One thing I love is an excellent Cabernet Franc. The first place I saw it bottled as a single varietal was in Virginia, of all places. When I stumbled onto Boëté, I couldn’t have been happier. These are my favorite Cabernet Francs in all of Monterey County, done in a sophisticated Bordeaux style.
The highly regarded Saunders Vineyard is right next door to Parsonage in Carmel Valley and, at one time, the two wineries shared a tasting room in a quaint shopping center as you head into the valley. They make their big red wines from estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from their 7 acres of grapes.
The Lovely Boëté Winery in Carmel Valley – photo courtesy of Boëté
Some background on Boëté quoted from their website here : “In the early 80’s John Saunders made wine at his Soledad Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands. At first making wine was a hobby and when his wines became popular with many of his friends in the restaurant industry, he decided to create a winery. In 1994, John and his wife Jana traded their 250-acre citrus orchard in Soledad California for 15 acres in Carmel Valley; land that had gone uncultivated due to lack of water. The first water well John drilled had gushed enough water to irrigate his vineyard forever. In early spring 1997, they planted their first vineyard on their sun-drenched hillside…
“The result is the Saunders Vineyard and his own label, Boete (Bwah-tay). The secret of the wine, Saunders says, is in the quality of the grapes, and old world wine making techniques that utilize French Oak barrels…Today, more than 6,000 grapevines grow on 7 acres, producing fruit that is widely regarded as some of California’s best.”
WineEnthusiast rated the 2013 Reserve Cabernet Franc Reserve 91 points. “This bottling from a winery whose owners are originally from Brittany shows peppery spice, tart red fruit, rose petal and lava rock scents on the nose. The flavors range widely from white pepper and dill to fresh-pressed strawberry and red plum, with a slight hint of caramel. Varietally pure and very fresh.” Matt Kettmann, July 2017
My Review: While Cabernet Franc is typically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in Bordeaux blends, we enjoy this as a single varietal. This one is definitely a bigger Bordeaux-styled Cabernet Franc vs. the leaner Loire Valley Chinon style. We found this wine to be just about perfect – jammy dark fruit on the nose, a rich mouthfeel of deliciousness on the palate, with an ever so slightly darker, just barely cooked fruit on the finish, ever so slightly tannic.
2017 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc: Leather, Cherry and Vanilla Bean
WineEnthusiast rated the 2017 wine 91 points: “Deep and dark in the glass, this bottling from a vineyard just a mile east of Carmel Valley village shows rich aromas of black currant yet with a spicy licorice kick. That licorice and dark-berry combination soars on the palate as well, proving both hearty yet still offering the grape’s inherent spice.” Matt Kettmann 7/1/2020
My Review: Bright red in color, we detected smoke, leather and sweetness on the nose. Cherry and vanilla bean on the palate. This is an amazing Cab Franc done in a big California style. My favorite Monterey County Cabernet Franc. This is their current release.
You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here. As of this writing, they are not doing tastings at the winery.
Reviews of Parsonage Estate Reserve 2016 Rocco Syrah, 2016 Tanner Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2017 Hawk Pinot Noir
I’m going to take us north from Cachagua to talk about a few wineries we “discovered” with vineyards just south of Carmel Valley Village. I’ll come back to Cachagua in a few posts.
We discovered Parsonage during one of our wine tasting outings to Carmel Valley many years ago. During that time, it seemed every time we came to the valley, there were new wineries and tasting rooms popping up. We were at Joullian Vineyards and asked where else we should taste. The tasting room manager made a call to Parsonage’s winemaker, Frank Melicia, who wanted to ensure we were serious wine buyers before he’d let us come up to the winery. And thusly began a beautiful relationship!
Bill and Mary Parsons planted the seven-acre Parsonage Village Vineyard in June 1998, with their first harvest in 2000. According to Parsonage, the vineyard is planted to 3 ½ acres of Syrah, 2 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 acre of Merlot and 1/2 acre of Petit Verdot. Starting at a meager 200 cases back in 2000, annual production today is in the 1500-2000 case range. The Parsons were the first to plant Syrah in Carmel Valley and their wines are the reason I am now a big Syrah fan.
Parsonage has made five estate 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. Mary’s exquisite quilts are featured on the labels and in the tasting room (you can view them on their website).
Glicee prints of Mary Parsons’s intricate quilts in their tasting room!
