wines. Only by owning our vineyards and meticulous organic farming, are we able to represent the true essence of the Santa Lucia Highlands — for us it truly starts in the vineyard.
“Mansfield-Dunne Wines sources fruit only from our estate vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands and produces wine at our winery located in San Francisco. Winery visits are available to our members by appointment. Reach out to us and we will respond as soon as possible.”
Winery Notes: “This complex, ruby pink Rosé of Pinot Noir is a perfect year-round refreshment. The nose greets you with notes of candied strawberry, fresh cut roses, and grapefruit zest. Juicy acid is framed by notes of strawberry shortcake, maraschino cherry, rose water and a subtle minerality. This wine finishes soft and creamy with pleasant bursts of toasty spice.”
Winery Notes: “Tropical and rich to its core, this vintage of Peterson Chardonnay expresses intense fruit, beautiful spice, and complex minerality. The nose opens with notes of guava, toasted coconut, and savory pineapple balanced by perfumed vanilla bean. On the palate, soft acidity frames notes of fresh melon and lemon zest. Rich baking spice, subtle pepper, and smooth vanilla peak on a long textured and creamy finish that goes on and on. Enjoy now through 2026.”
2019 Mansfield-Dunne Cortada Alta Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $58 (#999)
Winery Notes: “This dark purple, elegant Pinot Noir is a true expression of the long, cool growing season at Cortada Alta. Its intriguing nose of wild sage, black cherries, raspberry, applewood, ground coffee, and toasty oak draws you into the glass. Vibrant acidity enlivens notes of Bing cherry and raspberry pepper jelly on the fruity palate. Hints of cocoa and baking spices accent the bright, structured mid palate and transcend to a long, seamless finish.”
My Notes: We found this wine to be an excellent expression of Pinot Noir – very tasty.
On a random Monday in May, my sometimes-neighbors invited me over for a glass of wine. They let me choose which wine to open and I chose the Zinfandel with the highest alcohol content. Yes, that was my decision criteria! I am a Zinfandel girl, but I don’t get much of that in Monterey County. It was the perfect selection for a sunny patio wine tasting.
About Zenaida Cellars: “The home vineyard is located in the Templeton Gap area, west of Paso Robles, at the base of the Santa Lucia Coastal Range. The 30-acre property consists of 22 acres of vineyard that is farmed utilizing sustainable practices. The winery occupies the original homestead of the property, dating back over 100 years.
“Many of our vines were planted in the late 1980’s, with our first vintage appearing in 1998. In May of 2000, we officially opened the Zenaida Cellars Tasting Room. Our wines are made using only the highest quality fruit from our estate vineyard and our small group of Paso Robles AVA growers. The vines are meticulously preened and thinned to ensure even ripeness throughout…”
I have just one wine to present to you today. Winery notes come from Wine Folly’s Paso Guides, as linked below. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
“In keeping with Zenaida minimalist style, our micro produced, Estate grown Zinfandel, is made from our estate vineyard located in the Templeton Gap District. We utilize sustainable agriculture practices to produce wines that are predominantly fruit forward and express our unique west side terroir. In mid-summer the vines are “green thinned”. Green clusters are cut from the vine, leaving one cluster per shoot to promote even ripening and also to concentrate flavors in remaining cluster.”
Winemaking:
“At harvest, the fruit is hand sorted and de-stemmed directly into open top fermenters. After a 48 hour cold soak the fruit macerates slowly and evenly with twice daily manual punch downs and specifically timed de le stage over approximately 30 days. The wine is then aged for 15 months in select French oak barrels. Our Zinfandel is pushed to just this side of too far to reach its full potential. By avoiding the dried-out flavors of over-ripeness, we concentrate on the fresher fruit aspects that Zinfandel has to offer. The result is a wine deeply layered with dark fruits and wild berries.”
