We are going to have a little fun today. We recently had a family reunion for 25 people at our small, 2-bedroom home. It’s how we roll. We decided to open “Grandpa’s” wines, including a magnum of non-vintage Monterey Peninsula Winery’s Monterey Nights, which my father-in-law won in some raffle many, many moons ago. The label is an indicator: a “pure California grape wine blended with natural flavors. Serve chilled.” Hm…
About Monterey Peninsula Winery: OK, readers, I need your help. About all I can find is they were established perhaps in 1968 in Sand City and disbanded by about 1996. I see something about foreign ownership (NFI) and also heard a Carmel dentist was a co-owner and that one of the vineyards where they sourced their grapes was later owned by Talbot and now by Gallo. I hear it was popular with my generation back in the day. I see they also made a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and an Alicante Bouschet. Some of these older wines are still available!
I want to say up front that this wine was not bad – meaning turned or off in any way. It was just old – and still a mystery. I mean “grape wine….serve chilled…” We guess it was a white, sweet wine, back in its day.
My Review: Amber in color, like a well-aged tawny port. Nose of caramel, sweet like Muscatel. In flavor, like a weak tawny port (only 12.5% ABV) or a muscatel. April 2022
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
It is always fun to hunt down what I feel are wines truly representative of what we can do here in Monterey for my wine classes. My next one is for the Northern Virginia American Wine Society. I was reading the Wine Enthusiast Magazine a couple of months back and saw this Monterey Chardonnay earned the #9 spot on The Enthusiast 100: The Best Wines of 2021. I tracked it down at a market in Carmel-By-The-Sea and we served it during a family reunion. Now that I have finally tasted it, I hope I can still acquire a couple more bottles!
About Diora: “At Diora, indulgence indeed begins in the Vineyard. Diora is the culmination of a thirty-year vineyard-to-bottle journey at the Santa Lucia Highlands and our family-owned San Bernabe estate in Monterey. Specific blocks at San Bernabe were replanted in the early 1990s in a unique wind orientation to allow the vines to thrive off the Monterey Bay’s cool ocean breezes and thicken the skins to heighten the luscious, round textures on the palate. The elevated positioning of the Santa Lucia Highlands helps produce Diora’s underlying structure and mouth-coating texture.” Diora is part of the Delicato family of wines.
2019 Diora La Splendeur du Soleil Chardonnay, San Bernabe AVA, Monterey, 14.5% ABV, $20 (Wine #652*)
Winemaker’s Notes: “This Diora La Splendeur du Soleil Chardonnay is a beautiful, golden hue, with aromas of toasted oak mingle with light spice notes of cinnamon. The delicate flavors of vanilla bean give way to a lovely, soft and light buttery layer. This reminds one of a rich, yet delicate crème brûlée with a soft, round mouthfeel that will pair beautifully with lobster or sautéed scallops. The light acidity and long finish of this wine will also be a great accompaniment to a variety of dishes.” This wine comes mostly from its San Bernabe estate vineyard, where it gets its tropical notes. The rest comes from its Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, providing more of the citrusy balance.
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Excellently presented aromas of butter, nectarine, warm almond and white flower are delicate but expressive on the nose of this bottling. An immediate acidity races through the palate, lifting the toasty and buttery elements while pairing smartly against the ripe citrus and white flower elements.” Matt Kettmann, December 2021
My Review: Viscous and golden in the glass. Tropical nose with melon and a touch of smoke. Grilled peach and pineapple on the palate with toasted caramel on the finish. This was a very interesting, atypical Chardonnay which everyone enjoyed. April 2022
Diora’s website contains a tab for finding their wines near you. You can also order their wines from their website – it will take you to Delicato’s purchasing engine. While Diora does not appear to have a tasting room, Delicato Family Wines is located at 12001 South Highway 99 in Manteca, California between Modesto and Stockton and is open every day from 9am – 5:30pm. You can find more details here.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
I explained to you last August why I was showcasing a Chilean wine in my Central Coast wine blog: https://decantingmonterey.com/a-wine-from-chile-in-a-central-coast-wine-blog/ In February, we opened the Alchemy 2015 Syrah – and I thought it was terrific, as I did the 2017 Alchemy Carménère. So, here is another one!
