In January, our COVID Wine Pod partners invited us over to celebrate their daughter receiving a final job offer in Washington DC. After appropriately celebrating with Champagne, a mystery wine appeared.
First, we did a proper toast with real Champagne. Then, we played Mystery Wine.
One of our favorite games to play in the pandemic has been Guess the Mystery Wine. This wine had already been decanted, no label in sight. We guessed New World. It was very familiar on the nose, but we couldn’t place it. It didn’t taste like a Cabernet Sauvignon – more like a Zinfandel, Syrah, or Petite Sirah. My guess was Petite Sirah. Our host’s better half guessed Syrah – bingo, she was right! A Law Estate Syrah from Paso Robles!
AboutLaw Vineyards: “We are committed to making exceptional wines through sustainable and organic farming practices with minimal inputs. Located above Peachy Canyon Road on the west side of Paso Robles, the vineyard is one of the highest in the area at 1,600 to 1,900 feet. It is planted in high density, small-lot blocks. The extreme slopes, limestone soils, and multiple aspects create the distinct canvas and palette from which we work.”
About the 2017 Intrepidfrom the winery: “The Intrepid’s dense purple juice presents an alluring nose of brown sugar, fleshy, dark fruits, black pepper, violets and baked blueberry pie. It maintains a sense of finesse, through the balance of course tannins, juicy acidity and mid palate weight. Despite all the decadence it offers, it never seems over the top; a humble extrovert if you will. It stays flawlessly balanced, has a lively, ample texture, and delivers a moreish finish. Not just for the Northern Rhône crowd, it’s a brilliant representation of this terroir that will keep for years.” Jeb Dunnuck rated this wine 98 points!
93 Points – Wine Enthusiast: “Those seeking wines of tremendous power and unctuous oak will enjoy this booming bottling, which was aged in 71% new barrels and begins with aromas of milk chocolate, cassis, maple butter and purple flowers. It’s thick and lush on the palate, where caramelized black-fruit, creamy cappuccino and bold baking-spice flavors go big.” Matt Kettmann, 5/2021
My Review: Very dark and dense ruby in the glass. Black fruit, cardamom and vanilla on the nose. Intense dark fruit and cassis on the finish, with a touch of menthol and a lot of vanilla on the end, representing its high alcohol content. Still a bit more like a Petite Sirah to me! We enjoyed this wine. January 2022
You can purchase Law wines from the winery on line or at their tasting room. Check it out here. Tastings are daily except Wednesdays from 10-4, by reservation only.
*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 were seeking parking in Carmel Valley and saw a spot just outside Sal Rombi’s tasting room. We knew he was closed, but he was there – and invited us in. While we were there, Larry Bell came in to pass a flyer about Corral Wine’s new tasting room opening. He started to tell us about his wines – but he didn’t need to say too much – he had me at Sauvignon Blanc from Zabala Vineyard, one of my absolutely favorite combinations. We decided to change our plans for the afternoon to visit Corral Wines!
Larry BellSam
As a 5th generation local, Larry Bell told us a bit of his personal story, growing up in Salinas, his family ranch – Bell Ranch – with both cattle and vineyards, and a long career in tradeshows. He shared colorful stories about his grandfather. On the cool side, he was a pilot who made some daring flights including under the Bixby Bridge (did I hear that right?). On the tragic side, as a dairyman in his 30’s, his grandfather was making deliveries at the Toro Café and was attacked by banditos, leading to his premature death – a shocking story, reminding us that it really wasn’t that long ago that this area really was the wild, wild west. I’m sure there are many more stories yet to be heard!
If you get the chance, please stop by soon to try their terrific wines and welcome them to the neighborhood! Tell them I sent you! Their stylish and comfortable tasting room is located right between Parsonage and Chesebro at 19 East Carmel Valley Road in the old White Oaks shopping center.
About Corral Wine Co.: “Corral Wine Company is a production of Bell Family Vineyards. In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, we barreled our first batch of estate Pinot Noir. We’re still in that same barn, but we’ve made even more varietals from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast.
We’re a family-owned operations – we’re not fancy, but we make good wine.” Overall production is about 1500 cases.
They have two tasting: The Cellar Rats (referring to Larry and Skip) and The Maker, referring to their winemaker, Adrian.
Today, I am presenting 7 Corral wines. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website.
Winery Notes: “Bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit, such as guava and grapefruit dominate along with some fresh cut hay, lemon blossom, wet stone and racing acidity.”
My Review: Pale in the glass with a frgrant nose. Delicious palate of soft pineapple and white peach. Super good. January 2022
2020 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, $26 (#605*)
Winery Notes: “Bright and fresh aromas of strawberry and orange blossom, with nice, bright acidity.”
My Review: Pale salmon in the glass. Vey nice and balanced with a full-flavored kick. We liked this rose! January 2022
2018 Corral Zabala Vineyard Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco AVA, $34 (#606*)
Winery Notes: “Rich tropical aromatics such as grilled pineapple, ripe fruit, and toasted coconut with hints of vanilla. With a slight oaky characteristic enhancing the richness of the wine.”
My Review: Honey on the nose. Rich on the palate. The oak in this wine is very subtle. January 2022
2018 Corral Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $48 (#607*)
Winery Notes: Red fruit: cherry, raspberry, and strawberry. Savory with hints of smoked meat, leather, and mineral.” From Pavo Real (Spanish Springs) and KW Ranch.
My Review: Typical Pinot Noir on the nose, yet a richer palate than most local Pinot Noirs. January 2022
Winery Notes: “Full of flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, bay leaf, clove, and spice. Deep, rich fruit, with a long finish.”
