This is part 2 of my wine tasting experiences recent Road Scholar trip to Italy. You can read the first one here.
As I mentioned last week, I had a few big takeaways: 1) There will be a lot of varietals in these wines with which I am not familiar, 2) the wines will reflect the vine’s origins, the local terroir, and the weather – we should not expect them to taste the same as American versions of the same varietals, and 3) there is a Strada del Vino e dell’Olio in the region that I learned about from our tour director and got to experience. The wineries we visited made both wine and olive oil.
Today’s writeup is about Fabbrica di San Martino, located on the property of an historic villa built by Count Lorenzo Sardi, just north of Lucca. We first toured the vineyard with Giuseppi Ferrua, who, with his wife Giovanna Tronci, runs San Martino – a luxury accommodation and producer of fine wine and olive oil. His online bio is a concise version of what he shared with us that day: “Restaurant manager for twenty-two years, I’ve always worked with great passion for food and wine. I do believe wine has the power to overcome any geographical boundary, touching one’s soul. Wine moves me, this is why in 1999 I began to produce mine. I truly believe in biodynamic farming, because every day I can see its results on the quality of the soil and our products. Our wines are the result of our work and love for nature. My Motto: How do you recognize a good wine? People smile when they taste it!” I sure hope we smiled, because we really liked his wines. You can read more about his approach to winemaking here.
As we overlooked the vineyards, Giuseppe stated very clearly that the wines should be an expression of the varietal, earth and weather. He talked about the influence of the marine climate and, as we recall, the clay and calcareous soil on his grapes. All his wines are made using only the natural yeast from the grapes. He also provided some interesting tips on winemaking, if my notes are correct: Don’t prune in an ascending moon and seed in a descending moon.
We then toured the ground floor of the historic villa, part of their home and property. On the property is also luxury accommodations in a converted farm house where groups or individuals can stay. It is a lovely setting with beautiful views and a huge pool.
After our tour, we tasted 4 of his wines accompanied by a little cheese and bread. This was the quintessential Tuscan wine tasting experience with excellent wines and instruction. Although San Martino wines are distributed in the US, we were glad we ordered a case of the wines shipped home – I have yet to find where they are available here. My bottom line: I would highly recommend San Martino as a must-do wine tasting experience if you are in the Pisa/Lucca region.
About the Estate: “The history of many villas in Lucca is deeply rooted in agriculture as, since the Middle Ages, wealthy aristocrats have invested in land. The estates used to be organized around two independent elements: the main villa, with the garden and the groves; the farmhouses, the productive heart of the estate, where the various agricultural activities were carried out.
“La Fabbrica di San Martino is a splendid testimony of this past: the estate extends over 20 hectares. Vineyards, olive groves and forest, which surround a magnificent 18th century Villa. The manor house, built by Count Lorenzo Sardi in 1735, is based on the foundations of a rustic structure from the 1500’s. The Baroque Villa is considered one of the most important of the 18th century in Lucca.
“Our family, through different generations, has always tried to preserve the story of our estate and territory. Today, we work with the same respect for this tradition.”
Today I am presenting the 4 wines we tasted in April. It was very difficult to find winery or any other tasting notes on these wines. Small producer, with a long reach. I am looking forward to sharing his wines with friends in the near future!
2022 San Martino Rosato, Costa Toscana IGT, 12.5% ABV, $20 (#984) Sangiovese
My Review: Strong reddish-pink in color, like a slightly brown, pale strawberry, watermelon or a Rainer cherry. Sweet floral, honey, and strawberry jam on the nose. Strawberry and watermelon on the palate. Tasty. April 2023
2021 San Martino Bianco, Costa Toscana IGT, 12% ABV, $24 (#985) Vermentino, Trebbiano, Malvasia Bianca
My Review: Golden in the glass. Earthy nose, with rich earthy flavors on the palate. Pairs well with pecorino. Grew on me over time. We took some home to try later. April 2023
2021 San Martino Rosso, Costa Toscana IGT, 12% ABV, $23 (#986) 14 grapes
My Review: Candy red in the glass – like a pinot. Fresh aroma with cinnamon notes. Tasty blend with fruit flavors and a spicy finish. I liked this wine. We shipped some home. April 2023
My Review: Garnet in the glass. Red fruit on the nose. Solid tannic structure. Favorite of the day. We purchased 3 vintages of this wine for shipping so we can do a vertical tasting with friends. Favorite wine of the weekend. April 2023
Tasting San Martino Wines: “We think it is better to present our products here, in our estate, where customers and guests can see how we work every day. We believe this is the best way to promote our land, its unique history and tradition. On request, it is possible to book wine tasting. Giuseppe, who takes personal care of every step of the production, will guide you through a walk in the vineyard and the wine cellar; to conclude with a toast in the Villa.” Email: info@fabbricadisanmartino.it
In Tuscany with long-time friends for a cooking class with Road Scholar, we found ourselves in the middle of the Strada del Vino e dell’Olio of Lucca. As part of our tour, we visited 2 wineries for vineyard and winery tours, followed by tastings of both wines and extra virgin olive oil. In both instances, these tiny, family run wineries ship to the US. Since I started Decanting Monterey almost 3 years ago, I haven’t been writing about wines outside of the Central Coast of California, but I am making an exception for these two posts.
I had a few big takeaways: 1) There will be a lot of varietals in these wines with which I am not familiar, 2) the wines will reflect the vine’s origins, the local terroir, and the weather – we should not expect them to taste the same as American versions of the same varietals, and 3) we learned about the Strada del Vino e dell’Olio in Lucca. The wineries we visited made both wine and olive oil.
Today’s writeup is about Fattoria Enzo Carmignani, in the hills overlooking Montecarlo in operation since 1338! They are very proud of achieving Montecarlo DOC for some of their wines. Our group tasted 8 wines with a “light lunch” – which was actually small food pairings with each wine. The food pairings were perfect and delicious. And they had very reasonable shipping fees to the US, with a minimum 6-bottle purchase. If you are ever out that way, I would recommend this stop for the overall experience. These are not high-end Tuscan wines, but show you what a small, family operation can do.
The Strade del Vino in Tuscany “…offer not just a real road map but also a suggested list of producers located along the route who are committed to respecting their heritage with quality products. This is a fast and easy way to find places to stop for wine tasting those who are enthusiastic about an authentic experience.
“The hills, valleys, small towns and large cities in Tuscany, such as the famous wines of Chianti, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and Val d’Orcia, are the caretakers of local traditions and recipes which exalt the natural goodness of its land. When a visitor to the region decides to follow one of these “strade“, then they choose to wind and curve through a landscape which connects wine, olive oil and distinct flavors with its folklore, warm hospitality and culture.
“The region of Tuscany requires that the creation of the “roads of wine, oil, and flavors” follow strict regulations to guarantee the integrity of the products and safeguard the reputation from imitations & inferior quality.
“Reaching from the north of Tuscany near Lucca and the mountains of Lunigiana to the southern borders of the Colli di Maremma and Montecucco, each different itinerary was established to give a “voice” to those who firmly believe that these products represent more than just an economic resource, but rather a way of life to be protected and shared, especially for guests to the region searching for the culture of good wine and food.
“The “strade” or roads include more than just wine extending to cover a long list of products such as extra virgin olive oil and a wide range of special recipes, honey, saffron, chestnuts and even treasured and secret recipes for sweets, cheeses, kinds of pasta, and main courses…”
About Montecarlo: “Montecarlo is an ancient medieval hamlet placed in the Tuscan “province” of Lucca, which together with the surrounding town councils of Altopascio, Capannori and Porcari bound the production zone of one of the oldest wines in Tuscany… Montecarlo wine is full of history; almost surely the grape-vine had already been cultivated in this zone since Etruscan and Roman times. The ancient name of Montecarlo was “Vivinaia”, and according to the learning people, this name comes from “Vinaria Street”, the street which joined the Cassia and the Romea Street. This was a famous “Street of Wine” which went through the hill, whose slopes were already covered by Trebbiano vineyards, which gave origin to a really appreciated wine…
“The wine producing tradition in Montecarlo went farther on and at the end of the 1800 the wine growing culture remarkably improved, thanks to the eagerness of a good wine grower from Lucca, Giulio Magnani, who brought to Italy some French species of vines (White Pinot, Roussane, Sauvignon and Semillon) in order to improve the Tuscan Trebbiano; so new Montecarlo was originated from these innovations and was made according to the “French tradition” (French style). Subsequently other wine producers followed in his footsteps and imitated both the mixed vintage and its vinification.