About Cachapoal Valley: “The northern half of the great Rapel Valley has traditionally been known for its red wines, particularly Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, which account for approximately 80% of the region’s total production. The valley features diverse microclimates that produce a suitable environment for a wide array of wines, ranging from cold-climate varieties in the vineyards at higher altitudes in the foothills of the Andes, to varieties requiring warmer climates in the areas surrounding Lake Rapel along the coastal hills. Here in this valley, the gentle breezes from the Pacific Ocean and the clay soil create synergy to pave the way for one of the leading regions producing Carménère in the country.” https://www.winesofchile.org/en/chile-a-wine-producing-country/valleys-and-guarantee-of-origin/cachapoal/ A good map of Chilean wine growing regions can be found here: https://vineyards.com/wine-map/chile
About Alchemy and the 2015 Syrah (from the bottle): “Alchemy is a hand made creation of Winemaker Alphonse DeRose and friends. Inspired by a late night evening of music played by Chilean friends Juan Pablo and Omar, the three concocted a vision of only the best grapes being processed 100% by hand. Each berry is hand removed from every cluster one by one. The result is a robust wine with aromas of dark red fruits, spice and toast. Alchemy is only produced from exceptional years and has limited availability with only 100 cases produced!”
Additional Winemaker’s Notes: “Our Syrah is a 100% handmade wine, fermented with natural yeasts, has a 12-month age in French Oak. Unfiltered bottling.” (translated by Google Translate) https://www.movilatienda.cl/en/vinas/alchemy
My Review: Rich dark ruby in the glass. Intense red and black berries on the nose. Bold flavors on the palate – dark berries, rich and smooth with enough red currant tartness balanced by Chambord on the finish to keep it from being over the top. I really liked this wine. February 2022
You find more information on purchasing DeRose Winery and Alchemy wines here: https://derosewine.com/online-store/. You can also visit them daily at their winery in Hollister: 9970 Cienega Road. When we visited in 2019, Alphonse himself presented the wines.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
I introduced you to Kori Wines back in September here: https://decantingmonterey.com/kori-wines-its-a-family-affair/. When I stopped in for that tasting last August, I was hoping to taste the soon-to-be-released 2019 Syrah by winemaker Sabrine Rodems. It didn’t arrive in time.
I was able to go back to visit in February, where we were warmly welcomed in the tasting room and we left with several bottles tucked under our arms.
Today I am presenting just this one Kori wines. The winery notes and prices come from their website.
2019 Kori Syrah, KW Ranch Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14%, $42 (#650*)
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Pleasantly funky aromas of nori, toasted sesame seed, asphalt and black plum make for a compelling nose on this bottling. That funky streak extends through the sip, where tar, teriyaki and pepper flavors meet with a furikake seasoning, all atop roasted dark fruit.” Matt Kettmann, May 2022
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Berries on the nose. Smooth on the palate with notes of berry jam and chocolate. February 2022
You can buy KORi wines online or at their tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea “Monday-Thursday 1-6 (TUES CLOSED), Friday Noon-6, Saturday Noon-7, Sunday Noon-6. Reservations not required. Mission St between Ocean & 7th Avenue, Court of the Fountains, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921”
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
We stopped in at Shale Canyon before dinner with friends and stumbled upon a great sale of their 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon for only $20/bottle! What was not to like! While we produce some fine Cabernet Sauvignons in our warmer growing regions, Monterey County isn’t really known for its Cabernet Sauvignons, but a wine like this one shows the potential for it in some of our warmer growing regions.
Winery Notes: “A very big floral bouquet of violets and dark berry. This wine is very complex and the most distinctive flavors noted are blackberry, black cherry, and pomegranate. It is very fruit forward. A lingering finish with leather, tobacco and elegant structured tannins complement the experience. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.”
My Review: Deep ruby in the glass. Cedar, plum, dark berries and cherry on the nose and palate with a currant/cassis finish. A fabulous value wine! December 2021
You can buy Shale Canyon wines on their website or at their tasting room on Paseo San Carlos Courtyard, Westside San Carlos between Ocean and 7th, Carmel-by-the-Sea. They are open Sunday through Thursday 1–5, Friday and Saturday 12-7 and suggest reservations for parties of 4 or more. You can contact them at reservations@shalecanyonwines.com.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
My neighbor was in town last month and she is always game to “help” me with my wine blog. We belong to the same winery out in Carmel Valley Village – and she was willing to check out Joyce with me. I hadn’t been to Joyce since December 2019, when I picked up a case of James Joyce Merlot for a planned (and cancelled) wine class. My DC area friends enjoyed that case of wine during the pandemic. In the hopes of finding another Merlot for my next class, we headed to Joyce.