Wine Enthusiast – 91 pts: “Stewed red-plum and fig aromas meet with minty liqueur, sarsaparilla and chaparral herbs on the nose of this bottling. The palate is loaded with flavors reminiscent of a hike through the regional hills, offering dried sage, dust and hot rocks, with a bit of dried cranberry as well.” — Matt Kettmann
My Review: Purple in the glass. Rich plum on the nose. Dense palate of dark berries. A voluptuous wine. Reminds me why I truly like Zinfandel. May 2023
The Zenaida Tasting Roomis located at 1550 Highway 46 West, Paso Robles, CA 93465. “Our tasting room is open daily from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Walk ins are always welcome! Reservations to taste can be made on the website using the RESERVATIONS tab at the top of the page. Tastings cost $25 per flight and are waived with a two-bottle purchase. If your group is larger than 6 guests, please call the winery to check on availability: 805-227-0382. For parties of 8 or more, there is a non-refundable $10 service fee per person.“
Last week, I had the opportunity to present Monterey wines to my old wine group one more time. It is always an honor to be asked back. I do this class about once a year and am always glad to see my old wine friends. What I didn’t expect was almost a full house! There were a lot of new faces in the room – including my daughter and a few of her friends.
But – before I go on, Decanting Monterey has hit another milestone: 10,000 views! This is huge! I have each and every one of my readers to thank for this achievement. I appreciate you so much.
What do I look for in a local wine to present? First of all, quality – it has to be a very tasty, good quality wine. But, right along with taste is its price. The wine budgets for these nonprofit classes are always tight. As wine and shipping prices rise, these get harder and harder to pull off. You see, I don’t want to present them grocery store wines. And I don’t just want to present good value wines. Rather, I like to present delicious wines from wineries I know directly. I like the personal aspect of developing relationships and sharing stories. And I like the challenge of the hunt to find the very best wines to fit the budget. This time, I presented two Gold Medal wines – the audience really loved that. And the fact that most of our local wineries will ship out of state is a plus – the audience can go directly to the winery and order more.
Our local wineries are always quite generous to me. They give me steep discounts on their wine (sometimes they donate wine, even!) in return for me giving their wines visibility to a new audience. I’m so grateful. Shipping was probably the biggest wildcard this year. It varied from a winery that could give me a deal ($30) on shipping to those who can’t catch a break (over $70!). I considered checking out a big box store there to see what they carry, but that runs counter to my m.o. I also keep the audience in mind: I don’t like presenting an expensive class, but the high attendance last week for the most expensive class I have presented to date shows I should worry less about this.
I’m already starting to think how I will put together another class for them next year. I am watching the sales and shipping bargains. It is too soon and too hot to ship now, but the wheels are turning. Readers: Got any recommendations?? Please comment!
THE CLASS ITSELF
I start these classes by ensuring everyone knows where Monterey County is – about 2 hours south of San Francisco and just north of the Paso Robles wine growing area. I talk about the fact we are a cool wine growing region, thanks to the influence of the frigid and deep Monterey Bay. I talk about the Thermal Rainbow® – our grapevines which expeirence high valley temperatures during the summer days are brought relief by the afternoon winds coming off the bay which both stress and cool the vines – with accompanying fog to keep them from getting too cold overnight.
I give them our stats, which I obtain from the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association website – my go-to website for everything Monterey wine. I also read the crop reports myself (funny, no one else in the room reads crop reports 😊). I noted our grape-growing acreage has dropped a bit (perhaps from the wildfires?), dropping us to the 5th largest in the state, just behind Napa. And that we remain the largest producer of Chardonnay in the U.S. and the largest producer of Pinot Noir in California. I mentioned the recent Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival event and highlighted how many of the wineries present were from outside the county (more to come on that event in the upcoming weeks). Some 50% of our grapes are purchased from outside the county.
I like to present wines from our different Monterey County American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). For the first time I presented one from San Antonio Valley AVA, which gave me a great launching point on our wine growing origins starting in the 1770s with the Franciscan missionaries. And, from there, our history as to how we got to modern winemaking in the region.
In the last couple of years, I have added a section on climate change to my presentations. We talk about the devastating impact of the wildfires in 2020, the heat spike just before harvest in 2022, and all that rain this past winter. It’s real, folks.