“In 1969 the white wine from Montecarlo obtained the official reward of controlled denomination of origin D.O.C. (awarded to wine of outstanding quality) and in 1985 even the red wine obtained the same appellation.
“As for the vineyards and wineries, a strong activity of renewal and updating in technological developments has recently taken place in order to let the small production reach the highest trade standards by now requested by the World Market…
About Enzo Carmignani: “Fattoria Enzo Carmignani has been part of the Montecarlo village since 1386. Its history dates back to ancient times in wine and extra virgin olive oil production, devoting attention and respect to traditional methods of production. Today Elena Carmignani – together with her husband Mauro – takes care of the production, combining traditions with modern techniques, searching for excellence in their vines.”
Today I am presenting the 8 wines we tasted in April. Winery notes come from their website. You can see the price sheet for the added cost for shipping to the US, with a minimum of a 6-bottle half case. It is a very good shipping price. You can also order from their website, with a minimum of 6 bottles of single wine.
Winemaker’s Notes: “Tentazione IGT is made from Chardonnay (90%) and Pinot gris (10%) grapes harvested in mid-August. The fermentation is made in stainless steel vats. This pale yellow coloured wine has got fruity aromas of citrus, white mulberry and undergrowth, a good persistence of taste and it expresses itself perfectly if combined with grilled fish, munière plaice and seafood risotto.”
My Review: Light golden in color. Mostly Chardonnay and a little Pinot Gris. Pineapple and canteloup, on the nose. Melon on the palate with a slightly bitter finish. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “This delicious wine is made from 100% sauvignon blanc grapes harvested in mid-September. After the fermentation in stainless steel vats, the wine remains in the bottle for 3-4 months. The colour is bright straw-yellow. The nose reveals a good intensity with the characteristic aromas of passion fruit, litchis and pineapple, and grassy notes of tomato leaf. Good minerality. In the mouth its intense, fresh and fruity. Tasty. It can be combined with crab and shrimps as well as fried chicken and the classic “Milanese cutlet”.”
My Review: Straw to light in the glass. Grilled pineapple on the nose. Pineapple on the light palate with earthy flavors mid palate and a lemony finish. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “Our winery is the only one to use seven different varieties of grapes to produce this traditional wine of the area. The grapes are Trebbiano, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Vermentino, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon and Roussanne. The fermentation takes place in steel at a controlled temperature, followed by the refinement on the fine lees with weekly batonnage for 3/4 months. In the following spring it is bottled and aged for 2/3 months. Straw yellow coloured with greenish hues, it has an intense, fruity and mineral aroma, with floral hints of broom. In the mouth the wine delights the palate with its fresh and soft taste of yellow pulp fruits and kikinger. Good combination with white meats and grilled fish.”
My Review: Straw in the glass. White blossom, peach, cantaloupe and a touch of Gorgonzola on the nose. Flavors dance on the palate – my favorite white. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “The rose perfumed Sangiovese, plummy Merlot and spicy Sirah give this rosè wine a refreshing perfume of red flowers, berries and melon with hints of cream. Harvested in mid-September, fermented under controlled temperature and refined on fine lees for about 4-5 months, it has a pleasant and refreshing taste, supported by a good acidity and a delicate flavor of red berries. Its beautiful peel onion colour caresses the sight. Serve at 10°C combined with appetizers, white meat, Parma or Tuscan ham with melon, shrimp cocktail.”
My Review: Pale salmon in the glass. A sweet bouquet followed strawberry and candied fruit on the palate. Nice wine. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “Our Intrigo is made from 100% chardonnay grapes and aged in Hungarian acacia barrels for eight months. These barrels, instead of covering the typical citrus taste of the grape, exalts and completes it. After being bottled, the wine rests for another six months. It has got an intense straw yellow colour. At the nose it reveals notes of acacia honey, yellow plum and natural vanilla. The wine is fresh, tasty and round: the yellow plum note comes back as well as the natural vanilla, leaving in the mouth a pleasant perfume of acacia flowers. Wonderful if paired with medium-aged cheese, grilled meat and fish”
My Review: Golden in the glass. Caramel on the nose. Very strong flavors and toasty oak on the palate. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “Montecarlo Rosso DOC is made from six different grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malvasia nera. The grapes are harvested at the beginning of October and fermented at a temperature between 28°C and 30°C for 12-14 days. The wine remains in stainless steel vats for 6 -7 months after the fermentation and another 3-4 months in the bottle. The taste is quite intense and fragrant with perfumes of cherry, rose and raspberry. With its pleasant and refreshing taste and its good structure, it matches perfectly with grilled beef, meat sauce, meat stews and the traditional “Tordellilucchesi”.”
My Review: Garnet in the glass. Alcohol and back cherry on the nose. Spicy on the palate. Cherry on the palate. Very dry finish. Seemed that the alcohol was not in balance. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “The harvest is in early October and after the fermentation, the wine ages in French oak barrels for 18 months. Once bottled, it rests in the bottle for another six months. Its colour is intense ruby red with orange nuances. It perfumes of ripened blueberries, black cherry, black pepper, vanilla, butter, tamarind and tobacco leaves. Pair with wild boar, game, stews and mature cheese.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Alcohol and dark red fruit on the nose. Rustic. A bit cooked fruit on the palate and alcoholic finish. This has potential, probably our favorite wine of the day. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “This traditional sweet wine from the province of Lucca is made of Trebbiano and Colombana grapes harvested in late October. The grapes are dried on reed mats for three months. After pressing, it ferments naturally and ages in small wooden barrels called “Caratelli” for four years. This procedure gives the wine its typical amber colour and gives it its compex aromas of honey, caramel, tropical fruits and peanuts. In the mouth it develops its fantastic taste of dried pineapple, figs and apricot as well as acacia honey and hazelnut, never being excessively sweet thanks to its good acidity. Good when paired with mature cheese, almond desserts, hazelnut cookies.”
My Review: Dark caramel color in the glass. Sweet nose of caramel and alcohol. My notes are a little skimpy by this point in the tasting, but I recall liking this wine. April 2023
Tasting Carmignani Wines: I’ve included a link to their tasting options – definitely worth a visit if you are in the area – and take a tour of Montecarlo before or after your tasting. I think we did the Sensory tasting and would recommend that or the Light Lunch if you make it there.
It’s been a while since I have posted about a Turley Wine Cellars wine. While Turley still makes up a good percentage of my wine room, only a handful are from the Central Coast. I posted sometime back about how I became a Turley girl, but let me refresh the story for you today.
I first fell in love with Turley when its Old Vines Zinfandel started showing up on DC restaurant menus for about $100/bottle. It was something delicious and elusive, to be enjoyed for a special occasion like Valentines Day, a birthday, or an anniversary. And you couldn’t just get on their mailing list at the time – you had to wait. So, it was a Huge Big Deal when I made it onto their list. We’ve been buying their wines ever since.
Way back when, when we used to get down to the Paso Robles AVA for wine tasting, we “discovered” Pesenti winery as having some fabulous reds for reasonable prices. When my favorite Zin producer Larry Turley took them over in 2000, it gave us some acknowledgement that we were not the only ones who thought Pesenti Vineyard produced great fruit!
Today I am presenting a single Turley Petite Syrah from the Pesenti Vineyard. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
AboutPesenti Vineyard Petite Syrah: “This estate-owned and certified organic vineyard was planted by the Turley team using cuttings from the Hayne vineyard. Head-trained, dry-farmed and planted in limestone, the wines are dark, smooth, dense and classic Petite Syrah. As the vines age the wines are increasingly expressive of the Pesenti Vineyard with minerality, savory spices and high tone pepper.”
Winemaker Notes (captured previously from their website): “Dark purple fruits, black pepper, bitter chocolate, and a touch of wild game—reminiscent of a modern northern Rhône wine. Silky, well-resolved tannins and thoroughly well-rounded, the Pesenti Petite Syrah has come into its own. Ready to drink now at cellar temperature (about 55-65ºF) and will continue to over-deliver for many years to come thanks to the copious antioxidants.” 93-95 points Vinous, 92 points Wine Advocate.