We were warmly welcomed in the tasting room and headed outside to one of the very nice tables for the tasting. Our server was very knowledgeable and provided us tons of information, answering even my peskiest question. The menu was very much focused on Monterey wines from across the county: Carmel Valley, Monterey, and Santa Lucia Highlands sub-AVAs. While I was still on a mission to find wines for a class, the menu didn’t include their James Joyce label from San Benito County. And no Merlot to try: sold out. And no industry discount. Alas, I can’t get lucky every time!
Today I am presenting 5 wines we tasted at their Tasting Room in February, plus 1 I purchased for later consumption. Unless otherwise specified, winery notes come from their website. The map below gives a good visual on the vineyards they use for their wines.
2018 Joyce Wine Co Escolle Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.3% ABV, $35 (#643*)
Winemaker Notes: “The fruit for this Chardonnay comes from Escolle Vineyard located at the Northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands. This site is impeccably farmed by the Caraccioli Family, who are incredible stewards of their land. Very low water usage translates into low yields of intense fruit full of flavor and acidity. The strong marine influence and well drained gravelly loam soils of Chular combine to deliver Chardonnay fruit that showcases both power and finesse.”
Tasting notes: “AROMA Rose hips, stone fruit, clove spice, toast/dough, river stone FLAVOR Apple, bosc pear, wild peach, steely/mineral, brioche/lees”
My Review: Pale golden in color. Tropical notes on the nose. Balanced oak on the tasty and lively palate, with a touch of lime on the finish. We liked this wine. February 2022
Winemaker’s Notes (condensed from the Tech Sheet): “The Gabilan Mountain Pinot Noir comes from a small vineyard site positioned on a soft slope located on the east side of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County. Soils consisting of decomposed granite and limestone allow for an ethereal expression of Pinot Noir. To highlight and preserve the purity of the wine, grapes were fermented using partial whole-cluster and native yeast. The resulting wine was then aged for 10 months in neutral French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. These honest winemaking practices combined with thoughful farming allow this vineyard site to show both power and finesse.” 18 barrels produced.
My Review: Translucent bright ruby in the glass with a bright red berry nose. Smooth on the palate with light berry flavors with subtle structure on the finish. A pleasant wine. February 2022
2019 Joyce Wine Co Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, $45 (#645*)
Winemaker Notes: “Tondre Grapefield captures the soul of the Santa Lucia Highlands in the glass with dark brambly fruit, spice, light earth tones and a decedent textural mouth feel that comes from the cool climate site set of the regions sandy loams. This vintage shines with a deep garnet/ruby hue and a medium/full bodied palate of blackberry, plum and of course cherry fruits along with a touch of tea spice, lavender and soft oak. This wine gains in the glass and while youthful fresh it delivers an excellent play between lush ripe fruit and savory briar notes, this is not a vintage to miss.” 18 barrels produced.
My Review: Richer and darker in color, seemingly a tiny bit cloudy in the glass, with a richer bouquet than the previous wine. Richer flavors on the palate, with some tartness in the balance. February 2022
2019 Russell Joyce Grenache Syrah, Monterey, 13.7% ABV, $38 (#646*)
Winemaker’s Notes: “The special Small Lot Collection Grenache-Syrah is a blend of 70% Grenache from Cedar Lane and 30% Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah. Mostly concrete tank fermentation and aging making for a new California expression of a Southern Rhone style red in an ode to Chateaneuf-du-Pape. The ripe and dark fruited Grenache-Syrah has an intense purple/magenta hue in the glass with an incredible bouquet of wild flowers and spices that leads to a forward palate of olallieberry, racy plum, red currant and huckleberry fruits, sprigs of lavender, pepper, minty notes and a fresh tang with some delicate floral tones, savory elements and lingering kirsch. Seriously proportioned and dense without being heavy, this very limited Grenache-Sryah release, develops nicely with air and love the studied display of fruit and stony earth that comes out.”
My Review: Berry on the nose. A nice palate of robust, smooth fruit – very appealing to my taste. February 2022
2019 Russell Joyce Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley 13.8% ABV, $60 (#647*)
Notes from the Tasting Room: The grapes for this wine come from the Joullian Vineyard in Carmel Valley. With light oak notes, it is a more fuller representation of the fruit.
