Today’s post gets really fun, as we are venturing to the southern most tip of Monterey County’s 9 AVAs – through the Monterey AVA on down to San Lucas and Hames Valley AVAs!
When driving down Highway 101, you will see that Scheid’s vineyards stretch along almost the entire Salinas Valley down to the San Luis Obispo County line! (Map courtesy of Scheid Vineyards)
On its website ( https://www.scheidvineyards.com/), Scheid describes the San Lucas appellation as having “sunny days tempered by cooling ocean breezes. Here, the days are warmer and longer, yet cool down quite dramatically when the sun goes down. Fruit-forward and softly-textured wines are the hallmark of this region, known for producing an outstanding array of varietals.” And they describe the Hames Valley as having “long, warm days that make this an ideal area for sun-loving reds. This region produces balanced, full-bodied wines of intensity, such as Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Malbec.”
The “yin yang” of the 50/50 melded into a delicious wine!
About the 50/50: Scheid describes the 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as “yin yang” – “complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole as part of a dynamic system” – combining the “rich, polished and powerful” Cabernet Sauvignon with the “supple, fruit-forward and a little sassy” Syrah. They describe the 2017 50/50 as possessing “the structure and dark fruit flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon and the softness and jammy fruit of Syrah, combining to present a delicious example of elegance and power in one glass. Aromas of blackberry preserves and plum accented with notes of sage and smoky spices will convince you that soul mates really do exist.” The 50/50 comes from their Mesa del Rio Vineyard in the Monterey AVA, plus their San Lucas and Hames Valley vineyards. This unfiltered wine was aged 16 months in American, Hungarian and French small oak barrels for secondary fermentation and aging. 480 cases produced.
My Review: Blackberry and plum on the nose, smooth round palate of dark berries, lingering flavors. Euphoric. One of the best Central Coast wines we have tasted recently. Super yum. Highly recommend. December 2020
2016 Scheid Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Kurt’s Vineyard, San Lucas AVA, 14.8% ABV (#248*)
The 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Kurt’s Vineyard from Scheid’s webpage.
About the 2016 Kurt’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from their website: “Kurt Gollnick our COO, chose a 10 acre plot to plant his favorite variety, a micro site that is capable of growing world class Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is dark and concentrated with aromas of blackberries, boysenberries and elderberries with notes of chocolate, hazelnuts, toasty oak and a hint of violet. The palate delivers rich, juicy black fruit flavors followed by soft, integrated tannins and a long lingering finish.” Aged 20 months in oak barrels. Unfiltered.
My Review: Garnet in color with a jammy blackberry nose with caramel notes. Juicy palate of yummy blackberry and cherry, with licorice and mint on the finish. I really liked this wine. January 2021
You can order Scheid wines directly from their webpage. Their tasting rooms are open daily for outdoor tasting. You can make a reservation and get more info here: Visit Scheid.
Scheid’s tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea!
*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.
Since we started cataloguing wines last March, it has been quite a process to keep track of which wines I have posted to Decanting Monterey and which I haven’t, as well as all those wines that don’t fit the “Central Coast” criteria! The Bernardus Pinot Noir in today’s post slipped through the cracks – we’ve actually had this wine three times, so you are benefiting from my most mature review! I am highlighting it today, along with a couple of my favorites Marinus wines.
2014 Bernardus Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $55 (#42*)
About the Soberanes Vineyard: “The Soberanes Vineyard, located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands, builds upon a tradition of high quality hand-winegrowing. Working together again, the Pisoni and Franscioni families, whose friendship spans three generations and are known for the Pisoni, Garys’, Rosella’s and Sierra Mar Vineyards, have an additional vineyard site to explore.” 38 acres, 27 acres of Pinot Noir.
Wine Enthusiast – 91 Points: “Cranberry juice, touches of juniper and muddy-soil notes arise on the nose of this bottling from a popular vineyard in the region. The earthy palate combines a line of beet juice with clay, turned earth, black plum and dried pine needles, framed by chalky tannins.” Matt Kettmann, 3/2017 Drink through 2027. (The 2018 vintage is the current release, which lists for $70 and is rated 94 points!)
My Review: Garnet in color. Cassis and tobacco on the nose. Mid-to-full bodied, with cassis, plum, eucalyptus and tobacco notes on the palate. Lingering raspberry with a touch of bitterness. This is a big wine – even this non-Pinot fan like this Pinot Noir. January 2021
About Marinus from Bernardus: “Our Marinus vineyard in upper Carmel Valley is planted with the five traditional red Bordeaux varietals. It is divided into small blocks per grape variety, exposure and soil type. Each block has its own unique terroir and is farmed and hand harvested at peak ripeness to maximize quality.