My Review: Inky purple in the glass. Brambleberry, blueberry, and alcohol on the nose. Rich palate of juicy, dark, berries, including blackberry, black, raspberry, and blueberries. Very grapey. All the fruit flavors are wrapped in alcohol, with grippy tannins and a licorice and chalky finish. After opening up, it smooths out, reinforcing my opinion that this wine needed to be decanted and has a long life ahead. April 2023
*$38 is what we paid via their mailing list. Current retail price is $65.
Amador County: “Nestled in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, our Amador county tasting room in Plymouth is the home of the Gold Rush and the nation’s oldest vineyards.” Open by appointment for tastings: Thursday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm, Monday 11 am – 4 pm.
Paso Robles: “A few miles inland of California’s storied Central Coast, Paso Robles is a pioneer’s paradise, where surfers, cowboys, vintners, farmers, and ranchers commingle amidst ancient vines, towering oak trees, and rolling hills.” Open by appointment for tastings: Thursday – Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.
I had an allotment to pick up at Rombi Wines in Carmel Valley Village. My Better Half said he had several questions he wanted me to ask Sal Rombi. I started to write down the list…then I just looked at him. I mean, if he really wanted all those answers, wasn’t he coming with me? I mean, the college basketball tournament was over, baseball is just starting. Was he worried he was going to miss…golf????
We were the first ones there on the Saturday before Easter. And the questions started coming out almost before our first pour. They mostly have to do with which wineries are located where in relationship to his and when they were planted. Some of the very best wines of Monterey County – and certainly the biggest reds – come from the Carmel Valley AVA and many of those vineyards are located in Cachagua. We also played one of our favorite games: guess which 5 tasting rooms were the only ones open in 1995. Most of the wineries we know today did not open their tasting rooms or even start operations until the 1980’s. Sal confirmed one of them for us.
I’ve written about Rombi Wines many times – just type “Rombi” in the search bar. As I have said before, the fruit from Sal Rombi’s Carmel Valley Vineyard is so flavorful, creating wines with up-front intense flavors. Rombi’s wines are very big and complex – highly recommend decanting to get the full fruit flavors. Actually, we have been double-decanting and double-aerating them for best results…unless you really want to wait a day after opening. Who can wait? I mean, it is not like we decide at noon that we will have one of his big Cabernet Sauvignons after dinner. It is usually an in-the-moment decision.
About Rombi Wines: “Carmel Valley Vineyard is at the pinnacle of the Carmel Valley Appellation located atop the ridgeline at an elevation of 1650 ft. its orientation captures cooling marine influences nightly. The vineyard is hand tended with sustainable practices. The well-drained rocky soil creates balanced vines with limited yields of superior fruit that produce exceptional wine. The vines were planted in 1998. The original planting was 1,000 vines 50% Cabernet Sauvignon 337 on 110R rootstock and 50% Merlot 181 on RG rootstock. It was trained to Vertical Shoot Positioning and is spaced meter by two. (4’X 8’). The vineyard has been expanded to 1850 vines and another 1,000 vines will be planted this year for a total of just over 2 acres. Other plantings are scheduled.”
In today’s post I will present 4 current releases available in his tasting room. The 2019 Merlot is the only wine I had not previously tasted. And we had a huge surprise: the 2017 Petite Sirah made from local fruit which was absolutely NOT ready 2 years ago is now drinking beautifully. We always recommend cellaring his wines and then the double decant. His wines do not disappoint!
Sal has always been generous to Decanting Monterey, whether it is replenishing my home stock or giving me new wines to try. I will always let you know when a winery has comped me the wine – which a few have done. Since this is an all-volunteer effort, it is small gestures like these that make operating my website affordable – in an indirect way!
2019 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (#974)
This was his 13th year of production.
My Review: Garnet, almost purple in the glass. Dusty raspberry notes on the nose. Tart smooth raspberry on the palate. I’m lacking words to describe how delicious this fruit is. For such a young Rombi wine, it is very drinkable now and has the structure to last. April 2023
2018 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#328)
My Review: Garnet in color. A warm nose with plum and cherry notes. Complex with lots of cherry and that delicious Cachagua fruit on the palate and chewy tannins. He makes undeniably the biggest, most complex Cabernet Sauvignon in the county. We liked this wine and it is still young. Can’t wait to see what this becomes. Cellar for the future. April 2023
2017 Rombi Petite Sirah, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.6% ABV, $75 (#331)
This fruit comes from the Galante vineyards.
My Review: A rich, bright garnet in the glass. Cherry and berry notes on the nose. Thick on the palate with cherry and berry flavors. This is a “wow” wine. This wine has improved over the years, has finally come into its own and is very drinkable right now. April 2023
2018 Rombi Petit Verdot, Napa Valley, 14.4% ABV, $75 (#330)
This is Rombi’s first Petit Verdot, which I reviewed back in 2021 and liked very much. As I wrote before, Sal shared with us the small fact that Petit Verdot is the last fruit to ripen. I likely had commented that I used to think Petit Verdot was a touch vegetal. Perhaps others aren’t patient enough for the fruit to ripen fully!
My Review: Inky Garnet in the glass. A dusty, vegetal nose, which I often pick up from Petit Verdot, enhanced by some warm, brown sugar notes. The palate: super rich, smooth, with dark berry flavors. It’s packed with delicious, dark fruit with a slightly bitter licorice finish. This is one of my favorite Petit Verdots. April 2023
Visit the Rombi Tasting Room: If you have not yet had the opportunity to taste Sal’s wines, I highly recommend visiting him on a Saturday or Sunday, 12-5 at One Center Street, Carmel Valley Village. You can learn more about his wines online at Rombi Wines. You can also contact Kathy and Sal at kathy@rombiwines.com or sal@rombiwines.com for more information about buying their wines.
Our Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society is continuing to grow, making it challenging to find a spot for our first Friday “WinedUP” tastings. A lot of our local tasting rooms are small. I have been trying to find places with larger tasting rooms to allow more of our members to participate. It won’t always be possible, but I have found a few for this Spring. One of the first places I thought of was Georis. It has a stunning space – indoors and out.
The Georis Winery tasting room manager, Ivan Cornejo-Martinez, was great to work with. He was very kind and flexible – we worked together to keep the event as simple as possible, limiting the number of extra staff and glasses he would need to have on hand. It was nice to learn we could have done catered food or ordered in from Corkscrew Café across the street, as well. In the end, we decided to reserve those options for future events.
It had been a chilly day on the coast, so despite driving through a spot of rain to get to the valley, we were thrilled that it was sunny and even warm! When we entered their spacious tasting room, we were delighted to find 3 tasting options: Chilled (sparkling and white wines), the Grand Mix (which includes a white, a rose and 3 reds) and the Estate (all big reds). They started us with a special wine: the 2009 Deux Frères Merlot/Malbec blend – a great way to kick off the evening. The name of the wine refers to the two Georis brothers, Walter and Gaston, who sadly passed away last year. The tasting room staff Ivan, Daisy and James were extremely knowledgeable about the wines and did a terrific job taking each of us through our tastings. I hope to go back soon with the rest of the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod.
Check with the winery, as their tasting menu and prices do change!
From the Georis winery’s webpage: “Walter Georis was born of a Belgian father and a German mother who immigrated to the US from Belgium in 1956 when Walter was eleven years old. After having spent his teen years in Southern California, Walter decided to move north to Carmel where he pursued a career in fine arts. Soon after arriving in Carmel, Walter designed a family restaurant, Casanova that would become internationally renowned for its cuisine and style, and its wine cellar. Remembering his childhood and the pleasures of country life on the family farms in Europe, Walter decided to combine his love of fine wines with the challenges and rewards of growing grapes and producing first class wines. In 1981, after consulting with French experts on soil and wine making, he bought a ranch in Carmel Valley and soon planted the grapes that would produce the first crop of Georis wines…
“The vineyard is located in the mountains of the upper Carmel Valley, California, 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Our 14 acre vineyard is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir grapes. Our terroir is sandy clay loam with gravel and river rocks. Some small vineyard areas include chalky soils…
“Since 1982, Georis Winery proudly produces a variety of wines exceptional in quality. Georis wines represent authenticity, integrity and a commitment to terroir expressive wines. Our philosophy is to respect European wine-making traditions while embracing the generous California climate of our appellation. Our objective is to craft wines with complexity, elegance and finesse.”