Two of these reviews are of 2016 wines. In the summer of 2016, the Soberanes Fire burned for months south of Carmel Valley. The smoke from that fire affected the grapes in the Carmel Valley AVA. I’ll do a longer piece on the Soberanes Fire in a future blog, as its impact was significant.
Parsonage says this about the 2016 Rocco: “This is our flagship wine and what we’re known for. It’s what our dinner guests ask for when they come to visit. The Rocco is a big red wine to pair with steak or anything grilled or barbecued. We get brambleberry, grilled game, mocha, umami and spice. This wine is delicious now but could be aged for years and years.” 150 cases were produced. All neutral oak was used to mitigate smokiness – brilliant.
My Review: We detected a little tar on the nose with ham hock and charcoal on the palate “in a good way – like S’Mores”. This wine has a lot of fruit – it’s like you are sitting around a campfire with a mouthful of sweetness and tart. The wine seems to work with the smokiness, making it part of its richness, not an offensive aftertaste. In July 2020, we decanted this wine and enjoyed it even more – much smoother and even less ham hock. As my husband says, a Rocco Syrah, even from the Soberanes Fire year, is still one of the most delicious Carmel Valley wines. June/July 2020
I presented this wine at my Fall 2019 Northern Virginia AWS as a compare and contrast of a Carmel Valley 2016 wine with one from another Monterey County AVA. I didn’t tell them about the smoke and I asked them what they tasted different in this wine. There were many guesses before the owner of Pearmund Winery guessed smoke.
According to Parsonage: “This Cabernet Sauvignon is a burly beast of a wine and the fastest selling vintage we’ve ever made. When folks try it, they buy it. The nose is full of dark fruit with hints of barrel toast. The palate is full of blackberry, black cherry, and tobacco leaf. Nicely integrated tannins and a long finish. We aren’t fancy and like to pair it with a burger.” 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
My Review: Glass-coating rich, this wine had a little sulphur and green olive on the nose, followed by umami flavors of pepperoni dipped in a good marinade. Very robust and delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Little to no detection of smoke taint, despite the 2016 vintage. June 2020
From Parsonage: “A magnificent expression of the varietal character of Pinot Noir California style. All of the beautiful floral spice found in its elegant sibling (the Estate Pinot) but with black cherry and black raspberry and Darjeeling muscatel notes in a bigger, richer, fuller version with an extra dollop of yum. The Hawk is truly high viscosity Pinot on steroids.” Aged in new oak for ~12 months.
My Review: Very berry on the nose. More structure than the Estate Pinot Noir, yet smoother. Intense berry, black tea and a bit of tobacco on the palate. The Hawk is a delicious Pinot Noir enjoyed and highly regarded even by my Burgundy fanatic relatives. June 2020
You can obtain their wines directly from the winery: They offer flat rate ground shipping for $14.99. Join their wine club for 20% off.
Photo courtesy of Parsonage
Parsonage has moved all tastings outdoors on their genius parklet!
You can also visit their tasting room by appointment only in Carmel Valley Village Thursdays through Monday, 12-5 p.m. You can make a reservation from their home page here.
2014 Joullian Vineyards Retro Rouge Red Wine Blend, Carmel Valley AVA, $25, 13.3% ABV: 48% Merlot, 21% Zinfandel, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2 % Muscat Hamburg.
We have been visiting Joullian Vineyards since our early days exploring wines in Carmel Valley Village. Its tasting room is in a lovely stone building which looks a bit more like an old church than a wine tasting room. They were one of our early favorites for unique Semillon blends and Zinfandels, a rare find in the valley.
Joullian’s Tasting Room at 2 Village Drive is open – reservations required!
This is another Cachagua winery! Distilled from Joullian’s webpage: In 1982, Joullian Vineyards, Ltd. purchased 655 acres of hillside benchland at an elevation of 1400 feet, in the heart of the remote Carmel Valley AVA. 40 acres were planted to Bordeaux varietals in the rocky Arroyo Seco series loam…plus Carmel Valley’s first Zinfandel! The rest of the vineyard was grafted in the 90’s to pre-Prohibition Zinfandel selections, sourcing clones from reputed sources such as Mount Veeder, 3 Palms, Diamond Mountain, Sterling, Ventana, Brandlin, St. Peter’s Church and Lytton Springs.