My Review: Super dark ruby in the glass. Plum and dark cherry on the palate – big and rich. If I were playing Mystery wine, I’m not sure I would guess it was a Pinot Noir. We liked it quite a bit! January 2022
2018 Corral Petite Sirah , Paso Robles AVA, $52 (#610*)
Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit, black raspberries, tobacco, dark chocolate, cocoa, and toasted spices. Rich, powerful, with a long finish.”
My Review: Dark ruby/purple in the glass. Aromas and flavors of dark plum, blueberry and blackberry. Smooth, rich and delicious. One of my favorites! January 2022
Come say hello at our newly opened Tasting Room at 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA! Hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00ish pm; and closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
*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.
On a good doggie grooming day, I can squeeze in two wine tastings. On this day, after we went to Dawn’s Dream, we made it to Blair and enjoyed a full tasting before we got the hook to pick up our little one. We have a fondness for Blair, as it is the maiden name of one of my best friends. And it is more good wine from Arroyo Seco, one of my favorite sub-AVA’s in Monterey County.We’ve been lucky to catch Jeffrey Blair himself from time to time in their tasting room in Carmel Plaza.
Blair was one of the first wineries I wrote about in my private wine blog and an early Decanting Monterey post: https://decantingmonterey.com/blair-the-small-but-mighty-delfinas-vineyard/. If you haven’t yet subscribed to receive one blog post per week directly to your email, please do so in the bottom right corner below! I do not sell your information!
About Blair Wines: “Delfina’s Vineyard is the very heart and soul of the Blair Estates’ label. Named after our matriarch and beloved grandmother, the vineyard sits on the very first property purchased by our family’s grandparents in the 1920s. Delfina’s house still holds pride of place on the estate, where she would daily cook for the family and ranch workers. She inspired generations of our family; her passion for the land is the core value for our wines.
“Beginning in 2007, Delfina’s grandson Jeffrey Blair began planting Pinot Noir on the family’s old ranch. Jeffrey knew the potential for winegrowing in the area, given the success of vineyard estates in the Arroyo Seco and neighboring Santa Lucia Highlands’ appellations.
“The goal? To grow and produce the ultimate statement Pinot Noir; a Pinot Noir focused on this one piece of land, one piece of family history. Nothing less will suffice to honor Delfina’s memory. Today, Delfina’s Vineyard and the Blair Estate is planted to just over five acres of Pinot Noir, almost two acres of Chardonnay, and one block of Muscat. The “micro” nature of the project allows complete and total quality control from the vineyard to the bottling line – for truly artisan, limited releases of Blair Pinot Noir.”
They have won many medals for their wines, which they proudly display in the tasting room. One other item that caught my eye is the very helpful tab he includes in the wax caps of some of his wines – if only all wineries would make opening their wax-topped bottles so easy!
Today, I am presenting 6 Blair wines. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website. You can read more details about some of these wines here: https://www.blairwines.com/our-wines/Our-wines/
Winery Notes: “Using free run and a light press, 50% of the juice was fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels; the other 50% in small stainless steel barrels to preserve the lush fruit character. Battonage, lees stirring, was done once a week. The result is a limited release of only 106 cases that is everything a Pinot Gris should be…”
Wine Enthusiast – 89 Points: “Dried lemon peels, orange surf wax and a hint of nuts show on the nose of this bottling. It’s a complex wine on the palate, moving from lemon-like wax flavors to blanched almonds, all with a viscous length to the finish.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: Golden in the glass. Blue/cottage cheese on the nose. Meaty, cheesy, a very distinctive flavor. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Orange-blossom, quinine, butter-poached peach and rich nut aromas show on the nose of this bottling. Sour orange-peel flavors hit the palate alongside cashew cream and seared lemon elements, with a dash of honeysuckle on the finish.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: 100% new French oak. Tropical notes with a lime finish. Very balanced and delicious. December 2021
Wine Enthusiast Review of the 2016 Vintage: “Roasted cherry, crushed clove and earthy mushroom aromas show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. There’s a sandalwood spice to the sip, where ripe cherries and roasted strawberry flavors are spiced by mace and cinnamon.” Matt Kettmann
My Review: From a warmer climate vineyard just 1 mile away, this displayed darker fruit notes and a richer palate. I liked it and took a bottle home!December 2021
Winery Notes: “From the heart and sole of our Estate Vineyard comes this complex and layered Pinot Noir. Utilizing clones Pommard 4, 115, 667, 777, 828, 943 and DRC we have let Delfina’s Vineyard once again speak her special language. With no interference in the winery the result is a more Burgundian than California style of Pinot Noir.”
Wine Enthusiast – 89 Points: “Baked red-cherry, clove, star anise and cinnamon aromas make for a ripe expression on this bottling, which is starting to show some of its age. It’s lively on the palate, where snappy raspberry and ripe strawberry meet with clove and more baking-spice flavors.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: So different and very light with black tea notes and a light finish. December 2021
Winery Notes from the label: “Walking Delfina’s on harvest morning, I left the refractometer behind and hand sampled for the very best grapes. Trusting my palate, I selected just enough fruit for 5 barrels worth of truly exceptional Pinot Noir. Clone 943 came from rows 6, 7, 10, 11 and 13. Rows 17, 19, and 21 thru 23 gave us clone DRC. This is the ultimate 2016 vintage statement for our home vineyard.” – Jeffrey Blair
Wine Enthusiast – 91 Points: “Dried cherry, sandalwood and smoked meat aromas show in this reserve bottling from a vineyard named after the proprietor’s grandmother. The full-flavored palate boasts roasted red-plum, sharp strawberry and roasted pork flavors, combining just enough fruit with plenty of savory tones.” Matt Kettmann, 11/2020
My Review: Jeffrey decides the grapes to go into the reserve before picking them! Oak on the nose, very balanced and richer. December 2021
Blair’s Tasting Room is located in Carmel Plaza, located off Mission Street between Ocean and 7th on the lower level. It is open for tastings daily – Sunday thru Thursday, 11 to 6; Friday & Saturday, 11 to 7. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery at the link above or at their tasting room.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
It is always a welcoming experience in the Dawn’s Dream Tasting Room!