Today I am presenting 12 Georis wines which we tasted at the AWS event. Winery notes come from their website or conversations with tasting room staff. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Sometimes I am distracted by others or feel rushed in the tasting and can’t get the notes I truly want. I’ll have to go back. After all, this is a social event!
2009 Georis Deux Frères, Carmel Valley AVA (#963)
Winemaker’s Notes: ~80% Merlot, ~20% Malbec
My Review: Ruby in the glass. Some soft sandalwood notes on the nose. Light on the palate. This well aged wine is coming into its own. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: From Tessiere Vineyard in Arroyo Seco. ~12 months in neutral oak.
My Review: This is one of those great, dry Rieslings from Arroyo Seco. Citrus flavors balanced by salty minerality. Sweet flavors of honeysuckle or white citrus blossom complete the finish. I described this wine as reminiscent of taking a tequila shot followed by the salt and lime – all in a very delicious package. April 2023
2021 Georis Les Abeilles Rosé, Carmel Valley AVA, $42 (#965)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Elegant and crisp Cabernet Franc based Rosè. Medium bodied and dry. Raspberry, peach candy, cantaloupe, and jasmine.”
My Review: This was a very nice wine, probably one of the best Central Coast Rosé wines I have tasted lately. Dry, delicately flavored, balanced, perfect in all ways. Very traditional. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: Aged in 20% French barrels for 12 months. The fruit comes from our estate vineyard in Carmel Valley.
My Review: Light in the glass with perfume on the nose. To me, this did not come off as one of those buttery Chardonnays. Balanced. A lean, lighter weight wine than I was expecting. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “Full bodied and earthy. Smooth, soft tannin with a lingering finish. Blueberry, cherry, forest floor and violet. 554 Cases produced.”
My Review: A brown tinge in the color with very typical aromas and flavors of a Central Coast Pinot Noir. April 2023
2017 Georis Estate Les Amoureaux Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $65 (#968)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Full bodied and earthy. Smooth, soft tannin with a lingering finish. Blueberry, cherry, forest floor and violet. 554 Cases produced.”
My Review: This was the very last wine I tasted on the way out the door. A new participant at the AWS tasting told me that I really needed to try it. I found it to be fuller bodied and a Pinot Noir even this Pinot Noir naysayer could really enjoy. Sorry I did not capture better tasting notes! April 2023
2017 Georis Cabernet Franc, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#969)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Very soft and acid driven with notes of cherry, leather, and roasted pepper. Fantastic progression from the front to the back of the palate with a bright acidic finish.” From the Donati Family Vineyard in Paicines.
My Review Powered by Terravenos: Herbaceous, violet, and lots of mid-palate structure with mild tobacco notes on the finish. April 2023
2017 Georis Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.8% ABV, $40 (#54)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Rich and bold yet elegant with sumptuous aromas of mocha, savory chocolate, and black berry fruits. The palate is extremely generous with hints of young berry, black berry, black spices, and silky tannins.”
My Review Powered by Terravenos: OK, we are finally in my wheelhouse! This is one of the early wines I reviewed in Decanting Monterey. Ruby/purple in color with plum/blackberry and “Fig Newton” on the nose with rose petal, black cherry and overripe strawberry notes on the palate. Since I first reviewed this wine almost 3 years ago, the tannins have smoothed out. A very delicious, big wine which is drinking very well. April 2023
2017 Georis “La Chapelle” Red Blend, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $80 (#970)
Winemaker’s Notes: Our annual Bordeaux blend, the 2017 vintage is 80% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot and 10% Malbec.
My Review: A nice, dark berry bouquet with the nose carrying over to the palate. Very smooth with the fruit well integrated. I liked this wine. April 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “Powerful ruby colored with great nose of dark fruit, plum, and blackberry. Smooth elegant middle with silky tannins and a chalky finish. A dominate palate with savory notes such as dates, fennel, tobacco leaf, and leather.”
My Review: Warm, dark fruit on the nose. This is a good Cabernet Sauvignon from the premier growing area for Cabernet in Monterey County – Cachagua. This has good structure and lots of tannin – this will last for years to come. Buy some and cellar! April 2023
2017 Georis “Clos des Moutons” Red Blend, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.8% ABV, $90 (#972)
Winemaker’s Notes: Our single vineyard selection, aged 26 months in French oak barrels. Think leathery, plum, and tobacco flavors. ~80% Merlot, ~20% Petit Verdot
My Review: Nose of rosemary. Cherry and berry flavors on the palate. Complex structure. This is another great wine. April 2023
2017 Georis Estate “Malbec Du Milieux”, Carmel Valley AVA, $75 (#973)
Winemaker’s Notes: A single vineyard of 5 acres of 40-year-old Malbec vines. Aged 24 months in French barrels.”
My Review: Warm, jammy fruit on the nose. It is a surprising mix of sweet jamminess and tart fruits like raspberry and cherry. I found this wine intriguing – and a great one to end the tasting on a very high note. April 2023
Georis Tasting Room: Located at 1 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley Village. Open Wednesday – Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 pm with the exception of the weather and holidays. (831) 659-1080. “We greatly appreciate a call if will be joining us with a large group, we want your experience to be delightful while drinking some of California’s best.”
The Decanting Monterey Wine Pod looks forward to an I Brand & Family release party – a tradition for us. There is always something surprising to taste. And the most recent one in March was no exception. It is a great opportunity to taste the new releases in a festive and relaxed setting. In addition to their consistently great Albariño, standouts at this event were the Chenin Blanc from Carmel Valley and the Pinot Noir (yes, I said Pinot Noir!) from Cienega Valley, plus the most unique Cabernet Pfeffer, also from Cienega Valley. The food and entertainment were both high quality. Oysters and small bites were provided by Oystertown and the music, by El Pacado de Juana.
I have learned there is no rush to taste the wines at these events. There is plenty of time to experience a wine fully (color, nose, body, flavors, finish), compare notes with the wine pod, and dump the rest so I can get us home safely. Then comes the great part: deciding which wines we will take home!
I have 8 wines to present to you today from 3 labels: I Brand & Family, La Marea and Paysan – tasted at the release party. Winery notes come from their Spring 2023 Winemaker Letter or their website: https://www.ibrandwinery.com/. I used the full notes, as this blog is about wine education and I find them so interesting! I used the microphone in my phone to transcribe the long, descriptive paragraphs. I think I corrected the sometimes-amusing text it recorded (had a hard time with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Pfeffer, but igot Tellicherry and Cachagua right the first time), but, as always, any errors are mine and mine alone.
2022 La Marea Kristy Vineyard Albariño, Monterey County, 13.2% ABV, $24 (#955)
Winemaker’s Notes: “At this point, what’s left to say about our Kristy’s Vineyard Albariño? We began making Albariño in 2011 to test our theory that the Salinas Valley was best suited to saline, mineral-driven, high acid whites. Steve McIntyre, the gentle caporegime of Monterey County winegrowing, pointed us to several options but said he thought Kristy’s was the best quality. By 2013 we were pretty much locked in on our winemaking program. We tried varying our winemaking a couple of times since then but have always come back to the original because it just works. 2/3 direct press, 1/3 skin contact for two days. Cold fermented in stainless steel, arrested malic. We’ve been told several times this is the standard for aromatic whites in the new world. The biggest issue is, with the drought, yields have been down on the vineyard. We just don’t have enough of this wine. The 2022 vintage is full of intensity and bright acidity, combining the open fruit flavors of the 19 and the direct bite of 2020. A spectacular wine.
“Tasting Notes – Aromas of white nectarine and honeysuckle abound. Bright acidity leads on the palate framed by a redolence of underripe pineapple and stone fruit, which persist and blend with wet river rock on the finish.”