In their tasting room many years ago, we discovered the Retro Rouge. Joullian’s winemaker based this kitchen sink blend off the style of wine he enjoys. Initially, it was house blend for his private consumption only until he began sharing a few bottles with Wine Club members. Back then, it was a nonvintage blend, but now it depicts a specific vintage. And from time to time, I have stumbled into a reduced case price, helpful for my volunteer wine education efforts. A great red blend at a discount from Carmel Valley? I’m all in. Even at the $25 list price, it is an exceptional value for such a great tasting red blend from Carmel Valley and there is plenty 2014 left, last I checked about 6 months ago.
2014 Joullian Vineyards Retro Rouge
A few years back, I showcased a nonvintage bottle at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar (WWCS) in Washington, DC. Last Fall, I included this 2014 vintage as part of my Northern Virginia AWS class. It was slated be in my upcoming WWCS class, but that is scrubbed due to COVID-19. Sigh.
Joullian’s winemaker’s notes: “Deep ruby color that continues all the way to the edges. Fresh plums, cola and rhubarb pop on the nose. It jumps back and forth between its Bordeaux and Zinfandel base. Soft and velvety at first, then a burst of dried fruit, leather and bright acidity through the finish. Somewhat waxy, lingering flavors of white pepper spice and black cherry. A wonderful, everyday drinker with or without food.” Aged 12-36 months in Center of France oak barrels. Winner of the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Award.
My review: Brilliant dark cherry/garnet color. A sweetness and smoothness on the nose of mocha, blueberry, dark plum and spice. Upon opening: deep fruit, spice and leather on the palate. After it opened up, round and juicy on the palate with a blackberry, cherry, cassis finish. Great food wine.
You can buy this wine and other Joullian wines on the winery’s webpage. As of this writing, you can also find 12 bottles of it at the Accidental Wine Company for $15.99. And I have 12 bottles parked in DC…
2017 Georis Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.8% ABV, $36
Merlot got an undeserved bad rap in the movie, Sideways. That was so 2005 – so let’s get our Merlot on! There are many fine California Merlots out there worthy of our attention. Continuing on our march of wines from Cachagua, let’s talk Georis, which is known for its Merlots.
The Tasting Lineup at Georis
We have always had a fondness for Georis. Why? Walter Georis’ brother, Gaston, was my husband’s French teacher at the Monterey Institute for International Studies (now Middlebury). And, right next door to Georis’ tasting room in Carmel Valley Village was Corkscrew Café (now at 1 Pilot Road), where we often dined al fresco when wine tasting in the valley. In our early days of visiting the valley, we’d either taste Georis wines at the winery or at Corkscrew, but never both. After all, someone had to drive home.
The Georis Tasting Room at 1 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village
From the Georis winery’s webpage: “Walter Georis was born of a Belgian father and a German mother who immigrated to the US from Belgium in 1956 when Walter was eleven years old… After having spent his teen years in Southern California, Walter decided to move north to Carmel where he pursued a career in fine arts. Soon after arriving in Carmel, Walter designed a family restaurant, Casanova that would become internationally renowned for its cuisine and style, and its wine cellar… Walter decided to combine his love of fine wines with the challenges and rewards of growing grapes and producing first class wines. In 1981, after consulting with French experts…, he bought a ranch in Carmel Valley and soon planted the grapes that would produce the first crop of Georis wines. The vineyard is located in the mountains of the upper Carmel Valley, California, 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Our 14 acre vineyard is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir grapes. Our terroir is sandy clay loam with gravel and river rocks. Some small vineyard areas include chalky soils.
Beautiful Views at the Georis Tasting Room
“Since 1982, Georis Winery proudly produces a variety of wines exceptional in quality. Georis wines represent authenticity, integrity and a commitment to terroir expressive wines. Our philosophy is to respect European wine-making traditions while embracing the generous California climate of our appellation. Our objective is to craft wines with complexity, elegance and finesse. Our Estate wines set us apart from other producers. Earthy, opulent and fruit forward, they reveal complex tannin, minerality and dry finish.” www.georiswine.com
2017 Georis Merlot
Georis describes this wine as follows: “Rich and bold yet elegant with sumptuous aromas of mocha, savory chocolate, and black berry fruits. The palate is extremely generous with hints of young berry, black berry, black spices, and silky tannins.”
My Review: Ruby/purple in color with plum/blackberry on the nose, brimming with cassis, vanilla and chocolate notes, solid tannins and a cherry finish. A very delicious, big wine.
Georis has gorgeous, socially-distanced, outdoor settings. Indoor table for better times.