Marinus Collection Chez Nous!
“In recent years, our Vineyard Manager Matt Shea and Winemaker Dean DeKorth have been busy refurbishing the Marinus vineyard with spectacular results…”
2012 Bernardus Marinus, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $75 (#243*)
2012 Bernardus Marinus
From the Label: “Our California grown Bordeaux-style wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. Petit Verdot and Malbec grapes from our Vineyards in the upper Carmel Valley. The Marinus Estate vineyard was chosen for its rare joining of varied soils and sunny inland climate moderated by a marine influence-ideal conditions for the production of Bordeaux varieties. Taste A Dream.”
Wine Enthusiast Review – 92 points: “One of the winery’s most celebrated releases each year, this blend of all five major Bordeaux red varieties is an excellent showcase of Carmel Valley’s class. Freshly squeezed blackberry and blackcurrant fruit meet with beef char, charcoal and dried lilacs on the nose. The palate tastes of lava rocks, dark chocolate, fresh boysenberries, dried mint and beef jerky, all woven together with a touch of smoke.” 90 points. Matt Kettmann, February 2017
My Review: Dense, dark red, garnet in color. Black fruits on the nose with deep blackberry and leather. A mouthful of dark, dense fruit. Leather, pepper and licorice on the finish. This Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wine is best enjoyed decanted. August 2020
2013 Bernardus Signature Marinus, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $125 (#244*)
2013 Bernardus Signature Marinus
Winemaker Notes: “The 2013 Signature Marinus represents a selection of the best barrels from the best lots in 2013. It is both elegant, yet very powerful, exhibiting wonderfully intense aromas of ripe cranberry, black cherry and plums accented by spicy notes of cedar. The palate exhibits intense candied red cherry and cranberry flavors with hints of spice, supported by a beautifully long, well-structured finish. Our 2013 Signature Marinus demonstrates the superb quality of the Marinus Vineyard, with the ripe fruit flavors of California matched with the excellent ageing potential of the finest wines of Bordeaux.”
My Review: This was one of the first Marinus Signature series wines I got to know well from our many visits to Bernardus. When we finally figured out we could be “Marinus only” members, we jumped at the chance. This is a big, smooth, rich wine, full of yummy berry flavors and a nice finish. Remains one of my very favorites. December 2020
Patio Tasting Is Open by Reservation!!
Bernardus is open for curbside pick up Monday through Friday 10-4 and just started back up patio tastings Wednesday through Friday as of 2/10! Please email tastingroom@bernardus.com or call 831-298-8021 for a wine tasting appointment. Please read more 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 introduced you to Boëté in August here: https://decantingmonterey.com/boete-exceptional-cabernet-franc-from-carmel-valley/. Please take a peek at that link for more about the winery. Since that post, there have been some new releases, including their 2018 Cheval Rouge, a red blend. I also noticed the release of a 2018 single varietal Merlot, something I don’t recall seeing before – picked one up to try for a future post!
When Jana Saunders advertised a couple of weeks ago that they were doing a painting and sipping virtual event, I signed right up. Here was the teaser: “Boëté Winery is teaming up with the talented KB of KB Studio and Gallery in hosting a Virtual Pre Valentine’s Paint and Sip. This is not your normal paint & sip as you will be learning to paint with a palate knife to create a uniquely one of a kind abstract painting while enjoying Boete’s newest Cheval Rouge!” I didn’t need to be asked twice. I am not an artist, but my daughter gave me the courage to put paint on canvas over the holidays – such a nice break from all the news!
Wine Enthusiast rated the 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points. “Roasted red-cherry aromas meet with charcoal, smoke, oregano and marjoram on the rustic nose. Stiffer tannins uphold both bright and dark-red fruit flavors on the palate.” Matt Kettmann, August 2020
My Review: Dense deep ruby in the glass, luscious dark berry on the nose, smooth rich flavors on the palate. Deep juicy cherry and dark berries, and a touch of cedar anise on the finish. This is an incredibly delicious wine. November 2020
From Boëté: “A classic garnet color invites you into an elegantly expressed vintage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a pinch of Merlot. This medium body vibrant wine elevates the palate with flavors of cherry jam, vanilla and hints of chocolate. A youthful wine that will only get better with time.” This wine was released in the Fall of 2020.