My Review: Straw in the glass. Nose of bright citrus, balanced by the sweetness of honeydew melon. A tasty palate with grapefruit zest on the finish. Super fresh. March 2023
2022 Paysan Zabala Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $24 (#956)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Maybe five years ago, I told my friend Eben Drucker that Sauvignon Blanc would soon be on the rise. Eben has helped us with national and international sales of our brands for almost ten years and had been mixed up in the wine business for twice that. Sauvignon Blanc was at its nadir, totally disregarded in the wake of Kim Crawford and grassy New Zealand mass production. I saw the quality of the vineyards in the ground, the budding renaissance of Sancerre on east coast wine lists, and whispers on the hippier edge of California winemaking oddly about a variety associated with country clubs and gala balls. We had been getting our toes wet in Sauvignon Blanc for a consulting project and I was closing in on an idea for a wine. We worked on the idea for a couple of years in small lots and, in 2021, we made the leap and took the bulk of the vineyard. It sold like hotcakes, and we expect the same with the 2022 vintage. The Zabala Vineyard is among the rockiest you’ll see, resplendent with river stones, reminiscent of the galets roulés of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Sauvignon Blanc at Zabala is the Sauvignon Musqué variation, which means the wine has more fruit notes, especially ripe melon.
“Tasting Notes – Satsuma Mandarin and herbaceous notes of fresh-cut chives, tarragon, and wet limestone shine brightly up front. The attack on the palate is bright and distinctly tropical dragonfruit and papaya, evolving into dry citrus flavors reminiscent of Buddha’s hand.”
My Review: Straw in color. Perfume on the nose. Rich flavors on the palate with notes of green pepper. One in our group thought it was a touch harsh. March 2023
Winemaker’s Notes: “Over the last few vintages, our rosé has become more Mourvèdre focused, lending the wine more depth and intensity despite its pale color. With roughly 4 hours of skin contact across the lots, the 2022 has a pale, almost vin gris hue, but don’t be fooled. Hiding beneath that hint of pink is deep, textured wine. Both the Arroyo Seco Canyon Vineyard and the Siletto Vineyard are rocky and the minerality shows through. Extremely pleasurable to drink, we expect this to be peaking just as the summer heat hits. I’m in love with the new package. If you have a porch or patio, you need some of this rosé.
“Tasting Notes: Initial aromas of watermelon and cantaloupe are inescapable, transitioning to trailside strawberry with a touch of air. Melons and strawberries persist on the palate, and bright red fruits continue into the finish transforming into a pleasing strawberry-basil herbaceous salinity.”
My Review: Very pale pink in the glass. A nice, rich rose nose out-promises the delicate palate of white peach with a watermelon finish. Based on the writeup above, this wine deserves a revisit! March 2023
2021 I Brand & Family Massa Vineyard Chenin Blanc, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $36 (#958)
Winemaker’s Notes: “This is our first year working with the Chenin Blanc off Massa, (née Durney) in the Cachagua region of the upper Carmel River Basin. Planted on its own roots fifty years previous, these vines can now be called old vines, (per the Historic Vineyard Society). They produced a stunning Chenin Blanc: racy and intense. We held ours back an additional six months in bottle to allow it to flesh out. The Massa Vineyard is a special place. Still very much a rough diamond, I have seen the most stunning wines emerge from the vineyard – on par with vineyards known internationally. We made a mere 44 cases of this wine and more than half will go out to the initial club release. If you would like multiple bottles, please contact us promptly.
“Tasting Notes – Aromas of flint, toasted brioche and lemon verbena are immediately present. These flavors follow onto the palate, incorporating drier, flavors of green walnuts and more brioche; beautiful floral notes reminiscent of lavender and lilac grace the dry finish.”
My Review: Pretty, light yellow in the glass. Clean nose. Lovely, full bodied palate of fresh fruit, with peach and citrus flavors, balanced by brioche and salty notes. Our favorite of the tasting. March 2023
2020 I Brand & Family Besson Vineyard – Old Vine Grenache, Santa Clara Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $42 (#959)
Winemaker’s Notes: “This is our ninth iteration coming from the centenarian Grenache vines cared for by the Besson family since the 1940s. We’ve settled into a nice place with the winemaking and the wines grow into deep, thoughtful ruminations on time and place as they settle into the bottle. For those who have a chance to drive by the classic vineyard (it’s right across from Gilroy Gardens on Hecker Pass Highway heading west from Gilroy) the third generation of the Besson Family has started a small brand and you can taste their wine amid the old soldiers. We share these blocks with our good friends, winery mates and longtime fellow travelers, John and Alex from Birichino. Over the years they’ve sold small amounts to old-vine lions of California wine like Ridge, Sandlands, and A Tribute to Grace. We keep our allocation from the rockiest section next to Uvas Creek and produce it with spontaneous fermentations, 50% whole cluster, a touch of French oak influence and sixteen months on lees in barrel. It’s the same recipe we’ve used since 2014 and we keep it consistent because it really works with the site and because with consistent winemaking you can really see vintages expressed over time. The 2020 vintage was beset by high smoke covering the sun for extended periods and so the wine is less boisterous but more deep and textured at this early stage. This is always a star in our tasting room.
“Tasting Notes – Ripe red fruit, specifically red delicious apples, fresh pressed cider and savory hints of manzanita and Tellicherry peppercorn abound on the nose. The palate is similarly bright with additional herbaceous notes of fresh tarragon. This quickly evolving wine wraps up with distinct tannins and aromatic pine duff.”
My Review: 112-year-old vines! Garnet in color. Perfume, plum and cherry on the nose. A good, mid-weight, bright wine with cherry notes and a little leather on the finish. March 2023
2021 I Brand & Family Flint Vineyard Pinot Noir, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.4% ABV, $36 (#960)
Winemaker’s Notes: “We’ve gained a reputation locally as Pinot Noir naysayers, which isn’t fair. We love Pinot Noir and I made my fair share of it when I worked in the Santa Cruz Mountains (and I still make a great deal for special projects). Because of that experience, we’re very particular about where we get our Pinot Noir from, which makes sense as Pinot Noir is very particular about where it grows well. We re-entered the Pinot Noir fray to prove a point. So much discussion in Pinot Noir winemaker circles focuses on how cold the vineyard is and what clones are used. When we worked with the Enz Vineyard, the Pinot Noir felt like a red-headed step child because the vineyard was warm, without consideration for how wonderful the site is. I am of the opinion that a great site always speaks most strongly, so we took the fruit. I was elated by the response. After the relationship with the Enz family imploded, we moved around the corner to Scott Flint‘s place. Scott is a really kind and super interesting guy. He used to make his own wine but now spends his days restoring old tractors. We used a 1946 Ford forklift to load the bins. If the bin is a little heavy, it gets difficult because the front tires don’t want to stay on the ground and that makes it tough to steer. Scott’s vineyard is at the base of Mount Harlan, home to Calera, and because the cold air sinks off the mountain onto his property it buds out late and picks about a month later than Enz and a couple of weeks later than the ‘cool climate’ Santa Lucia Highlands. All things in wine and viticulture are relative, there are no hard truths. The Flint bears the signature of the special mixed granitic and calcareous soils of the Cienega combined with the darker red fruits and cherry compote character of a cool climate pinot noir. 2021 was just a special vintage and willowy Pinot Noir often shows vintage variation more readily than other grapes. Lovely.”
“Tasting Notes – Notes of cedar and dried porcini mushrooms are present on the nose, subtly melding with undertones of cherry preserves. The palate is well-integrated but complex. The preserved cherries come back into play, evolving into the warm cherry pie flavors typical of pinot noir. Bright acidity wraps things up and leaves you with baking spices and vanilla bean.”