Best place to buy his wines is from his website or at his tasting room. The Georis tasting room is at 1 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village. Their indoors wine tasting bar and room is very large (for better times). Their outdoor spaces are incredible for significantly socially distance tables for any sized party, even a larger, private event, as appropriate. I would feel very comfortable coming to Georis to do winetasting of his primarily great Merlots. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
As I started to write my first blog posts, I realized, if I am going to do a Real Wine Blog, that I need a lot more photos. It’s been kind of overcast and cool in Pacific Grove, day after day. Last weekend, I decided I would drive out to Carmel Valley Village where I would be sure to find some warmth and sunshine and could take some pictures of the tasting rooms. I was able to check out their outdoor wine tasting venues, as that’s what’s permitted here in Monterey County as of this writing. A nice warm sunny day, lots of wine flowing everywhere. Except to me – I was on a mission!
I parked in front of the former location of Mercy’s tasting room and set out on foot. (I miss Mercy so much.) The tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village are easily walk-able, unless you are intending to buy a lot of wine! As you go through this list, please remember we are living in a very fluid situation right now. If you are planning a wine tasting visit, the best option is to review the winery’s web page to see if they are open and if you need a reservation. Safety is the most important feature of each of these venues.
I began my trip with Massa Estate, 69 W. Carmel Valley Road, as it was where we started our Monterey County wine exploration way back when. It is the first tasting room as you enter the village. The owner, Laurie Massa, welcomed me in, showed me their tasting list, and allowed me to take photos of their outdoor space. Massa has an incredible outdoor space to not only taste wine, but also for food. Local Chef Michael Jones is here with a very special menu – you can taste the wines and order a meal – or carry one out. So many cute, outdoor tables with umbrellas – it’s just adorable here. In addition, there’s croquet in the front lawn so you can come, play, and relax. Open Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Massa Estate has a cute, fun, yet elegant outdoor space.
The next winery I went to was Georis, 1 Pilot Road. We’ve always had a fondness for the brand, as Gaston Georis (Walter’s brother) once taught my husband French! Their indoors wine tasting bar and room is very large (for better times). Their outdoor spaces are incredible for significantly socially distance tables for any sized party, even a larger, private event, as appropriate. I would feel very comfortable coming to Georis to do winetasting of primarily his great Merlots. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Georis has the largest outdoor space with distanced tables, and a vineyard setting.
Then I walked over to Seabold, 2 Pilot Road. I am not yet familiar with Seabold, so it was a good way to meet them and see their outdoor spaces. They have smaller outdoor tables as well as big picnic benches and the occasional late afternoon music. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Seabold: Great space and some music, too!
Cowgirl Winery, 26 Pilot Road, has incredible outdoor space for wine tasting and fun – open 11:30-5 daily. (Sorry, I didn’t make it there to get pictures.)
Even though their wines come from elsewhere, I include Twisted Roots in my blog because of their tasting room location at 12 Del Fino Place (oh, and we enjoy their great wines). They also have a nice outdoor setup on the side of their building open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m. Reservations suggested.
Twisted Roots has an excellent, quiet outdoor space for wine tasting!
I walked by Bunter Spring at 9 Del Fino Place, which is not doing public tastings until further notice. Mark Bunter told me he is doing pickups by appointment, free local delivery, 20% off any six bottles, 25% off twelve bottles, and half-price shipping to CA, DC and FL only.
Bunter Spring is closed for tastings and Idle Hour is moving down the street!
Idle Hour right next door had a big sign saying they were moving in with Big Sur Vineyard’s tasting room at the end of the street. That was welcome news to me, as collocation with Big Sur will probably result in a more constant presence than the out-of-town Idle Hour could always provide.
Big Sur Vineyards at 1 Del Fino Place was setting up as I dropped by. Owner Lenora Carey showed me something really cool they are using for their outdoor wine tastings – wine vials that look like big test tubes called “taste tubes!” Customers receive the flight of wines in a tube rack and pour their own when ready, improving social distancing during the tasting. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Big Sur Vineyards is using these cool “Taste Tubes” for a more touch-free experience!
Joullian, 2 Village Drive, is open daily 12-4 p.m. – reservations required. They had a couple of small tables visible on their front patio.
Bernardus is still closed for in-person wine experiences due to their current focus on wine production and some virtual wine tastings.
Boekenoogen, 24 W. Carmel Valley Road, has an incredible outdoor patio, so their transition to outdoor operations was very easy. They are open daily, 12-5 p.m.