My Review: Dense deep ruby in the glass, luscious dark berry on the nose, smooth rich flavors on the palate. Deep juicy cherry and dark berries, and a touch of cedar and anise on the finish. This is an incredibly delicious wine. One of my favorites. November 2020
*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.
Sometimes when I buy wine during the pandemic, I approach it with the same attitude as at the grocery store – if you see it and you think you might want it someday, you’d better buy it now. And that’s how I ended up with a sampling of enough Pierce Ranch varietals to last me a whole year!
And, as a brief refresher, Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation. From Pierce Vineyards web page: “Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation centered in southern Monterey County’s San Antonio Valley appellation. We produce limited-run, estate-grown wines with an emphasis on Spanish and Portuguese varieties.”
2017 Pierce Ranch Tempranillo, San Antonio AVA, 13.1% ABV, $28 (#236*)
About the 2017 Tempranillo: “…Located in the southernmost tip of Monterey County, the newly declared San Antonio Valley appellation is already showing itself to be an ideal region for producing nuanced, complex Petite Sirah. Consisting entirely of fruit sourced from our Y Ranch Vineyard’s rocky, hillside Block 1, this, our 2015 bottling, provides and elegant expression of the variety with excellent depth and solid tannic structure. Produced on a very limited scale, it was fermented in small lots and then aged, unracked, in French oak for 18 months. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, black currant, and black plum combined with a savory component and traces of spice.”
My Review: Cherry, blueberry on the rich palate, with currant and a mellow mocha on the finish. November 2020
2017 Pierce Ranch Petite Sirah, San Antonio AVA, 15.3% ABV, $28 (#237*) (gratis)
About the 2017 Petite Sirah: “Located in the southernmost tip of Monterey County, the newly declared San Antonio Valley appellation is already showing itself to be an ideal region for producing nuanced, complex Petite Sirah. Consisting entirely of fruit sourced from our Y Ranch Vineyard’s rocky, hillside Block 1, this 2017 estate bottling provides and elegant expression of the variety with excellent depth and solid tannic structure. A limited run, it was fermented using only native yeasts and aged in primarily neutral French oak for 18 months. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, black currant, and black plum combine with a savory component and traces of spice.” Awarded a Silver Medal at the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition.
My Review: Dense ruby in color. Deep cherry blueberry and blackberry on the nose. After opening up, smooth, rich dark cherry and berries with a tasty finish. Super good. Petite Sirah continues to be my favorite Pierce Ranch varietal. This wine was given to me by Pierce Ranch – I will always let you know when I have been comped a wine. December 2020
Check out the Piece Ranch Vineyards webpage and Facebook page for their current releases and specials. This might be the chance to get some of their wines before they sell out (such small production means the favorites are gone before we even know they are there. Their tasting room in Cannery Row is open for shopping. You can order their wines via Pierce Vineyard Tasting Room or at (831) 372-8900, and they’ll arrange for curbside pickup or shipping (which is just $5 anywhere in California). Also, they now ship to DC and Virginia, my friends! Maybe a future Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar (WWCS) offering??
*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 November, with the holidays rapidly approaching, I ventured out to Carmel Plaza. Can’t go there without stopping at Wrath! As a huge fan of their San Saba Syrah, I was thrilled to learn the 2017 had just been released. On a previous trip, I had done a side-by-side tasting of the 2016 San Saba and the 2016 Syrah KW Ranch. With both the 2017 San Saba in hand and the 2016 KW Ranch in my cellar, time to drink some Wrath!
“KW Ranch is located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands, southeast of McIntyre Vineyard and just northwest of Gary’s Vineyard. Planted to both Pinot Noir and Syrah in 2000 by Kirk Williams, the site features a well-exposed, gently-rolling hillside with gravely loam soils. Wines from KW Ranch tend to be intense and highly aromatic.”
“…Our 2016 KW Ranch Syrah is wildly aromatic with flashes of black pepper, smoked meat, blackberries, leather and cassis. The palate is thick, powerful and succulently juicy. Even though the tannnis are bold, the wine is still nimble, elegant and approachable.” 100% Syrah. 100% French oak, 30% new. 158 cases produced.