It’s doggie grooming day once again – and an opportunity to visit another Carmel-By-the-Sea tasting room. We first discovered Dawn’s Dream when their tasting room was located in the old White Oak Shopping Center, now a winery row. We stop in from time to time, but it has been a while – and long overdue to write up their wines in Decanting Monterey!
About Dawn’s Dream: “With a passion for life and a head for business, Dawn Galante started producing award-winning wines in 2011 while maintaining a business model that allows for the opportunity to give back. Dawn’s passion for helping women and children equals her passion for making wine. With the goal to produce approachable wines of exceptional quality and elegance Dawn is sourcing fruit from the finest vineyards in California. With a focus on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé, the vineyards range from the coastal regions of Monterey County, to the warm, golden hills of Carmel Valley and Santa Lucia Highlands….” You can read more on the website about her start in the winery business working with her husband, Jack Gallante, creating her own winery and pursuing her philanthropic work.
Today, I am presenting 8 Dawn’s Dream wines. Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet.
Winery Notes: “Aromas of fresh, ripe white peach and nuances of clean, floral French oak barrels envelop your senses. A hint of spring honey leads into a palate of lean minerality and bright citrus flavors; finishing with Granny Smith apple and honeydew melon.” 93 points, Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Mild tropical notes, tart pineapple on the palate – very tasty. December 2021
Winery Notes: “The inaugural vintage! Bright minerality and toasted oak greet the senses, leading to a bone dry, lemon and lime mid palate, hinting at green apple and Bosc pear. The finish simultaneously cleanses with crisp acidity while coating the tongue with a touch of creamy vanilla. Named for Dawn’s second-born granddaughter with $5.00 of every bottle going to Peace of Mind Dog Rescue.”
My Review: Dusty yellow in the glass. A bit mellow on the nose. Butter on the palate, yet crisp with good minerality. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Aromatic hints of dried plum, exotic spice, and sweet cedar entice you in, while flavors of warm stewed black cherry and blackberry balance with cedar notes. This beautifully complex Pinot finishes with mild oak and lingering, soft, yet bright tannins.”
My Review: Translucent ruby in the glass with a big nose. Dusty rose, black tea and plum on the palate, a bit tannic, with a touch of sweetness on the finish. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Notes of Bing cherry, pomegranate and orange zest point the way to glimmers of dried raisins, black tea, and bergamot on the palate; light toasty oak lends itself to a soft and lush finish. An incredibly elegant wine!”93 points, Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Pretty ruby in the glass. Fragrant on the nose with a bit of barnyard on the palate and a touch acidic. December 2021
Winery Notes: “With a deep maroon-brick color, this wine exhibits soft, dark leather, cedar, and cranberry fragrances. Flavors of ripe blackberry, dried plum and allspice are prominent, and bold tannins make the Nicole Pinot Noir the driest of Dawn’s trilogy. One of our most food friendly wines!”
My Review: Dark, translucent ruby in the glass. A touch of barnyard on the nose. Coca cola, plum and cherry on the palate with a slight bitterness on the finish. Our favorite of the 3. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Pedigreed Pinot Noir clones and new French oak come together to create this shining star in Dawn’s portfolio. Dark berry, violet and espresso bean aromatics lead to flavors of dried blackberry, anise and vanilla. The new French oak presence gives this “beautiful dream” a toasty, bold finish.” 93 points, Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Dark ruby, almost purple yet somewhat translucent in the glass. Good cherry flavors, very balanced. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Springtime wild berries intrigue on the nose, while piquant notes of pomegranate, raspberry, and candied orange-peel dazzle the tip of your tongue with a bright yet sumptuous acidity. The finish is silk-soft and swift, making this 2016 vintage the most expressive release of our beloved “Alyssa” pinot yet!”
My Review: Very purple in color. Mellow nose. Smooth and balanced with black tea and cranberry flavors. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Ripe plum notes prevail throughout, with traces of earthy minerality, white pepper and blueberry. Bold tannins, finishing with spice and leather make our inaugural Syrah, named for Dawn’s first-born granddaughter, a first of its kind and daring addition.” 92 points, Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Inky purple in color. Deep plum on the nose – smells so smooth. A bit of spice and bubble gum on the finish. We took one of these home to try again later. December 2021
Dawn’s Dream Tasting Room, NW Corner of 7th and San Carlos, is open for tastings daily – clickhere for the details. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery hereor at their tasting room.
The Decanting Monterey COVID Wine Pod had been talking about going to Caraccioli’s tasting room in Carmel-By-The-Sea for a long time. A plankholder of the wine pod is an expert on French champagnes. I wasn’t going to go there without her. With the holidays quickly approaching and visitors in town, we finally made it happen in mid-December.
I almost walked right by their tasting room, on the same block as Lepe Cellars – on Dolores between Ocean and 7th. It looked more like an upscale bar than what we are used to finding in a basic tasting room – there is nothing basic about this venue! We had reserved our tasting in advance (highly recommended) and were placed in a quiet corner. Perfect.