I highlight the ease and affordability of coming to Monterey to taste wine. Armed with our tasting room brochures provided by Kim Stemler of the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association, I invite them all to visit.
In this class, I focused on three wine growing areas in the county: Arroyo Seco, San Antonio Valley, and one “technically” from Monterey. Much of the information below is distilled from the AVA website above.
I have presented Arroyo Seco AVA wines to them many times before, which literally means “dry riverbed.” With maps available on the tables, I was able to describe the steep, narrow gorge, where Bordeaux varietals prosper, opening out to the Salinas Valley floor, more appropriate for Burgundian varietals. Arroyo Seco experiences harsh weather conditions varying from warm days to windy, foggy and cold nights. I mostly enjoy the white wines from Arroyo Seco, but I have been pleasantly surprised by bold and big reds produced from grapes in the gorge as well as from the valley floor. In this class, I presented wines from Chesebro, Corral, and Shale Canyon – both from the valley floor and the gorge.
It was my pleasure to be able to bring them a wine from the San Antonio Valley AVA for the first time. Although it is one of the oldest wine growing areas in California, it is one of the youngest AVAs in Monterey County, established in 2006. A mere 25 miles north of Paso Robles, it is in the southern part of the county, nestled in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Range. It has great variance in elevation – from 580 to 2800 feet, and its soils are primarily gravelly loam and clay. Due to its warmer climate, it is an excellent growing area for full-bodied Rhône, Bordeaux, as well as Portuguese & Spanish, varietals.
The last wine growing area I presented was the Monterey AVA, in this case a bit of a catch-all. As vintner Mark Bunter is quoted as saying, “In one of the many examples of AVA nonsense, this vineyard, a mile outside Carmel Valley Village, isn’t in the Carmel Valley AVA, although vineyards 10 miles away, in Cachagua valley, are. So legally it’s not Carmel Valley wine, it’s Monterey wine. Whatever.” A new Carmel Coast AVA is coming soon to capture this gap!
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WINES!
In today’s post, I will showcase the 5 wines presented in my class. Winery notes come from their tasting sheets, the bottles, and/or their websites. My notes are from my previous tastings of these wines. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
CHESEBRO: “With lots of 300 cases or less, and a penchant for offbeat, as well as mainstream varietals, Chesebro’s production may be small, but the effort is prolific. We are passionate about true varietal expression, as well as preserving the unique voice of each vineyard site, from soil to glass. All of our wines are made solely from our vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Carmel Valley AVA’s.
“This connection to every every aspect from vine to bottle allows us to keep our quality high and prices affordable. Our commitment to wines of distinction will be evident from your first visit to our casual and welcoming tasting room in beautiful Carmel Valley Village. Come find out what artisan wines, lovingly farmed and made by hand, truly taste like.”
2020 Chesebro Vermentino, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.1 ABV, $23 (#991)
Winery Notes: “A unique Italian (and French) white variety typically found in Corsica, Sardina and Liguira. Smooth and light on the palate with mouthwatering acidity. It is aromatically complex with citrus, herbal and often floral notes. Versatile and fresh it can be a great pairing with many lighter dishes such as poultry, fish, vegetables and fresh cheeses.”
My Notes: Straw in the glass. Perfume of apricot and citrus blossom on the nose. Crisp palate with apple and pear flavors with a slightly bitter grapefruit/lime twist on the finish. (March 2023)
CORRAL WINE CO: “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.”
Winery Notes: “Vibrant aromas of guava & grapefruit dominate with fresh cut hay, lemon blossom and wet stone. Racing acidity with a pleasant minerality.”
My Review: Golden and viscous in the glass. Grilled pineapple, citrus blossom and guava on the fragrant nose. Rich palate of tropical flavors, a touch of sweetness, with minerality on the finish – very nice. February 2023 (At the event itself, we experienced bottle variation. I have used this wine in other classes before with no issues. I have tasted this wine subsequent to this class and it was perfectly fine.)
SHALE CANYON WINES: Current production is ~1000+ cases/year. Arroyo Seco. They grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah & Mourvèdre. Making classic and unique blends, such as our current favorite ZSM: Zinfandel, Syrah & Mourvèdre.