My Review: Rich ruby in the glass. Light cherry on the nose. Rich palate, balanced and delicious, with tobacco on the finish. Not a Pinot Noir drinker, but I like this wine. Promises to be an exceptional wine. We bought this to cellar, as we have with other reserve Pinot Noirs from this region, with excellent results. March 2023
2021 I Brand & Family Gimelli Vineyard Cabernet Pfeffer, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 12.8% ABV, $36 (#961)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Only about 10 acres of Cabernet Pfeffer exist in the world, and most all of it is in San Benito County. The Gimelli Vineyard encompasses the remnants of the El Gabilan Vineyard, first planted in the 1890s in Grass Valley, a side canyon off the Cienega Valley on the east side of the Gabilan cordillera. Cabernet Pfeffer was rumored to be a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Trousseau made by San Jose nurseryman, William Pfeffer in the 19th century, but that story is apocryphal. Ken Ryan Kobza, our winery tsar, has been making Cabernet Pfeffer for the better part of a decade. We sent petiole samples to UC Davis five years ago and they matched most closely with a long-forgotten grape variety from the southwest of France called Mourtaou. Either way, Cabernet Pfeffer is a rare beast. Not fruity in the way California wine is alleged to always be, Cabernet Pfeffer is dominated by savory, umami flavors, like a cigar box and teriyaki. Special and super interesting, this is the only year we will make a single-varietal Cabernet Pfeffer. We’re proud to share this little slice of local history.
“Tasting notes – Our Cabernet Pfeffer smells like a humidor, with bold notes of cedar and sweet tobacco. This sweet and savory notes translate as unctuous teriyaki on the palate, quickly incorporating notes of spicy ancho chili on the mid-palate and closing with a hint of tart raspberry. Well-integrated tannins wrap up the experience.”
My Review: Garnet in color. Bouquet of enticing sweetness, balanced by cinnamon spice. A bright palate with cranberry notes. It is lean, medium bodied and unique, rare. We took one home. I hope we will cellar it for a bit. March 2023
2020 I Brand & Family Graff Family Vineyard Syrah, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 14.8% ABV, $36 (#962)
Winemaker’s Notes: “The 2020 Graff Syrah came early in the heat of 2020, which was fortuitous because it avoided the worst of the smoke. These vines are now more than 30 years old, farmed immaculately since their planting by the ace duo of Hector and Jose Bravo. This one, to me, shows with Chalone can be – it’s among the most compelling places to grow wine in America. Granitic brightness meets suave limestone texture, stems, and the blood iron that always emerges in great Syrahs. 80% whole cluster, 18 months on lees, another 8 months in bottle before release.
“Tasting notes – Earthy, meaty notes of peppered beef jerky. Graphite and clay transition into a savory mix of fire-roasted tomato confit and guajillo chili, which evolve into dark fruit reminiscent of a spiced blueberry compote ending with cumin and cardamom on the finish.”
My Review: Rich, dark garnet. Spice and earth on the nose. Dark berries and earth on the palate. March 2023
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
Since spending more time on the Central Coast, my palate has shifted more toward Syrah. While I love my Carmel Valley/Monterey County Syrahs, I have a particular fondness as well for ones from Santa Barbara County. I wrote up my August 2022 “Sideways” tasting trip on a mission to find such wines in multiple posts about Bien Nacido, Tensley, Stolpman and Beckmen (or just search “Sideways”!).
We were fortunate to take a trip down to Ojai in 2019 where we explored local wines, knowing nothing about any of the Ojai wineries. There, we discovered The Ojai Vineyard and picked up a couple of their exceptional Syrahs. I reviewed their 2015 Bien Nacido Syrah from Santa Maria Valley here and their 2016 Rolling Ranch from Ventura County here.
This winter, a couple of those special Syrahs were opened, including the high end 2019 Beckmen Block Six (#831) (one of the best Syrahs I have ever tasted – what a shame we opened it so early) and this 2012 from The Ojai Vineyard, another one at the very top of my list (which we had been waiting to open). I need a color code system – like our Wine Pod partners have – for my own high-end wines so Man With Corkscrew doesn’t just open them on a random night.
About The Ojai Vineyard from their https://www.ojaivineyard.com/: “The wines we make today are a culmination of four decades pursuing excellence with the fruit grown in our region. We believe that a history like ours is an asset only insofar as it is defined by evolution. Craft is not an overnight sensation; it is the step by step progress that only comes from intuition and experience.”
I just have this one vintage to review today, but I included the 2015 review so you could read them in the same post. As usual, winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
2012 The Ojai Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, 13.5% ABV, $60 (#954)
Winery Notes: “We’ve been making Bien Nacido Syrah since 1994, Vineyard manager Chris Hammell continues to work his magic here. Our section in block Z has always produced a wine of distinction, but Hammell’s farming has turned this block into a showcase of how to produce the best syrah grapes. Organic growing, low yields, and painstaking attention to detail have taken these vines to a new level–and the wines show it. This syrah is a wonderful statement of how good Bien Nacido syrah can be: a wine with fascinatingly complex aromas and dense, woodsy, berry fruit and zippy exuberance. This is an intensely flavored but completely delicious wine to drink.”
Blend: 100% Syrah | Alc: 13.5% | Vinification: 25% New French Oak | Barrel Aging: 16 Months | Total Production: 319 cases
95 points – Antonio Galloni & Jeb Dunnuck
My Review: Deep garnet in the glass. Dark fruit on the palate, with flavors of currant and mild tobacco. Earthy and good. January 2023
2015 The Ojai Vineyard Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, 13.5% ABV, $45 (#560*)
The Ojai Vineyard Tasting Notes: “Aromas come on with many of the usual suspects from Bien Nacido—cured meat, purple flowers, rock dust—but also a concentrated fruity exuberance that tilts toward liqueur. It drinks with that same balance, coming on with an lavish blanket of dark fruits before gaining pitch and lengthening into a smoky savory beauty, closing out late with those cool-climate notes of herby tapenade, wood smoke and peppery meat crust. The forward feel will have many drink this sooner than later, but for peak rapture age this for several years, at least.” 97 points Jeb Dunnuck!!
My Review: Berry blast on the nose, followed by some menthol and leather. Super delicious on the palate. Spice on the finish. We followed the Vineyard Aging Recommendations, opening this one before the 2012 Syrah, which is still not ready! We served this with Thanksgiving leftovers. I loved this wine – probably one of the best Syrahs I have recently consumed. August 2021
Visit The Ojai Vineyards Tasting Room: You can buy Ojai Vineyard wines on their website or at their tasting room at 109 S Montgomery St, Ojai, CA 93023 daily 12-5 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended.
As we were driving out to Carmel Valley to select wines for the Carmel Rotary event in February, we hatched this idea: Wouldn’t it be fun to host a blind tasting of Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignons? We ran the idea by one of our tasting room favorites, Summer Emmons, at Parsonage. She thought that sounded wonderful and started rattling off wineries which should be included – they were the same ones we had discussed in the car!
When we got home, Mr. H searched our collection to see if he could find wines from a single vintage. The oldest vintage we could find for all those wineries was 2015. And we did call around to try to add some other Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignons to the mix – but couldn’t get our hands on them.
This was a particularly good, albeit low yield vintage for Carmel Valley wines. As Sal Rombi of Rombi Wines explained to me long ago: Everything was going great, until flowering, when there was a lot of wind and rain. This resulted in about 55% fruit yield for the season. Because there were fewer berries creating less weight on the vines, the fruit was much more intense, resulting in this delicious vintage.
The hard part of arranging this event was finding a date that would work for everyone we wanted in the room. In the end, we pushed it out to March – and even then, lost a couple of participants. But it was the right group for the experience. In the room was the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod, Summer Emmons of Parsonage, and Erin O’Reilly of tèr·ra·ve·nos.
There was much anticipation and preparation for this event. The hardest part was the wine glasses: first, finding 7 sets of glasses in which all 4 glasses were the same, and then getting all the spots off the glasses. The amount of glassware reminded me of the time we tested Parsonage’s COVID wine tasting procedures – it was a lot of glassware, prompting them to change their plan.
The wines were all decanted at the same time. Not all our decanters were the same shape, but it was the closest we could come. And the wines were carefully pre-poured by Mr. H, a 2-ounce our of each of the 4 wines for each participant. Only he knew which wine was which and the order was mostly random. And only he and I knew exactly which wines were included in the mix, including the fact that one was a red blend. We also carefully planned the food pairings, with salami, cheeses, and a bit of dark chocolate to match the Cabernet Sauvignons.
Then the fun began. We used the tèr·ra·ve·nos tasting sheet to rate the wines. In general, we looked at and smelled each wine before we tasted them. We analyzed the flavors of each wine one-by-one. Since we didn’t know which was which, we could be bluntly honest about each one. With such a range of palates, we heard many descriptors…memorable ones…and we agreed that one of the wines – what we learned later was the red blend – tasted vastly different from the others. We did do an informal ordering of our preferences, with Wine #4 slightly edging out these other fine wines. This was a super fun format and we will do this again. Why not try this with your friends?