Everything about this venue was upscale – the nice ambiance heightened by quality, professional presentations by staff who didn’t flinch at my peskiest question. We felt very well treated as consumers and would highly recommend a visit if you are a sparkling wine lover or celebrating a special event. We walked away with various vintages of the Brut Cuvée and the latest Brut Rosé!
The first thing I learned was that the estate vineyard for Caraccioli Cellars is the highly esteemed Escolle Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. We have long been enjoying some of our region’s very best Chardonnays by various local producers using grapes sourced from this vineyard. Now we know the winery that owns the vineyard!
Our New Year’s Eve started with 2 Caraccioli sparkling wines!
When we decided to have the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod to our house to celebrate New Year’s Eve, we were very pleasantly surprised to see that our French Champagne lovers brought the 2013 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvée! And we had already planned to serve our sole bottle of the 2015 Brut Rosé! Starting our evening with Caraccioli sparkling wines was an amazing way to kick off our celebration of the new year! We then moved directly into our big reds, our true wheelhouse!
Kicking off our New Year’s Eve with the Caraccioli Brut Rose!
About Caraccioli Cellars : “A family run winery, Caraccioli Cellars takes pride in developing wines that deliver an expression true to vintage and site. Founded in 2006, Caraccioli Cellars’ commitment starts in the vineyard through our utilizing solely Santa Lucia Highlands’ grapes. We aim to highlight the quality of our local Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes by producing fruit centric still wines, and Brut and Brut Rosé in our sparkling wine program. Michel Salgues, previously head winemaker at Roderer Estate, is our head winemaker and through his techniques and expertise the family vision is precisely executed.
“Through light handed winemaking we aim to achieve elegance through rigorous control. Looking to showcase vintage variation our wines receive minimal manipulation, and in 2015 all wines produced will be 100% estate coming from Escolle. Elimination of outside grape sources only supports our efforts to heighten control in every way possible. The maturation of Escolle gives us the oppertunity to fully control every decision that will be made at the vineyard.”
Today, I am presenting 6 Caraccioli Cellars wines – 5 from our wine tasting on December 10th – and one more from New Year’s Eve.
Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet (I confess to correcting any typos…).
Winery Notes: “Translucent yellow. Persistent and vigorous pinpoint bubbles; generous mousse. Rich red and citrus fruits highlighting juicy honey crisp apple and fresh lemon. Yeasty glazed donut; brioche toast balanced with soft florals and chalky minerality. Racy lime, sugared lemon wedge, pineapple and kumquat fruit notes backed by hints of integrated yeastiness throughout. Very bright and fruit forward, salivating crisp finish.” 93 points Vinous.
My Review: Light golden in the glass. Yeast, pineapple and a touch of perfume on the nose. Apricot on the palate with a grapefruit twist on the finish. Nice, bright acidity – we liked this sparkling wine! December 2021
Winery Notes: “Pale golden color, miniscule bubbles coming from the core with a pronounced yet fine mousse. Nuanced fruit aromas including Macintosh apple, ripe apricot and lemon zest. Underpinning floral notes enhanced with rich vanilla, creamy lemon and honeycomb. Opens with crisp savory acidity on the front palate. Well structured mouth feel, delivers tastes of citrus and stone fruit with hints of oyster shell minerality. Finishing with a soft creamy, well integrated lingering acidity.” 92 points Wine Enthusiast.
My Review: Mellow on the nose. Light lemon on the palate, Less acidic than the 2013. Light and bubbly with a touch of minerality. I preferred this one to the 2013. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Translucent salmon with radiant peach undertones. Fine, energetic and pronounced mousse. Aromas of raspberry sorbet, strawberry, watermelon and tangerine zest. Hints of jasmine and honeycomb. Bright and complex acidity on the front palate wrapped in elements of citrus. Bursts of juicy raspberry and stone fruit balanced with subtle, crisp finish.
My Review: Beautiful peach in color. This was crisp with the very pleasant flavors including strawberry – very balanced acidity. I highly recommend this wine if you can get it! My favorite of all the sparklings! December 2021
Winery Notes: “Pale straw, light golden hue. Lemon meringue, honey dew melon along with tropical pineapple, kiwi, lychee and guava. A flirty balance of fruit, delicate white jasmine flower and salty sea. Creamy mouthfeel coupled with structural integrated fruit throughout the sip. Fruit notes reminiscent of green apple, pear, pineapple, candied peach and nectarine. Soft florals balanced with a brined mid palate acidity, mouthwatering finish that showcases the bright fruit.” 94 points, Wine Enthusiast.
My Review: Pale in the glass. Touch of soft pineapple, a little butter and woodiness on the nose “like the Lone Cypress” or a cut shrub. Clean, nice, some minerality. December 2021
2020 Caraccioli Cellars Rosé of Pinot Noir, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 12.88% ABV, $25 (#579*)
Love the magnum bottle for the Rose of Pinot Noir!
Winery Notes: “Vibrant pale pink. Pure and expressive bouquet of melon particularly sweet watermelon and ripe honeydew. Secondary notes of lychee, mandarin and an overall pleasing citrus. Elegant and refreshing while also soft and bright. Flavors of melon, ripe kiwi and an assortment of tropical fruit. Highly quaffable with crisp and lengthy mouthwatering finish.” 94 points, Wine Enthusiast.
My Review: Pale pink in the glass. Watermelon on the nose. Mellow and refreshing. Low acidity. Would pair well with a watermelon feta salad with some sea salt. December 2021
Winery Notes: “Deep ruby red. Rich luscious nose. Balanced hints of spice, earth and fruit. Cherry cola, plum, dried cranberry, black pepper, cinnamon and notes of savory chaparral throughout. Big and bold in the mouth. Luxardo, Bing and black cherry cola along with raspberry and fig. Complex soft tannin on the front palate, structured acidity through the lengthy, strong finish.” 95 points, Wine Enthusiast.