Critical Acclaim: 93 points Jeb Dunnuck;91-94pts Connoisseur’s Guide
My Review: Deep ruby in color, white pepper, dark berry on the nose. Explosion of fruit blueberry, blackberry and cherry with a solid dose of pepper on the palate. A little licorice, medicinal, vegetal on the finish. Over time, a little tobacco on the finish. November 2020
2017 Wrath Syrah San Saba Vineyard, Monterey AVA, 14.6% ABV, $39 (#233*)
From Wrath about the 2017 Syrah San Saba Vineyard:
“Our Estate San Saba Vineyard is set in a sheltered nook just below the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The estate consists of 72 acres of which 67.75 are planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Falanghina. This is a cool site with little rainfall and one of the longest growing seasons in the world. Our soils, Arroyo Gravelly Loam and Hanford Gravely Sandy Loam, provide a low-vigor, well-draining, disease- and pest-free medium for our vines. They also impart a subtle mineral quality to our wines…”
“Powerful and elegant, aromatics include blackberry, leather and peppercorns; the palate is rich and concentrated with graphite, cassis, and a hint of smoke.” 10 months in French oak, 20% new. 313 cases produced.
Critical Acclaim: 91 Wine Spectator, 93 Vinous
My Review: Dark purple in the glass, blueberry and a touch of barnyard/sulphur on the nose, intense blueberry and blacked berry on the palate – jammy and good. Vanilla on the finish. I do slightly prefer the 2016 vintage to this 2017. November 2020
You can buy these wines at A Taste of Monterey or directly from Wrath.
Regarding Tastings: “As of Monday, Jan 25th, both Wrath tasting rooms are now allowed to open for limited outside seatings and tastings. New hours for Wrath’s winery tasting room are Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon from 11-5pm, closed Tues-Wed-Thur. The winery patio is large so we can accommodate multiple visitor groups and still maintain 10′ plus spacings for safety. Our Carmel tasting room is open every day from 11-5pm.” https://www.wrathwines.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.
When Chesebro offered a sale on their 2018 rosé, I jumped at the chance to get some – good thing I did – they sold out immediately. I learned a lesson, though: make a copy of the Winemaker’s Notes when you purchase the wine – they might not be there when you need them!! If I get them later, I’ll update this post.
Halloween provided a great excuse (and warm weather) for an outdoor celebration!
We served this wine as our opening for a socially-distant, patio happy hour alternative to Halloween. We were ever-so-slightly in costume (no photos to protect the innocent!), much to the amusement of our guests. The Chesebro Rosé was remarkably our only Central Coast wine of the evening.
Winemaker’s Notes for the 2019 (current release) from Cedar Lane Vineyard: For the 2019 (current release) from Cedar Lane “This Provençal style 100% Grenache Rosé is beautifully light pink in color. Aromas of fresh picked strawberry, grapefruit skin and raspberry essence. Perfect for a warm afternoon. Classic!”
My Review of the 2018: Very light pink. Raspberry on the nose and good Grenache flavors on the palate, with a little acidic bite on the finish. Our French wine lovers said this one passes for a French rosé. October 2020
Buying Chesebro Wines: The 2019 Chesebro Rosé from Cedar Lane Vineyard (one of my favorites) is the current release available for $19 here in limited supply. Updated information on its tasting room hours and reservation link is here. Chesebro has curbside pickup and 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.
Mark provided his readers a very blunt assessment of 2020 here. But he also added this: “Any good news we have is NOT from 2020. There are some promising 2019s coming up. The sauv blanc and orange wine from Santa Cruz are daring- we harvested earlier than ever before, to get high natural acidity for drinking with shellfish and shrimp. The sauv blanc is a ringer for Sancerre. Our ’19 estate Syrah is perfectly balanced and intensely varietal, again leaning toward a European version of the grape. It will spend another year or so in barrel. Carmel Valley Palisades 2019 pinot noir will be bottled this spring. It reminds me of our 2013 Sonoma Coast pinot. We made some excellent Monterey reds in 2018: a pinot noir from Carmel valley, another from Santa Lucia Highlands, and some zin, cab sauv, and cab franc from a “sleeper” vineyard hidden in the hills high above Arroyo Seco. These follow distinctive 17 cab sauv and cab franc from a fifty year-old organic vineyard in Carmel Valley. We have plenty of good wine for the short term. We will need to make some whites in ’21 to go with our estate Syrah, and whatever other red grapes we buy.”
Bunter Spring 2017 Spring Cabernet Franc, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.34% ABV, $30 (#225*) 86% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48 cases produced
“It tastes like California sunshine: ripe black cherry and red raspberry, heady with alcohol.“
Winemaker’s Notes : “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!…” From the back label: “Aged 20 months in French and American oak barrels, 50% new. This wine smells like something from the Mother Country: lilac, violets, saddle soap, bay spice, cassis. It tastes like California sunshine: ripe black cherry and red raspberry, heady with alcohol. Dense with fine tannins. It has a long, warm aftertaste of sour cherry candy…Not Fined. Not Filtered.”