Winery Notes: “Best of Class and Best of Show for $31 to $50 range at the 2023 4th annual International Cabernet Franc Competition! Our 2017 Estate Cabernet Franc starts with aromas of dark fruit, slight oak and a touch of floral. A complex wine with flavors of dark cherry, dark berry and cassis. A finish of vanilla with a hint of leather and medium firm tannins.
“Cabernet Franc is one of the world’s top 20 most popular grape varieties. Recent DNA testing has proven it to be an ancestor to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Malbec. It is so popular that is has its own “wine” holiday, International Cabernet Day is celebrated August 30th.”
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. A sweet blackberry nose. Smooth and yummy palate of dark, lean fruit. Very balanced. This wine was a huge hit in the wine class, including my own daughter asking that we ship her a case! I’m working on it. March 2023
PIERCE RANCH VINEYARDS: “The story behind Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a love story of wine shared amongst friends and our beloved community. It starts in the iconic vineyards of southern Monterey County’s San Antonio Valley appellation in the year 2000. There is a depth to the terrain that exposes the remarkable quality of the region. A small, family-owned affair, we bring a sentimental spirit to viniculture, to honoring the land, and to cultivating and harvesting the grapes in the late summer and fall. The romanticism of crush and the sweeping vineyards flows into our cozy tasting room. What began as a cottage house built in 1915 has become a space where our community meets in the magical garden and rustic indoor setting to taste the ambrosial wine with a unique focus on Portuguese and Spanish varieties. It’s a love story that never ends, poetry in a bottle that starts with respect of the land and the community by never using herbicides and only using native yeasts with minimal intervention. It is a dedication to the vines and attention to the grapes so they continue to thrive with the years.”
2017 Pierce Ranch Tempranillo, San Antonio Valley AVA, 13.1% ABV, $28 (#236)
Winery Notes: “Native of the Rioja, product of our Panhandle and Y Ranch Vineyard plantings. Received a Gold/Best Tempranillo award in Monterey County.”
My Review: Beautiful garnet in the glass with plum and violet notes. Has come into its time: rich finish of dark fruit, coca cola, licorice and cassis. While not the biggest Tempranillo around, it is delicious and drinking very well. I should have presented this wine before the Cabernet Franc, as it was overshadowed by that huge wine. March 2023
BUNTER SPRING WINERY: “Bunter Spring Winery is a small family operated winery in the Coombsville AVA in the southeast corner of Napa Valley. We also have some production in Monterey. Most vintages we make a few hundred cases of wine, mostly for ourselves, but also for sale to friends on our mailing list, and a few restaurants and wine shops. Why make wine? We just don’t care for many of the wines sold today. We make the kind of wine we want to drink: balanced, interesting, made with few or no additives, and low or no sulfite. We list all ingredients, the actual sulfite level, and the actual alcohol level on every label. Incredibly, NO OTHER WINERY DOES THAT…”
Winery Notes: “You can drink this with burgers, too, or with nothing at all, but it’s really good with pizza and spicy pasta. Aged sixteen months in American oak barrels. Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast, tartaric acid, sulfite. Not filtered, not fined. At bottling: total sulfite 52 ppm, residual sugar 0.3 g/l (dry).”
“In this vineyard, rows marked “Zinfandel” are promiscuously punctuated with Syrah and other varieties. Monterey is hardly a byword to Zin groupies, and the wine struck me as intensely fruit punchy but otherwise didn’t remind me much of Zinfandel, so I finished the job they started in the vineyard, and blended in more Syrah, to get a deeper, darker wine, with fuller body yet less alcohol. Yes, less alcohol. Believe it or not.” 16 months in once-used American oak barrels.
My Review: Very dark in color. Sweet dark fruit and perfume on the nose. Jammy dark berries and a touch of alcohol on the palate. This wine was favorably received by the class and is one of my favorites. It’s not as sophisticated as some of his other wines, but, as a ‘Zin groupie” living in Monterey, I appreciate it. I have presented this wine in 2 of my DC-area classes. June 2022
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