My Review: Dense, dark ruby in the glass. Berry notes on the nose. A medium palate of dark berry flavors. Pretty yummy. February 2022
2019 Joyce Wine Co Tondre Grapefield Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.4% ABV, $35 (#648*)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Planted in 1997, Tondré Grapefield sits in the center of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The terroir is defined by portruding Southeast facing slopes, strong marine influences from the Monterey Bay and ancient glacial soils consisting of decomposed granite, gravel and sandy loam. To show transparency, the fruit was harvested at moderate sugars and fermented using 60% whole clusters and native yeasts. The wine was then aged for 10 months in a combination of small concrete vessels and neutral French oak barrels before being bottled infined and unfiltered. These honest winemaking practices combined with thoughtful farming allow the savory fruit and natural acidity of this cool climate Syrah to shine.” 10 barrels produced.
My Review: Fresh ruby in the glass. At first, Bing cherry on the nose. Palate of bright, tart cherry flavors a la Jolly Rancher. As it opened up over a couple of days, the flavors balanced out, revealing a little more earth and deeper flavors. March 2022
You can buy Joyce wines from their web site or tasting room. Their tasting room is located at 1 East Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village is open. It has a lovely outdoor setting. You can find more information and make a reservation here.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
Back in the day, when I had just begun presenting wine classes to my DC group, before I was established as a wine educator, before Decanting Monterey was even something I aspired to, I occasionally had to join a wine club to get a discount. And that was the case with Donati Family Vineyard. It was also a great way for me to get a deeper exposure to their wines, especially their reserves, which I am particularly fond of to this day. I still have a few bottles left, including this 2014 Ezio Cabernet Sauvignon. If I can ever get down to Paso Robles, I definitely will plan to stop there again.
The Ezio is considered their “flagship wine, named after Ezio Donati, the first born Donati in the New World.” https://www.donatifamilyvineyard.com/
From the Label: “The Paicines AVA is located 27 miles inland from Monterey, California and is part of the greater Central Coast AVA. The warm daytime temperatures and cool evening breezes allow our grapes to mature slowly, thereby developing wines of great character, balance and complexity. Our mission is to provide our customers with wines that complement any occasion from formal to informal, with consistent quality that you can trust. Please enjoy with Family and Friends.”
Wine Enthusiast – 88 points: “Dense soil aromas, leather, olive, charred beef, roasted wood and crushed asphalt make for a very dry and savory nose on this bottling. There’s a tarry character to the palate that shadows the black fruit, allowing the black olive and black pepper to take the lead.” Matt Kettmann, April 2018
My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Intense dark berries on the nose. Intense dark berry flavors continue up front and on the finish. December 2021
You can buy their wines on their website or visit their tasting room in Templeton open daily – find out more and make a reservation here.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
I’ve been saving up these reviews for a single I Brand post. One of the things I really like about Ian’s wines is his boldness to expose us to varietals which we might not even have heard of – and to do them very well. The Arneis in this post is one of those – the Melon de Bourgogne was another we really enjoyed. And we tend to enjoy the Grenache wines – a varietal lighter than our normal fare, but one I Brand also does very well. His Cabernet Francs fascinate me – different in style from each other and always just a tad leaner than some of the big Cab Francs we tend to get around here. We’ve also been digging deep into our wine room and found some hidden treasures, like the 2012 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah.
I have 6 wines to present to you today from across all 3 labels of I Brand & Family, La Marea and Le P’tit Paysan and spanning 2012-2020 and covering Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. Unless otherwise specified, winemaker’s notes come from the winery tech sheets or notes online.
2020 I Brand & Family Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito County, 12.7% ABV, $30 (#633*)
We invited our neighbor over to our sunny patio on this January day and decided to try this Arneis, a varietal I did not know!
Winemaker’s Notes: “A delightful and balanced expression of the Piedmontese white from the calcium laced gravels of the Vista Verde Vineyard in San Benito County.”