My Review: Very inky, almost purple in color. Fresh blueberry and plum on the nose. Very rich intense dark berry and cassis on the palate, a little chalky. Opens into deep cherry and dark berry lingering flavors. I prefer this vintage to the 2016. October 2020
Outdoor tastings…pending licensing…at 9 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village
According to their website, “Our Carmel Valley tasting room remains closed to the public. We have created an outdoor tasting area and soon should have that operating, pending licensing…” On the flip side, he is offering the public 25% off, 35% off 12 bottle case purchases and a very generous discount to club members. To buy their wines, check out their current releases and contact Mark by phone or email to order. Directions are here. They ship within California and to Washington DC and Florida.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – includes non-Central Coast wines.
I don’t get to write much about Turley in this blog, as most of their wines fall outside the “Central Coast” theme. I presented some Turley Pesenti Vineyard wines from Paso Robles back in December (https://decantingmonterey.com/turley-pesenti-a-whole-other-reason-to-love-paso-robles-wines/ ). During Christmas week, we opened a Turley Zinfandel from Contra Costa County – stretching the limits of the Central Coast AVA!
I don’t know that much about the Contra Costa County AVA but I found this description on Wine Searcher here: “Contra Costa County is an AVA directly east of San Francisco Bay in California’s Central Coast AVA. Once a prolific wine-growing region, the county is home to some century-old plantings of Zinfandel, Mourvedre and Carignan that produce rustic, earthy and leathery styles of red wine.
“The county sits on the edge of the San Francisco and Suisun bays at the entrance to where the Sacramento Delta begins to weave its way inland towards Lodi. Livermore Valley is directly south of Contra Costa County, and the city of San Francisco across the bay gives the county its name – contra costa meaning ‘opposite shore’ in Spanish…
“The quality soils of Contra Costa County are the defining feature of its terroir. Gnarled old vines were planted 100 years ago on deep, sandy soils that have restricted yields, particularly as the vines have aged. Deep and free-draining, the sand offers little resistance to wandering root systems, and the lack of water in the ground means that the vines produce small, concentrated berries with thick skins. This in turn leads to concentrated wines with firm tannins and excellent structure.”
2017 Turley Zinfandel Salvador Vineyard, Contra Costa County, 15.9% ABV, $38** (#224*)
Photo of the Salvador Vineyard, courtesy of Turley Wine Cellars
About Turley Zinfandel Salvador Vineyard fromwww.turleywinecellars.com: “Salvador Vineyard in Contra Costa County is a paragon of old vine Zinfandel. These organically farmed vines were planted on their own roots in 1896. The roots are free to roam deeply as the soil is solid sand for 40 feet down. The wine is stunning: suave, complex and powerfully elegant.”
Winemaker Notes: “The Salvador feels like truly old-school California, reminiscent of what wine might’ve tasted like when it was first made from these vines well over 120 years ago! Aromas of dark berries, peach skin, sandalwood & leather make this one of the most intriguing iterations of Salvador to date. The palate is intensely concentrated, co-mingled with an energizing acidity. These ancient, ungrafted vines in sandy soils make for some of the suavest tannins and most elongated finishes around.”
Wine Spectator Review – 89 points: “Briary and loaded with zesty pepper, smoky plum and eucalyptus flavors that build speed toward mildly rustic tannins. Drink now through 2023. 545 cases made.” TF, 2018
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate highly rates other vintages giving the 2014 and 2017 94 points and the 2016, 95 points.
My Review of the 2015: Vanilla and spice on the nose, berry and cedar on the palate. Spice on the finish. Could be that sandalwood and eucalyptus! December 2020
**I bought this through their mailing list at the prices above. Found this wine at Napa Cabs for $65. Take a look at Turley’s special packs open to everyone – very good opportunity to get some Turley in your wine cellar. They will ship wine and do tasting room pickups (Paso Robles and Amador). https://www.turleywinecellars.com/shop/?view=products&slug=PTRRemotePurchases. No tastings available right now.
*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 had the chance back in October to make an extremely isolated trip with a girlfriend to Parsonage to taste the new reserve releases. The setup was good and the wines, right up my alley. We were so excited to get past the Soberanes fire vintage and get back to the fruit and flavors we all know and love.