The lovely patio was occupied, so photos will have to wait.
I’d been talking to Rombi Wines, 1 Center Street, which, like the rest of the wineries, had just set it all up for indoor operations when the order came down to move things outside. Sal Rombi was able to create a relaxing, quiet spot to taste his big wines just in front of his tasting room. Open Saturday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Rombi’s first outdoor tasting guests!
Joyce, 1 E. Carmel Valley Road, has a nice outdoor space and some great wine sales. Reservations preferred; weekends also first come, first served. Wednesday-Friday 12-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Over to Albatross Ridge, 9 E. Carmel Valley Road, which showed me their outdoor space behind their tasting room – a lovely space with plenty of tables. Sunday-Thursday 12-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12-8 p.m. Reservations preferred. They are open in Carmel-by-the-Sea, as well.
Finally, a very short walk over to the old White Oak shopping center at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road, where the rest of these tasting rooms can be found:
We were invited several weeks ago by Parsonage to help them test-drive their indoor wine tasting procedures (they learned a lot from our visit, as we tasted EVERY wine!) – only to have to revamp their procedures and space for outdoor operations. They have built a parklet and are able to serve several tables outdoors. Reservation required. Thursday-Monday 12-5 p.m.
Parklet photo courtesy of Parsonage – very clever!
Rexford Winery tasting room is closed. For a limited time, they are offering complimentary shipping on new orders of 3 or more bottles. Chesebro tasting room was likewise closed.
Windy Oaks is using a couple of small tables in front of its tasting room for outdoor operations. The staff is very welcoming. According to their website, the Carmel Valley tasting room is open Friday-Tuesday 12-5:30 – reservations recommended. Their Carmel-by-the-Sea location is open for limited tastings Wednesday-Monday 12-6 p.m. by reservation.
I Brand also has some small outdoor tables and is open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 and by reservation.
These wineries are so happy to be sharing their wines with you. I hope, if you get a chance, that you will get out to the valley and try some yourself. Check to see if they require a reservation and confirm they are open. It all looked good to me! Come on out, give it a shot come out and support your local vintners.
2010 Bernardus Marinus, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $65Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 59%, Merlot 29%, Petit Verdot 7%, Cabernet Franc 5%
2005 Parrot Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, $25*, 14.1% ABV. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 86%, Cabernet Franc 9%, Merlot 4%
As I continue my trek through Carmel Valley AVA’s Cachagua region, it is my pleasure to introduce the truly local, long time powerhouse – Bernardus.
Bernardus – The First Tasting Room in Carmel Valley!
I relied heavily on their webpage to summarize this overview over the years I have been presenting their wines.
A former race car driver and Olympic athlete, Dutch Owner Ben Pon’s dream with Bernardus was to make a red wine equal to the finest from Bordeaux. He selected Carmel Valley, confident his vineyards there could produce wines to rival the greatest on the globe.
More than a quarter-century later, he’s accomplished his goal, not only with his estate Bordeaux blend, called Marinus (after his middle name) selling for $75-$125, but with a powerhouse portfolio of single-vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Sadly, Mr. Pon passed away in the Fall of 2019, but his legacy continues. Making over 50,000 cases/year Bernardus has many wines available throughout the US.
A Lineup of Marinus Wines from Our Wine Room!
I’m presenting two of their wines from Cachagua today – two of the 55+ wines from the Central Coast we tasted and reviewed while sheltering in place.
The Carmel Valley’s terrain and climate is ideal for creating rich, full bodied wines; the Bordeaux varietals are favorites here, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot comprising more than 70% of the grapes grown in the AVA.
Ben Pon also had the foresight 20 years ago to open the first tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. It is one of the nicest tasting rooms in the valley – we would always stop in to taste their wines and see what was on sale. They kept telling us we should join their club, but we are very specific in the wines we like to buy. One day, I realized they had a “Marinus only” club and we joined immediately. We have reaped many benefits from private tastings to winemaker dinners since we joined. Let’s dig a little deeper into the Marinus wines…
A Fun, Private Bernardus Tasting with Friends, April 2019
From Bernardus: “Carmel Valley is surrounded by the ridges of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Cachagua Valley is a sun-trap, a “bowl” in a high elevation that is shielded from the coastal fog and ideal for growing Bordeaux-style grapes. The daily temperatures vary from over 100° F. during the day to 50° F. during the night…Marinus vineyard soils are varied. They range from clay loam to sandy loam…Each vintage of Marinus represents the artistic interpretation of the vineyard cultivation along with the flavor elaboration in the winemaking process. A blend of Bordeaux varitetais, Marinus is the signature Bernardus wine from the Carmel Valley estate vineyard…”
2010 Marinus tasting notes:
From the winery: “Our 2010 Marinus exhibits its typical deeply colored robe. The aromas express beautiful red fruits accented by classic notes of cedar. The delicious flavors are soft and full, with spicy dark cherry and plus flavors and a smooth texture of well integrated tannins. Although drinking beautifully now, this Marinus will age gracefully for many years to come.”