My Review: Pale golden yellow in the glass. Bosch pear with orange blossom and lime notes on the nose. Fresh and flinty, it opened up to be a lovely wine with round, flavors of grilled pineapple with a touch of olive juice and lime on the finish. An excellent summer patio wine. January 2022
2019 I. Brand & Family Pinot Gris, Eden Rift Vineyard, Cienega Valley, San Benito County, 11.5% ABV, $30 (#634*)
My Review: Light orange like a lollipop in the glass. Very smooth on the palate with a pleasant tartness on the finish. We liked this wine. October 2021
2017 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast, 13% ABV, $30 (#635*)
Winemaker’s Notes from the Wine Crush: “This Grenache is mostly sourced from Monterey; it is de-stemmed and stainless steel fermented. The color is extremely pale ruby with, clean ripe aromas of both black and red cherry. Notes of sarsaparilla and a delicate restrained earthy quality.”
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Light in the glass and almost rusty in color, this bottling begins with aromas of dried cherry juice, chaparral spice and toasted sage. Lightly bodied on the palate, it’s an herbal display, showing thyme, sagebrush and toasted nuts, with touches of rosewater and red currant.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: A pretty, translucent ruby in the glass. Cherry, cranberry on the nose. Dances on the palate with light cherry and red currant, with a lingering intensity on the finish. December 2021
2014 La Marea Grenache, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone AVA, 14.1% ABV, $38 (#636*)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Bing cherry, roasting lamb, clay. smoldering dry leaves, sea shells. Soaring aromatics. Palate opens with savory elements: garrigue, cigar tobacco, spearmint, overlaying the unmistakable elegant texture of vineyards planted on calcium-rich soils. Chaparral, menthol, red cherry and cranberry on the finish.”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. Fresh cherry and raspberry on the nose. This was quite yummy with fresh red fruits on the palate and darker flavors of currant and leather on the finish. September 2021
2018 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains, 12.3% ABV, $42 (#637*)
About Bates Ranch: “Bates Ranch, the least known of the holy trinity of Bordeaux varietal sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains…located in the extreme southeastern end of the appellation, on Redwood Retreat Road… We are honored to receive the fruit from half of a small block of Cabernet Franc planted in 1978 for this bottling. Soils in this section of the vineyard are the red Franciscan series of volcanic influenced sedimentary rocks that runs along the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains.”
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Medium to Full-bodied. Lush, dark red berries, with purple lavender and hidden dried herb components on the nose. On palate, bright acidity, plays against tannic structure. Followed by a burst of dark red fruits, balsamic reduction, and the expected herbal, bay leaf, oregano, dried basil, with touches of a peppery edge on the finish.”
My Review: Dark ruby in color. Red fruits on the nose. Smooth and fresh, with a medium palate of raspberry, cherry and plum. This is a lighter, more delicate Cab Franc – a great food wine. January 2022
2012 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $22 (#638*)
Wine Enthusiast – 87 points: “Ian Brand’s stab at this grape shows a lot of black rock minerality and bloody meats on the nose, layered across blueberry syrup and sour cherry elements. The palate is much lighter than other takes on this varietal, showing menthol-laced flavors of blackberries and tobacco.” Matt Kettmann, June 2015
My Review: Inky ruby in the glass. Dark plum and blueberry on the nose. Soft blueberry and blackberry fruit on the palate, enveloped by a licorice finish. October 2021
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 6 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
We’ve been consuming some really good, older California Cabernet Sauvignon and French Bordeaux wines lately. These wines can be incredible when one is able to demonstrate self-restraint and hold onto them. We are talking about wines are made to age vice more recent trends to make them consumable young.
Going shopping in our own collection, my husband dug out this well-aged Cabernet Sauvignon from the Santa Cruz Mountains. At 21 years old, it was deemed “old enough to drink” by Mr. H. This wine has sparked a whole conversation about a Decanting Monterey Wine Pod excursion to that region in the near future. What’s your favorite winery from the Santa Cruz Mountains? Where else should we go? Please leave me a comment!
About Mount Eden: “Mount Eden Vineyards is a small historic wine estate perched at 2000 feet overlooking Silicon Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountain Appellation, about 50 miles south of San Francisco. Founded in 1945, it is recognized as one of the original “boutique” California winery properties, focusing on small lots of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mount Eden’s lineage of estate bottled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is the longest in California. Planted in austere, infertile Franciscan shale on a cool, exposed mountaintop, these low-yielding estate vineyards have consistently produced world-class wines for over a half-century. In 2007 Mount Eden acquired an additional 55 acre wine estate in the Saratoga foothills, which was christened Domaine Eden…”
About Mount Eden Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: “The heritage of Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon dates back to the 1890s, when the famed viticulturist Emmett Rixford of Woodside, California, obtained selected cuttings from Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux, France. Rixford planted his famous La Questa Vineyard with these selections, in the same proportions as found at Margaux.