Parsonage has an excellent outside, socially distant tasting venue for its exceptional wines – when we aren’t under a Stay-at-Home Order!
We also opened the 2007 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon Tanner Reserve to share with our COVID Wine Squad on New Year’s Eve. And then my DC wine class decided Petit Verdot would be the theme for a January class, so I hunted down the oldest one in my cellar – a 2009 Parsonage Bixby Reserve. That spurred me to put together this “catch-up” post on Parsonage wines we’ve been tasting in recent months, mostly their reserves. My last review of Parsonage reserve wines is here: https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-reserve-wines-my-kind-of-big-reds/.
The Lineup of Parsonage Reserve Wines: Bixby (Petit Verdot), Dario (Merlot), Hawk (Pinot Noir), Rocco (Syrah), Tanner (Cabernet Sauvignon), and Xandro (Red Blend). Their reserve wines are named for Bill and Mary’s grandchildren and Mary’s exquisite quilts are featured on the labels (you can view them on their website).
Winemaker Notes:“The 2017 Dario Reserve is a massive, powerhouse Merlot. The bouquet is an intoxicating melange of black cherry, black raspberry, star anise, and the Parsonage terroir back-note signature of wildflowers. All of these olfactory delicacies manifest in explosive complexity on the palate. The mouthfeel is full, round, and firm, wrapped in the smoothest and silkiest tannins imaginable.”
My Review: A deep red, garnet in the glass, smoky caramel on the nose (aged in new French oak) – quite delicious. Lay this one down for ~10 years. October 2020
Winemaker Notes: “This Cabernet Sauvignon field blend is joined with a mix of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It’s a full-throttle bombastic beauty, typical of younger vines. The nose is all about very dark fruit marked by brambleberry compote. Plum and cassis join with the brambleberry on a muscular palate that finishes with some major league tannins.”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. A light boquet (Pinot Noir-like), plum and cherry on the smooth palate, approachable now. Believe this is a mix of Estate and Cachagua fruit. October 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Wow! It’s hard to put into words how bold and beautiful this Cab is at such a young age. While we have never made a wimpy cab, the 2017 vintage stands out as one of the most full bodied. The power of the nose announces with authority what to expect on the palate. The bouquet is blackberry, blueberry, black currant/cassis, with a hint of cardamom and a back-note of Parsonage terroir signature, wildflower perfume. All of these flavors show up abundantly on the palate with hints of ripe tobacco leaf and leather, framed by massively and delightfully supple tannins.”
My Review: Purple-red in the glass. Such a great Cabernet nose with a big explosion of fruit on the palate – cherry, raspberry with a touch of chocolate and coffee. Smooth tannins with a touch of licorice on the finish. October 2020
Review of the 2007 Tanner (from grapelive.com):“There is no question in my mind that this cabernet is the best yet for Parsonage, though it should perform even better after a few years in bottle. Bill Parsons has shown his heart and soul in his pursuit of producing this region’s great wine. I admire his efforts and feel he is very close to world acclaim, in fact this vintage has the proof in the bottle. This vintage of the Tanner Reserve is loaded with classic cabernet fruit, thick texture and a solid tannin backbone with lush blackberry, currant, cassis and plum fruits, mountain sage, saddle leather, cedar and cigar spice, lavender, licorice and smoky sweet vanilla. Look out, Napa, Parsonage is on the rise!” Kerry Winslow
My Review: Inky purple, with a bit of barnyard on the nose. Deep boysenberry, jammy flavors. This wine was dry, austere with a leathery finish. It still needs more time in the bottle. A lot of body, but not what you are looking to with a big California cab – one might mistake it for an Old World wine! December 2020
Winemaker Notes: “A powerhouse in all ways. This Cabernet-Syrah-Merlot blend is all about dark fruit. A big, brooding, muscular beast of a wine. It’s “The Aussie” on massive doses of steroids. It may have fallen under the influence of the mysterious invisible stuff known as dark matter.”
My Review: Slightly hammy and dark berry on the nose, smooth and fruity on the palate with smoky cherry. A bit of tartness on the finish. Enjoy it for its smokiness (Soberanes vintage)! October 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Our flagship wine, this vintage is opulent. The ripe black, blue, and red fruit are immense in the nose and the mouth. The palate explodes in an essence of summer savory with exotic Asian spices wrapped in umami. The fullness and concentrated richness of the finish are suggestive of a high end Amarone.