We started our evening with antipasto and 2 local whites: 2020 I Brand & Family Old Vines White and 2019 Corral Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc. Here are winery notes on these two wines and links to my prior postings about these wines:
2020 I Brand & Family Old Vines White (#742): “Old Vine White field blend is a blend of 3 unusual varietals. Orange Muscat, Mission and Palamino.” This was a very light white with interesting flavors, which evoked a conversation amongst us about the varietals we don’t know.
2019 Corral Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc (#604): “The Musque clone of Sauvignon Blanc showcases bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit. Guava and grapefruit compliment hints of freshly cut hay and wet stone. Finishes with a racing acidity.” This is one of our collective favorite local Sauvignon Blanc wines.
Today I am presenting the 4 Carmel Valley wines in the order we tasted. 3 have been presented here before, and 1 is new (you can tell by their numbers). As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner. My tasting notes this time are an amalgamation of what I heard during the tasting. Are you ready for the big reveal?
2015 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#57)
Our Review: Deep garnet in color. Spice, tobacco, black licorice and leather on the nose. Cinnamon, dark fruit, black cherry, black licorice, tobacco and a touch of smoke and leather on the tongue-coating, smooth palate with a woody, dry finish. Chewy tannins. March 2023
2015 Bernardus Marinus Signature Red Wine, Marinus Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $125 (#889) 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Petit Verdot, 23% Merlot, 15% Petite Sirah
Winery Tasting Notes: “This 2015 vintage of our highly regarded Signature Marinus exhibits a beautiful, deep robe. The aromas are redolent with dark red fruits and dried spices. On the palate we find bright ripe-red fruit flavors and notes of cedar on a long, rich finish, promising a long life to come! A wonderful example from our estate vineyard!
Our Review: Lighter garnet than the previous wine, perhaps a touch cloudy. Aromas of intense dark raspberry (that delicious aroma of Cachagua fruit!) and prune; a spice like sandalwood, eucalyptus, or cigar box; and white pepper. Fruitier, packed with dark fruit and chocolate notes with a long finish. Smooth and tasty, less tannic than the previous wine. March 2023
Wine Enthusiast rated the 2015 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points. “Roasted red-cherry aromas meet with charcoal, smoke, oregano and marjoram on the rustic nose. Stiffer tannins uphold both bright and dark-red fruit flavors on the palate.” Matt Kettmann, August 2020
Our Review: Dark garnet with hints of brown in the glass. A pretty nose of brambleberry, cassis, slightly floral, bakery yeast and “a fat crème de violet.” Fruity flavors of blueberry, intense cassis, and sour cherry, checked by earth and green notes. Slightly acidic and alcoholic attributes.March 2023
Winery Tasting Notes: “A beast of a cab, truly a bada$$. Think Jack Reacher from the books, not Tom Cruise in the movies. This brute has a deep, dark core of sophistication that reveals its identity with time. Black currants, huckleberry, and horehound licorice with great density on the palate and fully ripened tannins. My recommendation is to lay it down for a few years while it evolves into a peaceful warrior.”
Our Review: Garnet in color. Dark berries on the nose with floral and herbal hints combined with notes of smoke, wood and plastic. The palate says “Cabernet Sauvignon,” with beautiful, chalky, and smooth flavors of dark fruit, coffee, and smoke. The finish goes on forever. Perhaps our favorite amongst favorites. March 2023
I hope you enjoyed this post. Please give me feedback by leaving a comment!
I was trying to come up with a place for the March monthly wine tasting for the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society when my neighbor dropped by a Shale Canyon tasting menu. She had been working there for a while and we thought this might be fun to do together! I am a fan of Shale Canyon wines and have written about them a couple of times – just search “Shale Canyon” in the search bar. Their space seems small, so we went back and forth with the owners to determine a maximum capacity – and put it on the calendar. In early March, the Monterey AWS members turned out in force (right up to the limit!) and everyone had a great time.
About Shale Canyon from their website: “Shale Canyon Wines started vinting small lots of hand crafted varietals in 2008…Currently Shale Canyon Wines is comprised of Keith Prader, the winemaker, and Tim Prader tasting room and vineyard manager.
Many thanks to Keith Prader, co-owner and winemaker, plus his knowledgeable, hardworking and fun staff, Janice and Alicia!
“Current production is about 1000+ cases per year with our main focus on producing wines that have outstanding nose, mouth feel and finish. For the Estate wines we are currently growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre. We source fruit from larger, well established vineyards whose farming practices are exemplary in the industry and whose fruit is second to none. The varietals include Syrah, Malbec, Chardonnay and Petite Sirah. We enjoy making classic and unique blends as well . Our Consortium is a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The Striation is 75% Zinfandel and 25% Mourvèdre, a wonderful floral wine. And Amalgamation, a very interesting blend of Zinfandel, Tempranillo and Petite Sirah. Quality is our main goal. Quantity is always secondary. We hope you try and enjoy our wines!”
Today I am presenting 10 Shale Canyon wines. Some of these wines have been presented here before, but this was an opportunity to revisit a few of them, with a little input from our AWS members. As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner.
2019 Shale Canyon Chardonnay, Vigna Monte Nero, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $25 (#498)
Winery Notes: “Aromas of toasted marshmallow, subtle green apple, pear, peach and a hint of lemon peel. A long finish of vanilla bean and butterscotch. This wine was not cold stabilized or filtered and has noticeable tartrates in the bottle. We recommend pouring this wine through a cheesecloth or a screen to remove them. Aged in 100% French oak.” Naturally fermented. 165 cases produced.
My Review: Golden in color. Butter and yeasty notes on the nose. Tropical palate of pineapple, peach, and a touch of caramel. Nicely balanced and delicious. A great price for an SLH Chardonnay! March 2023
Winery Tasting Notes: “Rose petals and cinnamon on the bouquet with cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry gracing the middle. A very long finish with vanilla bean and hint of licorice. Medium plus tannins to make this an excellent wine for food pairings.”
My Review: Dark ruby in color. Aromas of strawberry. Smooth and rich on the palate. Dark, intense tobacco and Mourvèdre enveloping the dark cherry flavors. March 2023
Winery Tasting Notes: “Our award-winning varietal starts with aromas of dark fruit, slight oak and a touch of floral. Distinguished flavors of dark cherry, blueberry, and cassis envelope the middle. The finish of leather, vanilla and medium firm tannins complete the experience of our flagship wine.” Best of Show, Best of Class.
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Sweet blackberry on the nose. Smooth and yummy palate of dark, lean fruit. Very balanced. My favorite of the day. I have selected this wine for an upcoming DC wine class! March 2023
Winery Tasting Notes: “This unique blend is like no other!…All Estate Grown! The color of this wine is beautiful. Take a glass out in the sun and let the rays reflect through the wine onto a simple piece of white paper and you will see what I mean. A lovely floral bouquet starts the experience. Deep fruit with cherry, dark berry and a hint of color. Long finish with tobacco and firm tannins. This wine will also compliment rich foods so fire up the barbeque and pull out the rib eyes!”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Vegetal notes on the nose, like caramelized onions with a touch of Creme de Cassis. A jamminess follows through on the palate, but, tonight, this tasted a bit sharp. This wine is usually a household favorite, so I definitely want to revisit it as a stand-alone. March 2023
Winery Tasting Notes: “Subtle berry & cherry bouquet. Flavors of black cherry, plum and cranberry grace the middle. A touch of spice and leather with firm structures tannins on the finish.” 100% Tempranillo.
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. SweetTart on the nose. Dark, lean fruit on the palate. A very nice wine. March 2023.
Winery Notes: “ZSM is a complex blend of varietals. On the nose you will get bright berry fruit with a touch of violet. The middle is full of dark fruit, predominantly blueberry, followed by raspberry and huckleberry. On the very long finish you will get a whisp of smokiness from the newer oak barrels, firm tannins and notes of vanilla.” (“Let’s see what we got”)
My Notes: Yummy nose, rich palate, fruity and very balanced. This was a top favorite of the evening’s participants – everyone seemed to like this wine.