My Review: Cherry cola and burnt grape (wire) on the nose. Earthy in the cheeks. Munchy mid-palate with a bitter aftertaste. A “perfect expression of a Central Coast Pinot.” December 2021
Caraccioli Cellars’ Tasting Room is located at 7393 Dolores St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, on Dolores between Ocean and 7th. It is open for indoor tastings daily from 12-6, opening at 11 on the weekends. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended – call 831-622-7722 or email your specifics to Samantha@caracciolicellars.com. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery’s website or at their tasting room.
As promised last week, here is my catchup post of 7 Monterey County wines/vintners to close out 2021! I’ve reserved a few “fr emergency posts” and am excited about the winery visits I’ll be starting with in January! If you haven’t signed up to receive my blog by email, do so today – in the bottom right corner of this page!
Before we get started, may I ask, “What are you drinking New Year’s Eve?” Please share in the comments below. We might be enjoying a Caraccioli Cellars Brut Rose – to be determined!
2013 Chesebro Las Arenas, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.6% ABV, $27 (#564*)
While I didn’t have any photos of the 2013, I hope these 2015 Las Arenas images will do!
I presented the 2016 vintage of this wine back in June. This is one of the wines I like to present in my East Coast wine classes!
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Black raspberry, blackberry, lavender and pepper show on the deeply purple nose of this blend of 67% Grenache and 33% Syrah. Dense black fruit shows first on the palate, followed by a zesty explosion of acidity, flowery spices and cola.” Matt Kettmann, 12/2016
My Review: Garnet in the glass. Anise and berries on the nose. Berries, cherry and leather on the palate with lingering anise flavors. August 2021
2016 Rombi Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, $75 (#565*)
Sal Rombi had recommended his club members open one of his Petite Sirahs as it was drinking beautifully. We opened this one by mistake, but it was a very happy mistake! I include this wine here since Sal is one of our local vintners!
My Review: Very dark ruby, almost purple in the glass. Plum and blueberry on the nose. Rich on the palate brimming with smooth dark fruits: blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and a touch of smoke. This is fruity yet elegant, smooth and rich, with a little tobacco on the finish. Very pleased with how these wines have matured! September 2021
From the Bernardus Website: “All our Sauvignon Blanc grapes come from a block specially planted for Bernardus in the Griva Vineyard with the celebrated “Musqué” clone. All our grapes are hand-picked during many successive pickings at various ripeness levels in order to have a broad palette of flavors and acidity levels from which to create our final blend…
“Tasting notes: Our 2020 Griva bottling shows aromas of lime zest accented by grassy notes. The palate is soft and long, exhibiting crisp fruit flavors with notes of lime and grapefruit. Our 2020 version exhibits a beautiful balance of rich texture and a gently crisp, refreshing acidity.” 10,550 cases produced
My Review: Quite pale in color. Fresh, tropical notes on the nose – honeysuckle and white nectarine. Smooth, tropical flavors of papaya and gentle pineapple with bright acidity and a lime zest twist on the finish. We liked this wine so much that I brought a couple of bottles home – it remains a favorite! October 2021
2018 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $80 (#567*)
From the Bernardus Website: “The Santa Lucia Highlands are known as one of the premier Pinot Noir appellations of the world. One reason for this lofty reputation is Rosella’s Vineyard, one of the finest Pinot and Chardonnay vineyards in California. Gary Franscioni planted his home ranch, named for his lovely wife, in the heart of the Highlands. His home vineyard is planted with a selection of the best available Pinot Noir clones and farmed with unparalleled passion and attention to detail. We at Bernardus are fortunate to have access to three small blocks: 2 planted with clone 777, and the third with the celebrated Pisoni clone.
“Our 2018 Rosella’s Pinot displays gorgeous aromas of ripe red fruits along with notes of cola and toasty oak. The palate is beautifully lush, exhibiting bright ripe red cherry and plum flavors, accented by subtle hints of spice.” 93 points – Vinous. 866 6-packs produced
My Review: Bright ruby in the glass. Nice mellow cherry and cedar on the nose. Oak (structured tannins) on the palate – dark cherry and berries (slightly sweet fruit) with leather on the finish. Very good. October 2021
2018 Boëté Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, 14% ABV, $50 (#568*)
During one of our visits to the winery this year, we got to taste this wine – the first time I know of that they bottled a Merlot as a single varietal – it usually is blended in their popular Cheval Rouge. They weren’t sure they were going to continue to bottle it alone – we encourage them to do so, *if* supply permits! You can find all their available wines here: https://www.boetewinery.com/
My Review: Purple in the glass. Rich and juicy in the mouth with some solid dark fruits, blackberry and black currant. Balanced and very smooth on the finish. This wine is a big hit. I just bought more of it! October 2021
2017 Spring Cabernet Franc, Carmel Valley, 14.34% ABV, $35 (#569*) 86% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon
We opened this wine just after my recent, big post about their amazing wines.
From the Bunter Spring Winery Website: “This wine is from a historic organic vineyard in the hills high above the Carmel River. The AVA gives a distinct and recognizable character to its fruit, something midway between Napa and Paso Robles- which is exactly where it is! Super ripe red fruit flavors with a whiff of lavender and spice.” 20 months in French and American oak barrels, 50% new.