2010 Bernardus Marinus: Drink Me Now!
My Review of the 2010 Marinus: We’ve been enjoying this wine for several years now and it does not disappoint. Drink now. One of my favorite events of 2019 was attending a Marinus Winemaker’s Dinner catered by a local chef. They served a different vintage with each course. That was an amazing night. Sure hope we get to do that again. This wine is available for purchase from the winery – watch for sales! May 2020
2005 Parrot Ranch tasting notes:
From the winery: “Robe: Deep crimson-red color. Youthful aromas of cherries and cranberries accented with notes of cedar, toasty oak and spice beautifully express the excellence of the terroir of Carmel Valley. The vibrant flavors of ripe red fruits, licorice and cedar accented with mineral notes are concentrated and well -focused. Our 2005 Parrot Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking wonderfully now, but the freshness of flavor and fine tannins on the finish promise a rewarding future for several years to come.” 3,000 cases produced.
2005 Parrot Ranch
My review of the 2005 Parrot Ranch: Intense red berries, sweet and pleasantly jammy. Smooth and very elegant, soft round tannins and intense aftertaste. Any-day occasion wine with a quality feel provided by the aging process, plummy liquorish feel with earthy and forest floor flavors. Drink now. March 2020
My understanding is when the fruit doesn’t meet the quality for the Marinus label, it has occasionally been bottled under the Parrot Ranch label. We have purchased many cases of this wine and I presented it in one of my Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar wine classes – a bit hit. We at times purchased it for only $10/bottle and are still enjoying it. It is sold out.
Their wines can be found in many wine shops around the U.S., with the best place to order directly on its webpage.
As of this writing, Bernardus has not re-opened their tasting room and is focusing on wine production and virtual wine tastings.
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Pinot Noir, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3 % Malbec, < 1% Merlot, Petite Sirah & Petit Verdot
Massa Estate Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village
When we first started to visit Carmel Valley for its wines, we used to stop at a place called Heller Estate. It was the first tasting room on the left. Back then, we remember buying half bottles of delicious Durney Cabernet Sauvignon. Durney Vineyards produced wine from roughly 1979-1996. Heller Estate bought out Durney ~1996 and, in recent years (~2017), Bill Massa, a long-time Salinas farmer, bought the estate. When we saw the name change on the tasting room, we stopped in, talked to Laurie Massa, and picked up this 2015 Heller Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cachagua (cah-SHAH-wah) is part of the Carmel Valley AVA. From Monterey County Vintners & Producers: “Cachagua Valley’s unique mountainous setting sits high above the fog-line along the coast and exposes the grapes to a warmer overall climate. Average summer temperatures can reach into the 100’s with cool evenings dropping into the low 30’s and 40’s. This dramatic swing in temperature extends the ripening time and growing season, allowing the grapes a slow maturation process for eventual complexity in the fruit and the wine.” Wineries with vineyards in Cachagua include Bernardus, Galante, Georis, Joullian, Massa (Heller), and Rombi. I will be presenting wines from Cachagua first!
The Current Massa Estate Tasting Lineup
Massa Estate describes this region and wine as follows: “Overlooking the Cachagua region of Carmel Valley, (“Cachagua” is believed to be an Indian derivative of the French “cacher” and the Spanish “agua” meaning ‘hidden waters’), and framed by the dramatic surrounding hills, lie the beautiful mountain vineyards of the Heller Estate. The 120 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir are planted at an altitude of 1200 – 1500 feet, producing rich, luscious grapes, which result in outstanding premium wines. The vineyards are certified 100% organic…” According to the winery, 2015 was a tough growing season, marked by continuing drought and a cold, windy, cloudy May. The mild summer helped compensate, enhancing the fruit’s color in its Bordeaux varietals.
Love this “Dances On Your Palate” label!