2018 Shale Canyon Petite Sirah, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, $35 (#949)
Winery Tasting Notes: “The nose on this is fruit, dark fruit, and lots of it. Blueberries, plums, blackberry, black tea and chocolate on the palate. Medium to firm tannins. 100% Petite Sirah.”
My Review: By now, it was very late in the tasting. Very smooth and rich with blue and black berry fruits. In one word: yummy. March 2023
Winery Notes: “A very nice bouquet of berries and cherry. The flavors that really stand out are dark berry, current, raspberry with a touch of plum and tart cherry. A smooth finish of licorice with mild tannins and a hint of chocolate.”
My Review: It was extremely late in the evening, but I wanted to taste this anyway. Cooked, dark fruit dominated the palate. Definitely need to retaste this wine. March 2023
Winery Notes: “A bouquet of dark berry, violet and earthy aromas of black pepper, thyme and a hint of citrus. Bright fruit characteristics, with fresh strawberry, raspberry and subtle cherry. Smooth tannins with hints of cedar and a drawn-out finish with late fruit. 100% Mourvèdre.”
My Review: Aromas of Scotch (!). (OK, like I said above, it is late in the tasting…) The palate was delicious – intense berries and balanced. We liked it. March 2023
Winery Tasting Notes: “A classic blend of Bordeaux varietals. There is a distinctive cherry note on the nose. It is very elegant, yet a complex wine with black berry, dark cherry and raspberry on the palate. It has a long finish with wisps of cedar, vanilla and silky tannins.”
My Review: Beautiful ruby color. Smooth, dark berries and mild baking spice on the nose. Nice. March 2023
Winery Notes: “Strong aromas of dark berries, black currant and a little cedar. This wine has flavors of blackberry, blue berry and cranberry. A long finish with a hint of smoke, toast and silky tannins completes the tasting experience. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.”
My Review: Pretty ruby in color. The nose was a mix of vegetal and berry jam notes. Rich and delicious on the palate. March 2023
Visit Shale Canyon’s Tasting Room! You can try Shale Canyon wines ($20 and $25 tastings) at their tasting room on Paseo San Carlos Courtyard, Westside San Carlos between Ocean and 7th, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Their Spring hours are Monday-Thursday 1–4pm; Friday 1-7; Saturday 12-7; Sunday 1 – 5 and suggest reservations for parties of 6 or more. You can contact them at reservations@shalecanyonwines.com.
We are so greatly fortunate that our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners like big Paso Robles wines. As such, they share with us from time to time some incredible reds. Today I am presenting 3 reds we have tasted with them over the past few months. Two are from Justin and the third is from L’Aventure. This was the first L’Aventure wine I have experienced. I have expressed to my life partner that, now that we are (sadly) dog-free, it is time to get down to Paso to taste wines when we have a pickup from one of our beloved wineries.
The Decanting Monterey Wine Pod men in deep discussion!
About Justin Winery: “…We planted our first vineyard back in 1981 with a mission to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Since then, we’ve expanded both our knowledge of viticulture in this unique region as well as our acreage…Rich in fossilized limestone from eons of marine deposits, JUSTIN’s soil is ideally suited to creating big, Bordeaux-style reds. The limestone “stresses” the vines, producing grapes that fully express their varietal character…Paso Robles’ distinctive microclimate offers the widest day-night temperature swings of any grape-growing region in California. The hot days allow the grapes to develop intense flavor, while the cool nights create great structure and balance.” I have written about Justin before – just type Justin in the search bar.
About L’Aventure: “Stephan Asseo, owner and winemaker at L’Aventure Winery, began making wine in 1982, following his education at L’Ecole Oenologique de Macon, Burgundy, France. In that same year, Stephan established Domaine de Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinal and Chateau Robin in the Cotes de Castillion, Bordeaux. Over the next 15 years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship and gained a reputation as a maverick vigneron. However, his true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law would allow. In 1996, this led him, his wife, Beatrice and his three children, including his daughter Chloé on a quest for a great terroir, where he could pursue his ideal as a winemaker. After searching for over a year among the world’s great wine fields, ranging from South Africa to Lebanon, Argentina to Napa, they found Paso Robles. Stephan and Beatrice immediately “fell in love” with the unique terroir of west side Paso Robles. The rolling topography of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, the deep calcareous soils, and the maritime influences of the renowned Templeton Gap all combine to produce a world class wine country, with the potential to craft some of the world’s greatest blends. It is here, in Paso Robles, that Stephan and his family began their adventure, “L’Aventure” in 1998.
“The spirit of L’Aventure is most evident in Stephan’s “Paso Blends”, such as Optimus and Estate Cuvée. Both wines are Syrah/ Cabernet Sauvignon/ Petit Verdot blends. In these wines, as well as in our Rhône blend Côte à Côte, the blending of premium varietals increases the authenticity, complexity, and balance of the wines. In this adventurous spirit, we find the future of Paso Robles wines… great, balanced red blends.”
Winery Notes from wine.com: “Dark ruby/purple core, lighter in color toward the rim. Moderate plus viscosity with slow forming, slightly stained tears. Highly aromatic with ripe black cherry and cassis fruit, vanilla and cinnamon spice with cedar, graphite, dried autumn leaf and licorice notes over an attractive toasted oak background. Dry, full-bodied with ripe, complex black fruit of cherry and blackcurrants layered with baking spice on the entry. The mid palate has continuing ripe fruit with savory dried leaf elements, cedar, anise, camphor and a bit of cocoa surrounded with firm, chewy tannins and sweet spice notes that add complexity as the palate evolves. Sustained fruit, spice, and savory elements mix through a very long, complex and fresh finish with lingering tannins. The 2016 ISOSCELES is full-bodied, complex and balanced and pairs well with rich, full-flavored dishes. If you can, try cellaring some of your 2016 ISOSCELES to better experience the added complexity and finesse that only time can bring to this exceptional wine.
“Try the 2016 ISOSCELES right now with rich, full-flavored dishes like braised beef short ribs over polenta as easily as it does with a classic New York steak simply seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled over an open fire.”
Wine Enthusiast – 94 points: “Soft aromas of black cherry and smoked meat gain complexity thanks to hints of olive, tar and thyme in this Cabernet Sauvignon, which includes 8% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. It boasts chiseled but firm tannins and a blackberry jam flavor that entices on the palate, while thyme, cracked pepper and soy tones ride out the close.” Matt Kettmann, 9/2020
My Review: Inky in the glass. Super jammy nose of raspberry and blackberry. Extra jammy palate of juicy berry fruits. Soft for a Cabernet. January 2023
2017 Justin Right Angle Red Wine, Paso Robles AVA, 16.1% ABV, $28 (#946) 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 6% Petite Sirah, 4% Petit Verdot
K&L Wine Merchants Notes: “Justin’s classic Bordeaux-style blends may get the lion’s share of attention at this benchmark Paso Robles estate, but the winery also takes on the enjoyable challenge of turning out unconventional blends. The Right Angle is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine with a dash each of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Rich nose of dark berries and cassis Yummy, yummy, yummy. An in-your-face wine. March 2023
2016 L’Aventure OPTIMUS Red Blend, Paso Robles AVA, 15.4% ABV, $58 (#947) 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot
Winery Notes: “The 2016 has balance, silkiness and length. The wine is big, super intense, rich and flavorful but at the same time is super delicate, pure and vibrant!” 95point – Jeb Dunnuck.
My Review: Inky in color. Dusty jam and leather on the nose – like a really big red wine. Dark berry jam of ripe fruit, rich and sweet (in a good way). Cedar, mint and tarragon notes on the finish. January 2023
Experience the Exceptional at Justin Vineyards: “JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is more than a beautiful place to drink exceptional wine. It’s a unique viticultural microclimate. It’s a MICHELIN-starred restaurant. It’s world-class accommodations. It’s tasting rooms at the vineyard and in downtown Paso Robles, and more.”
Visit L’Aventure: “Take in views of our vineyard from our fully covered patio as you taste through the flagship wines of our latest release from Winemaker, Stephan Asseo. Tastings are conducted by appointment only, allowing us to create personal relationships with our guests as your Estate Educator guides you through a flight of four wines.” Other options available.
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