“In the late 1940s Martin Ray planted his first Cabernet vineyard with cuttings from the La Questa Vineyard. The present-day Estate Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in the early 1980s using cuttings taken from these vines. Yields are low, typically one to two tons per acre. Soils are very thin (1-12 inches), with a dominant base of Franciscan shale. The climate is cool, especially for Cabernet, and influenced by the vineyard’s altitude and its proximity to San Francisco bay and the Pacific Ocean. The vines are trellised in a modern fashion, which allows for a more uniform ripening. The vineyard also contains small blocks of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.”
2001 Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, $118 (release: $35) (#631*)
About the 2001 Vintage: “Followers of California Cabernet vintages have by now heard the good news about the 2001 vintage. Full crop levels, superb moderate weather, no rain at harvest, ideal picking, and so it was on this mountaintop.”
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “This ageable wine is young and tannic now, with an astringent finish. Cherry and blackberry stuffing is down there for the long haul. Best after 2010 and beyond.” 6/2005
My Review: Very dark in color. Bell pepper and mellow on the nose. Medium weight with a smooth palate. Upon opening, some bell pepper and cherry on the plate with a touch of ash on the finish. By day 2, darker berries and smoke on the palate with dark cherry flavors on the finish. February 2022
Visiting Mount Eden (from their website): “Located up a remote two-mile private road, Mount Eden is delighted to offer tasting by appointment…Seated on our veranda with beautiful views of the Santa Clara Valley, you will taste three of our highly rated wines.” Weekdays only for 6 or fewer guests – see reservation information here.
Now that in-person venues are reopening more fully, wine class is back! I’ve signed up to present Monterey wines to 2 different organizations in June back in DC and Northern Virginia. I like to represent as many of our sub-AVAs as I can – and definitely want the Santa Lucia Highlands in the mix. I used a Hahn Pinot Noir in my 2019 class and felt it was about time I went back to do a full tasting. Doggy Grooming Day provided the perfect opportunity. As always, feel free to comment or “like” this post – engagement is welcomed!
We were warmly greeted by Coby Shammas and Bill Anderson in their Carmel Plaza tasting room. Coby worked with me for my 2019 Northern Virginia American Wine Society class and Bill gave us a thorough tutorial on the winery, its vineyards, and the wines. We felt very special!
2020 Hahn Rose, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.2% ABV, $24 (#624)
Vintage Notes: “Vineyards planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands experience a long and dry growing season that results in wines with remarkable depth, complexity and ripe fruit flavors. Hahn’s SLH vineyards – Lone Oak, Doctor’s, Smith and Hook – are planted on a narrow bench at elevations ranging from 200 to 1,200 feet above sea level. Here, plentiful sun and well-drained soils aid concentration and flavor development.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Beautiful bright salmon in color, this Rosé opens with aromas of fresh raspberry, strawberry, citrus blossom, guava and hints of rose petal. Bright acidity highlights flavors of juicy strawberry and Bing cherry, which are complemented with clean mineral notes on a lingering finish.”
My Review: Pink, almost orange in the glass. Sweet citrus blossoms with a hint of tangerine on the nose. Balanced with good Pinot Noir flavors and minerality shining on the back end. Very smooth. I was planning on using this wine in one of my wine classes, but it sold out before I could seal the deal. Now I am looking forward to the 2021 release! February 2022
2019 Hahn Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $25 (#625)
Vintage Notes: “About average winter rainfall provided good soil moisture profile for the start of the growing season. Budbreak started the last week of February, mostly in younger blocks, with the rest popping out mid-March. Canopies were at arm’s length by the end of April with no signs of cap fall until the middle of May. Veraison started slightly later than normally, towards the end of July, which led to a later start of harvest. The weekend of 9/14, we had a heat spike, but after three days the weather returned to normal. The harvest started fast, but overall had a beautiful even pace with cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures throughout the end of season. The quality of the fruit was outstanding, resulting in wine with beautiful color, concentrated flavors, balanced tannins, round mouthfeel and soft acidity.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Lively aromas of citrus, orange blossom with hints of tropical fruit and butterscotch. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied with a silky, smooth mouthfeel and balanced acidity. Flavors of lemon, pineapple and pear, combined with delicate butter notes and creamy minerality, lead to an elegant long finish.”