My Review: Blueberry and blackberry on the nose and palate. Smooth and perfectly balanced. I really was impressed by this Cab Franc and hope we can get some more! November 2021
2017 Silvestri Red Ranger Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $75 (#570*)
My Review: Deep purple in color. Dark fruit on the nose. A bit heavy handed dark fruit upon opening with a tobacco finish. Smoother after it opened up, rounding into blackberry and plum with a touch of mint on the dark fruit palate. Some clove on the finish. Paired very well with dark chocolate. I think it is still too young to drink this wine and we should have decanted it. November 2021
When I reduced my posts to once a week and started hitting the tasting rooms, I didn’t realize how far behind I might get! I’ve decided to present some of these single wines tasted from August to November over the next few weeks to close out 2021. Today I am presenting 7 of them from outside Monterey County, in the order of tasting date. Next week I’ll have a collection of Monterey County wines/wineries to close out 2021. Starting in January, I’ll be back to winery tastings with the occasional one-off wines.
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2015 Donati The Immigrant, Paicines, San Benito County, 14.5% ABV, $35 (#555*)
From the Donati Family Vineyard Website: “Albino Donati immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1907. Just like many others who came to America, he arrived with a commitment to create a better life for his family. His hard work, determination, and perserverance have created footsteps for our family to follow for generations. The creation of “The Immigrant” is in honor of his legacy.”
Wine Enthusiast – 89 points: This bottling is very shy on the nose, offering tight boysenberry and wet gravel aromas with patience. The palate is a bit flat as well, but eventually delivers flavors of baked cherry and baking spice, held together by tense tannins. MATT KETTMANN 12/2018
My Review: Ruby in the glass. Mellow berries on the nose. Very smooth on the palate, nice berries, cedar and mint. This is one of those super smooth reds I could just keep drinking. I would have given it a much higher score – in the 92-point range. August 2021
2019 Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant, Central Coast, 13.5% ABV, $16 (#556*)
Wine class chose the varietal Cinsault, intending a foreign wine. I found this Bonny Doon wine at Whole Foods in Washington DC. My notes say I paid $23 for it, but it is generally available for less than that!
Winemaker’s Notes from the bottle: “In 1954 the mayor of Châteauneuf-du-Pape was quite perturbed and apprehensive that UFOs are flying cigars might do damage to their vineyards. So right thinking man all, they passed a legal ordinance prohibiting such landings. The ordinance has worked well, as there have been no such landings since the adoption of this far sighted legislation. The stellar composition of our cigar Volant call flying cigar” contains 56% Grenache 30% since so 13% Sarah and 1% petite Sirah.”
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points & Best Buy: A delicate color in the glass, this blend of 56% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 13% Syrah and 1% Petite Sirah pops with bright raspberry, crushed rock, turned earth and lilac aromas on the nose. The palate is tense with rocky edges and yet zesty with pomegranate and strawberry flavors. MATT KETTMANN
My Review: Ruby, somewhat translucent in the glass. A little sulfur on the nose upon opening. Cherry and leather on the palate. Nice on a hot DC evening. August 2021
2017 DeRose Dry Farmed Zinfandel, Cedolini Vineyard, Cienega Valley, San Benito County, 15.1% ABV, $45 (#557*)
My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Berry jam and crab (shellfish) on the nose. Berry pie on the palate – it’s a berry-o-rama in the mouth, chalky, slightly sweet, slightly ripe or cooked, with a peppery finish. September 2021
A DC friend (Scott Gudes) brought this wine from his very first wine tasting in Paso Robles! We had it with our dinner at Poppy Hall – very nice.
From the label: “David Bailey planted this vineyard on the old family property on Peachey Canyon Road. This is a head pruned, dry farmed vineyard. This wine is 100% Zinfandel – old time Paso baby! Yeahh! It is all you might expect and then just a wee bit more.”
My Review: Purple in the glass. Jammy and spicy on the nose. Juicy and smooth on the palate. Opened up nicely to dark berries with an even darker, intense fruit finish.October 2021
2015 Trinitas Old Vines Petite Sirah, Contra Costa County, 16.2% ABV, $36 (#559*)
I love a good Petite Sirah and found this for $18 at Costco!
From the Trinitas Website: “This is by no means elegant, its rather a massive hulking bruiser of a wine! In fact, this might be the most decadently textured dry red wine we’ve ever made. Which doesn’t surprise us. 2015 was not only the third year of the drought, but also the vines we source from in Contra Costa County are mainly planted in sandy soils, so they are well drained and receive much more heat. Trust us, this all shows in the wine! This deep, dark-purple elixir has skyrocketing aromas of baked blueberries, blackberries, and toasted vanilla. With just one sip, its heavenly texture completely saturates the palate with baked berry cobbler and vanilla bean flavors that are lifted by dusty tannins as it trails off into a very persistent finish. This is so opulent, juicy, and scrumptious, that it’s nearly impossible to resist. Which is probably why Wine Enthusiast awarded it 93 points and Editor’s Choice!”
My Review: Inky in the glass with aromas of smooth dark berries. Very dark blueberry and blackberry fruit on the palate with cassis and black currant on the finish. Very smooth. Great value for the flavor – I would buy this again!October 2021
2017 Turley Zinfandel, Duarte Vineyard, Contra Costa County, 15.3% ABV, $33 (#560*)
From the Turley website: “This wine is an homage to Joe Duarte, a prominent grape grower in Contra Costa who first introduced Turley to the incredible vineyards of the area. The wine is comprised of fruit from the turn-of-the-century Evangehlo, Mori, and Salvador vineyards, planted between 1890 and 1960.Thanks to the sandy soils and impressive age of the vines, the wine has some of the softest, silkiest tannins we’ve ever seen in a Zinfandel.”