My Review: Red with purple tinge in the glass, caramel on the nose. Blueberry and cherry on the palate, with a touch of mint and smokiness from the oak. Not too overwhelming. Very good. This is consistently my favorite Parsonage wine. October 2020
2009 Parsonage Estate Reserve Bixby Petit Verdot, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $80 (#223*)
Winemaker Notes: “The 2009 was a breakout vintage. We got the Verdot riper than ever. It was rich, round, and ripe with the same dry tannins on the finish. Every vintage of the PV Blend was marked in varying degree by a foundation of blueberries and floral almost perfumey nature. During barrel tastings there were lots of comments and questions about where the perfume came from. So as a joke I started telling tasters that I added a tiny dash of Chanel No. 5 to the barrel. Some vintages had more pronounced perfumey character than others. But it was always there whether forward or subtly in the background.
“The 2009 Bixby nose was powerfully blueberry, (and for the first time) blackberry and creme de cassis with the wildflower perfume in the background. The palate was fabulously and mysteriously complex. All the fruit of the nose played out on the palate with black cherry and pencil lead/cedar notes. The mouthfeel was quite full with a very long finish. The 2009 Bixby was a field blend of 82% Petit Verdot and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested in early November.”
My Review: Garnet in color & plum/blackberry on the nose – with a touch of earth. Rich dark fruit on the dry palate. Some smoke and a bit of acidity – like sour black cherry and a touch of tobacco. Opened up intense cassis flavors. Robust yet still a bit austere. Not my favorite varietal, but this is perhaps the best I have ever tasted. January 2021
Sadly, tastings are not permitted at this time due to the Stay-at-Home order. They are open for wine purchases and pick ups. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here: https://parsonagewine.orderport.net/wines/Current-Releases.
*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 have presented Ian Brand’s wines to you in 4 previous posts (you can find them all with a simple search on “Ian Brand”) including one specifically on a P’tit Paysan wine here: https://decantingmonterey.com/ptit-paysan-creates-a-2019-zabala-vineyard-sauvignon-blanc/. We’ve tasted quite a few over the many months of the Pandemic and have consolidated 5 of them here! The P’tit Paysan wines are the ones that first made us fans of Ian’s wines – affordable, quality wines with amusing labels drawn by his nephew!
The I Brand & Family tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for wine sales and pick-ups!
About P’tit Paysan from K&L Wine Merchants : “Winemaker Ian Brand moved to California to pursue a life of surfing, but quickly got bitten by the wine bug. He is a bit of a rebel, and the purpose of the P’tit Paysan project is to present simple, unpretentious “country” wines. In reality these simple wines come from some unique vineyard sites that Ian has sniffed out in the backcountry of Monterey and the surrounding area. Most of these vineyards exhibit very poor soils, in harsh conditions just on the edge of farmlands. The struggle these vines must face makes for intense fruit.” Because of he sources grapes from across the region, many of his wines carry the “Central Coast” label. I have 5 of his Le P’tit Paysan wines to present to you today.
2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#25*)
It was a rare summery day, reaching over 70 degrees in our little coastal town where temperatures often hover in the 55-65 degrees range. We spent a good chunk of the afternoon enjoying the backyard, eating lunch on the patio, swimming and even sunbathing. It felt like we were at a resort and it called for a “pool wine.” But we got something MUCH better!
Winemaker’s Notes from wine.com: “Made from Grenache and Mourvédre grown in Spur Ranch’s limestone-rich clays and Grenache and Cinsault from the granitic bluffs above the Arroyo Seco River. Picked below 22 brix, with bright natural acidity. Fermented in several lots with some native and some cultured yeasts.” Because grapes are sourced from Monterey County’s Chalone and Arroyo Seco AVAs, this wine earns the “Central Coast” label. 61% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, 5% Cinsault
wine.com Review – 92 points: “It seems lately that Rosés aka Pink Wines are a dime a dozen. The omnipresence has my palate spinning. Fortunately, a few folks are producing some astonishingly beautiful efforts. The 2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé is one of the marketplace’s best efforts. TASTING NOTES: This is a pert little gem with a refreshingly delicious and crisp aftertaste. Its aromas and flavors of bright red fruit fly throughout the wine. Pair it with a chicken salad with slivers of strawberries and toasted sesame seeds.” Wilfred Wong March 2019
My Review: I presented an earlier vintage of this wine to the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar – and this one would be equally worthy – perhaps my favorite rosé of the vintage from the region. It has a fragrant bouquet of rose and gardenia. Keeping sugars in check, this wine is refreshing and balanced, pleasant and crisp – not sweet and not too dry. A bit of bitters on the finish. This is a keeper – highly recommend. April 2020
2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#33*)
No, no, the label was fine. This bottle spent time in an ice bucket!