My Review: Light golden in the glass. Butter, a hint of caramel and grilled pineapple on the nose. Very balanced and not overdone – the toast on the barrels is just right. Minerality on the finish. This would also be a great example of a representative SLH Chardonnay for one of my classes. February 2022
Vintage Notes: “The fruit for this wine was sourced from our estate Ste. Philippe vineyard in the Arroyo Seco appellation. Located south of the Santa Lucia Highlands, this vineyard lies in a dry riverbed with sandy-loam soils affording excellent drainage. Arroyo Seco river stones, or “Greenfield Potatoes,” named for the adjacent town of Greenfield, CA, are unique to this region and integral to the soil as they store and release heat. Cool winds channeling South from Monterey Bay through the Salinas Valley contribute to an extended growing season, ensuring complexity and intensity of the fruit.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Aromas of red and black cherries, red currant, and strawberry with notes of violet and rose petals. On the palate, layers of red fruit and fresh berries, rhubarb pie with a touch of warm spices complemented by vanilla notes and integrated oak on a long delicate finish.”
My Review: Garnet in the glass. A sweetness on the nose with red raspberries and chocolate. Some good fruit on the palate, with a traditional Pinot Noir finish. We heard this is called “the yummy Pinot.” February 2022
Vintage Notes: “The year started with about a half of the average rainfall amount and most of the pruning was finished by the end of January. March storms brought some more rain and all blocks had some sign of budbreak by the end of the month. Blooming season was longer than average due to cooler weather and heavy marine layer influence. Consistent and mellow summer temperatures ensured slower fruit maturation and provided more time for development of flavors, color and depth, which led to another outstanding vintage in the Santa Lucia Highlands.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “This medium-bodied red is dark ruby in color with aromas of black cherry, strawberry and notes of vanilla and spice. A delicate mouthfeel features further flavors of dark fruits, black currant and strawberry with hints of spice and toasted oak accompanied by silky tannins and a persistent, lengthy finish.”
My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Hint of cranberry and red berry on the nose. Cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry with a tang on the finish – not cloying. February 2022
Vintage Notes: “Varying microclimates and soils throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands naturally make different varietals excel in this remarkable appellation. With this understanding, we set out to craft a true Santa Lucia Highlands blend, featuring superlative varietals within this AVA. This blend of Grenache (72%), Petite Sirah (14%) and Syrah (14%) makes for a full-bodied, perfectly balanced wine.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Enticing aromas of black cherry, strawberry mousse, white pepper and hints of vanilla. A delicate mouthfeel features further flavors of red berries, black cherry and strawberry with a touch of violets and spice on an elegant medium finish.”
My Review: Rich ruby in the glass. Touch of sweet, smoke and spice on the nose, like a BBQ. Rich red and black berries on the palate. We liked this wine and took some home. February 2022
2018 Hahn Malbec, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#629)
Winery Notes (from our tasting): 100% Malbec grown at 1200 feet in the Sant Lucia Highlands in that sweet spot of the Hook Vineyard, where these other big reds come from. A somewhat surprising spot in the otherwise cooler, shadier Santa Lucia Highlands! 16 months in the barrel, 60% new oak.
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. A subdued nose and super dry on the finish. Smooth and mild. I would have preferred to taste this before the cuvee! February 2022
2018 Hahn Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#630)
Vintage Notes: (See Grenache notes above)
Winery Tasting Notes: “Our 2018 Syrah displays rich and expressive aromatics of dark fruits, blackberries, blueberries, white pepper and violets. The palate mimics the aromas adding rich texture and intrigue with silky tannins and a gentle toasty finish. Rich and luscious, it rounds out with chewy, thick tannins and a long finish.”
My Review: Jammy, plum and yum! We tasted this wine at home. This is a surprisingly good Syrah from a rare, warm, high altitude vineyard in SLH. I would like to get more of this! Our Decanting Monterey wine pod partners also enjoyed this wine. My husband stood alone. February 2022
Hahn Tasting Rooms are located a their estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, as well as in Carmel Plaza. You can find more information and make a reservation here.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
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