My Review: Very dark ruby in color. Smoke and plum on the nose. Jammy brambleberry with spice on the palate. A spicy finish with a touch of tobacco. If you stumble on a Turley Duarte, pick it up – I usually recommend decanting Turley wines. October 2021
2015 The Ojai Vineyard Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley,13.5% ABV, $45 (#561*)
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.
*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 virtual wine class selected the theme of Paso Robles. Lucky me, I had picked up this Niner “kitchen sink” wine perhaps at Costco, perhaps at Safeway, sometime back. Perfect for the occasion. I didn’t know anything about Richard Niner or his wines, so this was a chance to explore and learn!
My classmates presented these Paso Robles wines:
2018 DAOU Pessimist Red Blend, 15.2% ABV, $22 (purchase price was $11), rated 92 points
2015 Pasoport Wine Company Per Caso RHN Blend, 14.3% ABV, $44 ($11 on WTSO)
2012 Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.1% ABV, $20 (purchased for $15)
About Niner Wine Estates: “We currently farm a total of 240 acres across three different vineyards in Paso Robles and Edna Valley, and make all our wine in our LEED Certified Winery at Heart Hill Vineyard. We are known for our estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as our flagship blend Fog Catcher; however, we grow a wide range of varietals and specialize in small lot bottlings that we allocate primarily to our Wine Club Members.
“After growing up on a farm in West Virginia, Richard Niner spent his career building small businesses across a wide variety of industries. One of his business ventures brought him to Paso Robles in the early 1990s and he was immediately drawn to the potential of both the land and the people who lived here. After a long search, Richard and Pam purchased their first vineyard, Bootjack Ranch, in 2001 and spent the next decade building a tasting room and winery, finding and planting two additional vineyards, and assembling the current team. In 2013 they retired and their son Andy took over the day-to-day management of the business.”
Winemaker Notes from Wine.com: “The goal for the Bootjack Red was to treat each varietal separately using techniques that preserve the best characteristics of each. As a foundation, Cabernet Sauvignon was added for structure, Malbec for a juicy component, Cabernet Franc for fine tannin and length, and Merlot for subtle fruit and finesse. All other varietals in the blend are accent pieces, each adding spice and different fruit characteristics. The barrels selected along with the amount of time spent in barrel brought all of the individual pieces together in a cohesive way.”
My Review: Dark ruby, almost purple in the glass. Caramel and blackberry on the nose. Bold up front with smooth blackberry and blueberries on the palate. Intense dark fruit and a touch of ash on the dry, slightly tannic finish. Balanced, mellow and very drinkable. September 2021
You can buy Niner wines online or at their tasting room in Paso Robles by reservation only. My Wine Pod partners have been there and say it is fabulous – including a restaurant on site – sounds like a great outing!
*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.
A September virtual wine class theme was a “white from anywhere in the U.S.” While some of my good friends had already presented this Carol Shelton wine in the “Monterey South” wine class in August, I reserved the right to taste it myself. I had the great fortune to share this with my COVID Wine Pod members over Labor Day Weekend. As Rhône wine lovers, they truly appreciated this white blend from Paso Robles.
I have 2 more Carol Shelton wines to include today: the 2015 and 2017 Peaceland Vineyard Zinfandels from Sonoma County. During my August stay in DC, I spent time with my former neighbors, who served the 2015 vintage with dinner and we received the 2017 in our Spring 2021 shipment, which we opened after I got back from DC. Aren’t I lucky!
As we weigh the pros and cons of various wineries we belong to, my husband recently stated, “I hope you didn’t cancel your Carol Shelton membership – her wine is some of the best we are getting.” I don’t think there is a higher compliment.
From the Club Newsletter: “This is the “best yet” vintage of Carol’s all-time favorite wine; it is a “red-drinker’s white,” a complex alternative to the more one-dimensional white varietal wines like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. *Coquille is pronounced “ko-keel” and it is French for scallop, like the scalloped shells on the Shelton family coat of arms, and now on our sexy new label!
“Best White Rhone, Platinum Medal, 94 pts at BOTH the San Diego Int’l Wine Challenge and the Monterey Int’l Wine competition, plus 91 pts from BOTH Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast!” 1362 cases produced.
Winery Tasting Notes: “Exotic nose of spicy pears and white peaches, almond paste/marzipan,
a touch of honeysuckle perfume. Multi-dimensional (many layers), a hard-to-describe range of aromatics, intriguing, almost mysterious! In the mouth it is crisply dry yet creamy and round and full-bodied, with nice almond paste on crisp-yet-juicy pear fruit.”
My Friend’s Review: Yellow in color. More minerality on the palate than fruit and a touch acidic on the palate. Really brings the Paso/Central Coast terroir. Complex – but not robust. August 2021
My Review: Lemony in the glass. Honey and grass/hay on the nose. Minerally and lean, in a good way. The sweetness of the Viognier shines through in this blend. My French Rhône lovers liked this wine. September 2021
2015 Carol Shelton Zinfandel Peaceland Vineyard, Fountaingrove District, Sonoma County, 14.8% ABV, $36 (#550*)
About the Peaceland Vineyard: “On a mountaintop in the Mayacamas Range, Peaceland Vineyard sits quietly on 200 acres, with less than 40 acres planted to vines. On the eastern side of the Mayacamas, the vineyard has a cooling influence that allows for a longer growing season than its Napa Valley neighbors. Its higher elevation puts it above the fog but below the frost line, making it the ideal spot to grow grapes. While they grow a variety of vinifera at Peaceland Vineyards, Carol selects the Zinfandel and a tiny bit of Petite Sirah to make a single vineyard designate wine from this amazing vineyard.”
