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.
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.
It’s been almost a year since the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod toured the River Road Wine Trail down the Salinas Valley. I remember after visiting them – our third winery of the day – stating that we really needed to come back to Odonata with a picnic lunch – and as the ONLY winery we visit in a single trip. Spring is almost here – se we need to get this idea into a plan soon! Meanwhile, we recently opened the 2015 Odonata Remembrance.
About the Remembrance from the bottle: “All Proceeds from this wine are being donated equally to three important causes.1) Alzheimer’s Research 2) Cancer Research 3) Our local Women’s shelter.”
About Odonata: “Winemaker Denis Hoey released his first commercial vintage when he was 21. He now blends old world methods with new world technique to make nouveau-style wines. He strives to produce wines that are rich, textured, and balanced, and that respect terroir and varietal character. His success is based on careful attention to detail and the purposeful use of each step in winemaking: grape sources, fermentation technique, pressing regiment, barrel selection, and aging program. The result is clean, focused wines…In 2014 Hoey and his wife, Claire, bought the Marilyn Remark Winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands where they are raising their family, and running the Odonata Winery. Their property includes a 2-acre vineyard, production facility, tasting room, and a welcoming patio where visitors can enjoy their unique wine.”
I am occasionally asked if I am related to Dennis Hoey – ah, the difference one letter can make. Alas, no…
2015 Odonata Remembrance Red Wine, Central Coast, 14.5% ABV, $28 (#621*)
From Red Wine Cats: “Odonata’s 2015 Remembrance ($28) is a luscious blend of 75% Petite Sirah and 25% Grenache. It’s one of those bottles you open, pour, and immediately enjoy. Full, round body, opaque in the glass, and an easy sipper on its own. If you like big reds without too much tannin astringency, similar to jammy Zinfandels, you’ll love this delicious bottle. You’ll also love that proceeds go to important causes.”
My Review: Almost purple in the glass. Black and blueberries on the nose. Spicy on the palate with a base of blueberry and mocha (the Petite Sirah) with a slightly touch of sweetness on the finish – it’s the Grenache talking here! We enjoyed this wine and it disappeared quickly. “A pleasant wine.”
Visiting Odonata (from their website): “Nestled at the northern edge of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA and at the beginning of the River Road wine trail lies the Odonata winery and tasting room. We hope you will stop by our tasting room and sample a selection of our current releases. We are open 7 days a week and no appointments are necessary.”
*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.
In January, I received an email from Alex Lallos the manager at Chesebro informing us that they have finally released the 2014 La Montagne Sauvage. We made a bee-line for the tasting room!
Mark Chesebro’s wines have impressed us since we first “discovered” them out in Carmel Valley. Great, delicious wines at affordable prices – what’s not to like? And their wines come from Arroyo Seco and Carmel Valley, my two favorite parts of Monterey County. The Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage Rhone blend has long been one of my favorites. I presented an earlier vintage of this wine at my very first Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar. As a fan of our local wines, I felt compelled to expose others to our Monterey wines. I’ve also presented their Las Arenas at a couple of classes in the past, including at the Northern Virginia American Wine Society. Their wines are always a big hit.
After our tasting (and a thorough re-tasting of the La Montagne Sauvage at home), I decided to purchase a case and get my next DC class on the schedule! Right now, June 14th, for all my DC readers. Thank you, Alex, for making this happen for me!
Today I am presenting 5 Chesebro wines from our January tasting. Winery notes come from their tasting. I will admit, we were deep in conversation with Alex and I didn’t capture detailed tasting notes of my own! And his detailed tasting notes say it all.
I’ve written about Chesebro several times – just search “Chesebro” and you will find them.
2019 Chesebro Vermentino, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $23 (#614*)
Winery Notes: “Vermentino is a variety most often associated with Sardinia, Corsica and Liguria. Alluring aromas of pine and citrus with a smooth palate balanced, by mouthwatering acidity. Late ripening in this cool site allows the development of complex and elegant flavors. Refreshing and vibrant.”
My Review: Light in the glass. Floral on the nose and palate. A very pleasant wine. January 2022
2017 Chesebro Grenache Blanc, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $25 (#615*)
Winery Notes: “Brilliant, almost transparent light-gold in color with a kaleidoscope of aromas including white peach, grapefruit, citrus blossom and tangerine. A subtle hint of vanilla and butterscotch round out the nose. On the palate, citrus and stone fruits. Round yet refreshing through the finish.”
My Review: Light golden in color with caramel on the nose. January 2022
Winery Notes: “Pale yellow gold in color. Exotic aromatics with white flowers, lemon verbena and ever so subtle vanilla bean. The palate is fresh and vibrant, almost Chablis-like in its cut and precision. Each sip has amazing energy and tension balanced by the inherent richness of the ultra-clean Chardonnay fruit.”
My Review: Pale gold in color. Earth on the nose. Both tart and sweet tangerine flavors on the palate with lemon and vanilla notes. January 2022
2016 Chesebro Las Arenas, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $27 (#617*)
Winery Notes: “Our Southern Rhone (Chateauneuf du Pape) style blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Aromas of cranberries and blackberries over a background of coffee and a hint of white pepper. Smooth and velvety with a long finish. Enjoyable now with a long life ahead.”
My Review: Dark ruby in color. Earth and dark plum on the nose. Plum and tobacco on the palate with a touch of sweetness along the bitter finish. I like this wine. It is also one of my favorites to showcase in wine classes. January 2022
2014 Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage, CM Ranch Vineyard, Carmel Valley, $35 (#618*)
Winery Notes: “Grown on our estate in the Upper Carmel Valley’s rocky mountain soils at 1500’ elevation, this Rhone style blend of 80% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre is powerful and rich with aromas of cassis, dark forest berries, scorched earth and spice. Blockbuster with a long lingering finish.
My Review: Rich ruby in the glass. Pleasant nose of fresh berries. Palate of berry jam, eucalyptus and chocolate with red currant and anise flavors on the finish. Super delicious. My very favorite of all the Chesebro wines. January 2022
Buying Chesebro Wines: You can buy Chesebro wines via their website (www.chesebrowines.com) or in their tasting room. Updated information on its tasting room hours and reservation link is here. They are open Thursday through Sunday from noon until 6:00 PM by reservation. Chesebro has always been great about shipping wines to the East Coast for me.
*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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