We had a warm day – one of the warmest and sunniest this spring – short sleeves and sleeveless tops. And a virtual happy hour with our favorite East Coast friends. This called for another rosé! I told my good friend Randy that I needed his nose for my wine blog and he offered to virtually smell the wine – we held the glass of wine near our computer camera – he picked up strawberry and watermelon. Yeah, no, but it was good for a laugh. Yes, this is what it has come to.
Winemaker Notes from wine.com : “The Mourvedre from the Le P’tit Paysan Rose is from two vineyards, one in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Gilroy (rocky, alluvial soils), the other is Spur Ranch in San Benito (limestone). The Grenache is from Arroyo Seco (granite), as is the Cinsault. Monterey/San Benito/Santa Clara Counties.” 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 18% Cinsault
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points : “Fresh aromas of rose petal, watermelon, bubblegum and squeezed lime show on the nose of this pink blend of 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache and 18% Cinsault. There’s a great sizzle to the sip, where a crushed seashell minerality wraps up flavors of light orange and delicate strawberry.” Matt Kettmann September 2020
My Review: This newly-released 2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé has a lovely pale peach, pink color. It is higher in Cinsault than the previous vintage, with peach and pineapple on the nose. It is crisp and light, with the Mourvèdre shining through. Very enjoyable. I might prefer the 2018, but would have to try them side by side to know for sure. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, 13.4% ABV, $25* (#14*)
According to www.sommselect.com, the P’tit Paysan 2016 is California Cabernet “at its most balanced, bursting with finesse and freshness, which instantly makes it eye candy for lovers of classic Bordeaux… You will not find another California Cabernet that delivers this much at such a low price, so don’t miss out…The grapes underwent a long, cool, whole-berry fermentation in separate lots before blending and aging for one year in neutral French barrels. The wine was bottled without filtration.” 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Warm aromas of baked red cherry and caramel grow more complex due to a gravelly minerality and hints of peppercorns on the nose of this bottling by Ian Brand. The palate leads with oregano and pepper, those spices overwhelming the fruit, and the rocky minerality continues, leading into a cocoa-laced finish. It is a lithe and lively style of Cab.” Matt Kettmann June 2018
Good luck finding any. But, if you do, drink now through 2026. Heck, drink now. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Le P’tit Pape, Central Coast, 13.17% ABV, $22 (#37*)
Another beautiful day in isolation – and another Ian Brand Le P’tit Paysan wine. We like these wines as every day drinking – such affordable, high quality, food wines. We have been particularly fond of his Rhône blend “Le P’tit Pape” over the years. As with the red blends from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine is based on Rhône varietals and, primarily, Grenache. This was the wine which originally drew us to Ian Brand’s wines – our first favorite of his many wines.
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Ian Brand’s flagship bottling just keeps getting better, yet stays reasonably priced. Light in the glass, this blend of 65% Grenache, 26% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre and 2% Counoise offers lovely aromas of strawberry, red plum, white pepper, wild tomato and forest floor. It’s taut in texture on the sip, holding cranberry and strawberry flavors in check, as dried sagebrush carries through the finish.” Matt Kettmann March 2019
My Review: The 2016 Le P’tit Pape appears table grape red in the glass, light-to-medium bodied with raspberry and cherry, very smooth and refreshing. May 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Cherry blossoms, dusty road, red plums, herb de Provence. Rosewater and red cherry on the palate, nimble with medium body. Grippy finish with firm Grenache tannins and hints of olive and sagebrush.”
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Clean raspberry and strawberry aromas are lifted by a pinch of pepper and fresh marjoram on the nose of this blend of 57% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Counoise. Tart cranberry and strawberry flavors are quite fresh on the palate, but there are also savory hints of meat and white pepper.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: Transluscent medium red with a berry nose. Cherry on the palate, followed by cassis, currant and tobacco on the finish. This wine is representative of how creative sourcing can lead to a very nice, everyday wine at a great value. We recently tasted this wine again – it was a enjoyable break from the super big reds we mostly drink. I appreciated it so much! September 2020
I Brand is closed for tastings due to the Stay-at-Home order but open for wine pickups – email them at HELLO@IBRANDWINERY.COM to order wines. I just heard the 2019 rose is on sale – so contact the winery quickly if you want to get some before it sells out!
*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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