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “From a vineyard planted to three clones of the variety, then blended with 12% Petite Sirah, this sees 18 months in oak, a mix of new American and neutral French. It works in its bramble of wild berry and banana, the body softly layered, rich and sumptuously lush.” Virginie Boone, 09/2018
My Review: Inky, ruby in the glass. Dark berry and mocha-ish on the nose, with some barnyard notes. Very dark berry, raspberry and plum on the palate. “Grapey!” August 2021
2017 Carol Shelton Zinfandel Peaceland Vineyard, Fountaingrove District, Sonoma County, 14.8% ABV, $36 (#551*)88% Zinfandel, 12% Petite Sirah
From the Club Newsletter: “The name of the Peaceland Vineyard cones from the translation of its owners’ German last name – Friedland. Three separate clones of Zinfandel each bring different flavor profiles, spiced up by a dollop of “Pet.” The unique “tall-head” trained vines were planted in a wild fantasia of settings – steep hillsides, amidst groves of bay and live-oak, most with stunning vistas of the city of Santa Rosa far below. It was this woodsy setting that brought about the near-demise in the Tubbs Fire of 2017, when the vineyard was partially destroyed – we thought that this 2017 would be its very LAST vintage release, but we are uber-excited to announce that it has come back from the fires and we will have a 2019 vintage and more!
“90 Pts Wine Spectator, 2 Gold Medals on brand new release.” 459 cases produced
Carol’s Tasting Notes: “Deep spicy jammy black raspberry, rich chocolatey oak, layers of loveliness! Juicy razzberry jam in mouth, bright acidity and good structure for aging. This baby packs everything that Zin should be and much more!”
My Review: Very dark, inky in the glass. Jam and a hint of smoke on the nose. I don’t have any more notes from this wine and there was none left for a retaste the next day! Carol’s newsletter indicates its aging potential is 10-20 years – clearly, we drank this one too soon! September 2021
You can buy Carol Shelton wines on her webpage and visit them in Santa Rosa. For more information, check out this link: https://www.carolshelton.com/visit/
*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 usually don’t do back-to-back tastings at the same winery, but I had to make an exception. Doug Beakes, the Chair of the John Marshall Chapter (Northern Virginia) of the American Wine Society (AWS) was in town to bike with friends and wanted to know where they should taste wines.
(Some history here: Back in the Fall of 2019, I presented Monterey wines to their AWS chapter at Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, VA. Doug previously had seen me present our local wines at the Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar. It was a fun venue – right among the winery’s barrels. He says I’m invited back; maybe I’ll do it again next fall!)
Back to my story: I always ask people what kind of wines they like so I can recommend the right spots – do they like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (what Monterey is widely known for) – or are they looking for something else? His answer was BIG REDS – and they only wanted to go to one spot. I decided to take them to Parsonage, even though I had just been there the week before.
Doug was accompanied by Mike Wassenberg, his AWS chapter Vice-Chair, and their biking buddy/wine drinking/nice guy friend Mark Svedlund from Sebastopol. We were unexpectedly joined by Bill Parsons, who just happened to be in the tasting room when we dropped by. It was a warm afternoon in Carmel Valley Village and my companions were a bit wilted from their bike ride. Nice guy Mark fetched cheese and bread and Bill provided colorful narrative to the wines.
Bill Parsons holding court with our Virginia visitors. Alex Lallos from Chesebro Wines joined us at the end.
Today, I am presenting 5 Parsonage wines – 3 from our tasting that day and 2 library wines from our personal collection which were tasted separately. Last week’s post included combined tasting notes for 3 wines we tasted with this group and our barrel tasting buddies – the 2018 Estate Syrah, the 2018 Rocco and the 2017 Xandro. We tasted 5 other wines which I have previously presented here – they are not included! Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet.
I’ve written about Parsonage to in many prior posts and won’t repeat “about them” here (just type “Parsonage” in the search bar to see them all). You can check out their website here: https://www.parsonagewine.com/.
Winery Notes: “The nose promises richness with its ripe bing cherries and that rare, fully vine-ripe raspberry that you’d get at a farmer’s market. The bouquet carries a mysterious spice akin to baking spices with a trace of black tea. The red fruit shows up in a big way on the palate – very rich and dense on the long, full, and delicious finish.”
My Review: Beautiful deep ruby in color. Cherry on the nose. Chewy palate with a touch of acidity. Darker, richer than a typical Monterey Pinot Noir – we liked it. October 2021
2014 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $26 (#542*) Merlot, Syrah blend
My Review: From our cellar: Stunning bouquet. Very big, jammy cherry-berry nose. Rich, dark berries on the palate and anise on the finish. Still drinking well. October 2021
My Review: From our cellar: Dark ruby in the glass. Rich dark berries in the nose with prune notes (at first, sulfur, which died down to a slight cooked prunes smell.) Big mouthfeel and bursting with blackberry with cola and tobacco flavors. Still something on the finish – like cooked fruit and tobacco. This wine could go another 5 years or so. October 2021
2018 Parsonage Bixby Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15%, $80 (#544*) Petit Verdot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
My Review: Wow! Dusty on the nose. Pretty, intense dark fruit – berry and cherry on the palate and milk chocolate on the finish. I become a bigger fan of this wine each year! October 2021
2008 Parsonage “Snosrap” Cyrano Bordelaise Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#545)
My Review: This Bordeaux blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the last wine we tasted, so my notes are very weak. I think Bill said “hoisin sauce.” This wine was rather tasty and I took a bottle home! We are looking forward to tasting it again soon. October 2021
Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – clickherefor the details. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village.
*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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