This wine spent 20 months in oak barrels. Massa describes this wine as follows: Aroma of “juicy berries such as raspberry, blackberry and blueberry with hints of bay laurel, earthiness and spice…Cassis and blackberry greet the palate while some slightly earthy and juicy characteristics mingle beautifully with the dry, dusty tannin structure. On the finish there are notes of dark chocolate and mocha. Pair this wine with braised stuffed cabbage rolls, roasted root vegetables or a juicy hamburger topped with sautéed mushrooms and some nice aged cheddar cheese.”
My review: Dense, dark red color. Nose brimming with cherry, with oak and yeasty notes. Bursting with dark fruit on palate (cassis and blackberry) with pleasant acidity. Solid tannic structure, with the oak coming through. A bit earthy.
You can taste and purchase this wine at the Massa Estate Tasting Room at 69 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley. They have a lovely outdoor patio and you can also order from Chef Michael Jones’ menu for patio dining or carry-out. 1000Corks lists this wine as available primarily in the New York area for $22-24 plus tax and shipping.
Lovely, Relaxing Setting at Massa Estate’s Tasting Room
First and foremost, welcome to Decanting Monterey! I thought I should start at the beginning and tell you how we first became familiar with Monterey County’s many fine wines. For decades, we had been going to Napa and Sonoma to taste and buy wines. We also spent time in Cambria, not far from the fine wines of Paso Robles. Yet the main destination of those trips was always Pacific Grove, where my in-laws lived. And when it was chilly and foggy in Pacific Grove, we could always go to Carmel Valley for warmth and sunshine.
We started visiting the tasting rooms in Carmel Valley in the late 1990’s. Back then, we knew about Bernardus (the first tasting room to open in Carmel Valley!), Chateau Julien (now Folktale), Chateau Sinnet, Georis, Heller (formerly Durney and now Massa Estates), Joullian, and Talbott. We were fortunate at Heller to pick up some amazing half-bottles of Durney Cabernet Sauvignon from its estate in Cachagua, where some of the Carmel Valley AVA’s finest wines are grown.
As the years went by, it seemed every time we went to Carmel Valley, we would find new tasting rooms and wines to explore. We would ask, “What other wines should we check out?” and we were guided to new places to explore. We asked this question at Joullian and its tasting room staff said, “Let me make a phone call.” He called up to Parsonage and asked if we could come up to taste their wines. The winemaker there, asked if we were serious wine buyers and the answer was yes. We headed up to the winery (before they had a tasting room) and discovered that Carmel Valley can produce the big reds we love. They turned us on to their neighboring winery, Boëté, and later, Silvestri.
Inside the Parsonage Winery
We saw more and more tasting rooms open every time we drove out to Carmel Valley Village. Boekenoogen, Cima Collina, and the string of tasting rooms in the old White Oak shopping center – back then it was Parsonage, Holman Ranch, Chesebro, Chalone, Joyce, Marilyn Remark, and Dawn’s Dream. Today, swap in Rexford and I Brand. And along Pilot Road where Cowgirl and Talbott are, some wineries from elsewhere opened tasting rooms: Idle Hour, Twisted Roots and Bunter Spring. And Rombi opened showcasing his huge Cabs and Merlots.
We didn’t just taste wine in Carmel Valley – we also explored the many wineries in Carmel, including Blair, Figge, Galante, Hahn, Scheid, Silvestri, Wrath and more. Plus a “research trip” drive down the Salinas Valley to the Arroyo Seco AVA to see first had some of my favorite vineyards including Zabala and Cedar Lane and back up to taste wines at Wrath, Hahn, Pessagno, Puma Road and Odonata. Check out a current map of tasting rooms here.
Rolling Vineyards in Salinas Valley
Before we moved back to the Monterey area, I began to present Monterey wines as a volunteer wine educator at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar (WWCS) in Washington DC, where I had been a member since about 1999. That’s when I learned about the Monterey Vintners & Growers Association – the best place for authoritative information about Monterey wines. Kim Stemler has been very helpful to me in getting information for my classes. I have also presented Monterey Wines to the Northern Virginia American Wine Society chapter, as well as a class on Paicines AVA wines for WWCS.
I started to be referred to as the Monterey wine expert. I decided if I was going to have that label, I’d better get some official training. I completed the Wine & Spirits Educational Trust Level 1 in January 2020. I see this blog website as my next big step. Now, let’s get onto some wine reviews!
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