The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society (AWS) is a young organization started only a couple of years ago. Through a friend of a friend, I was put in touch with its Chair, Jacqueline Van Nes, back before I started writing wine blogs. It’s a friendly and relatively small group. I haven’t been able to attend many of their events. When I do, I have really enjoyed the people, the wines, and the wine education.
Once a month, they head out on a First Friday “WinedUp” wine tasting – I joined them earlier this month at Puma Road’s Portola Tasting Room in Monterey. What a fun and relaxing event! I confess I convinced the tasting room manager to go off menu a bit for me so I could review all these wines for you!
Today I am presenting 9 Puma Road wines. The winery notes come from their website here. My last tasting of Puma Road wines was published here: https://decantingmonterey.com/puma-road-next-stop-on-the-river-road-wine-trail/.
2020 Puma Road Sauvignon Blanc, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 13.5% ABV, $20 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon (#685*)
Winery Notes: “Our 2020 Sauvignon Blanc is bright and delightful. Inviting, with earthy notes and aromas of citrus, apricot, peach, and mineral; on the palate, it offers flavors of citrus, peach, and minerality, with bright acidity and pineapple on the finish. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.”
My Review: Viscous straw in color. White peach on the nose. Mild melon, white peach and honeysuckle on the palate.
2019 Puma Road Rose of Grenache, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 14% ABV, $22 (#686*)
Winery Notes: “Our maiden vintage of 2019 dry Rosé of Grenache is a peachy pink, and invites with aromas of apricot, strawberry, honey, and minerality. The palate delights with flavors of apricot and strawberry, with minerality and a rich feel. Serve chilled.”
My Review: Pale pink in the glass. A touch of grapefruit on the nose and palate with a hint of bubblegum on the finish. Very tasty.
2015 Puma Road Cabernet Franc, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, $37 (#687*)
Winery Notes: “The 2015 Cabernet Franc has a nose of dark fruit, leather, and clove. The mouth begins with the flavor of dark cherry, followed by a hint of licorice, with bright acidity throughout, and a rich finish.”
My Review: Raspberry and berry on the nose. Not the huge fruit bomb I remember from the past.
2015 Puma Road Merlot, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 15.7% ABV, $37 (#688*)
Winery Notes: “Our 2015 Merlot offers aromas of leather, spices, coffee, and dark fruit. The palate experiences flavors of dark cherry, spices, and leather, with a rich, velvety feel.”
My Review: Garnet in color. Spice box on the nose. Spice and dark berries on the palate with a little tobacco on the finish. I liked this wine.
2015 Puma Road Malbec, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 14.44% ABV, $37 (#689*)
Winery Notes: “Our 2015 Malbec has bold aromas of spice, leather, dark cherry, and tobacco. The palate experiences a rich feel, with flavors of raspberry, cherry, and spice, and a smooth, lasting finish.”
My Review: Nate’s favorite. Dark ruby, inky in the glass. Spearmint on the nose. Very big on the palate – I agree with Nate!
2015 Puma Road Petit Verdot, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 13.87% ABV, $37 (#690*)
Winery Notes: “Relish in this deep, bold red and truly taste the essence of Paicines. The nose of our Petit Verdot displays aromas of dark cherry, leather, and spice. The mouth has a rich feel and bright acidity, with flavors of cherry, spice, leather, and clove. Pairs well with grilled steak and bone-in pork chops.”
My Review: Ruby in color. Very berry on the nose. Rich berry yet lean on the palate with a touch of licorice on the finish.
2015 Puma Road Tannat, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 14.15% ABV, $40 (#691*)
Winery Notes: “Only around 300 acres of Tannat are grown in California. Traditionally, Tannat is used as a blending grape, to add body and deep color to other varietals. Puma Road Tannat stands on its own. Our 2015 Tannat has a nose of deep, dark fruit; warm, rich spice; caramel; and black pepper. On the palate, experience a rich feel, with flavors of dark cherry and spice – think clove – and a velvety caramel finish, with just the right amount of tannin.”
My Review: Ruby in color. Dark berry/cherry on the nose. Cedar, dark cherry, blackberry and raspberry on the palate with vanilla on the finish.
2015 Puma Road Cache, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 13.44% ABV, $37 (#692*)
Winery Notes: “The 2015 Cache is an approachable blend. It is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. This Puma Road customer favorite entices with aromas of dark chocolate, licorice, dark fruit, and spice. On the palate, it offers a rich mouth feel, with flavors of dark fruit, black cherry, and blueberry, with nice acidity. This wine pairs extraordinarily well with char-grilled meats, like a juicy ribeye steak, or a ground chuck burger. It will also be beautiful with duck, lamb, or brisket.”
My Review: Ruby in color. Dark fruit on the palate. Smooth and fairly lean on the palate.
2015 Puma Road Predator, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, 13.8% ABV, $40 (#693*)
Winery Notes: “The Predator is a blend of the five Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (12%), Cabernet Franc (11%), Petit Verdot (3%), and Malbec (2%). The result is an exceptionally smooth, yet nuanced Bordeaux-style wine. Our 2015 The Predator displays notes of spice, leather, dark fruit, and dark roast coffee. The palate has a rich, velvety feel, with layered flavors of dark fruit, cherry, and spice, with toasted oak and vanilla on its smooth, lasting finish. This wine can be put up for as long as you’d like, or enjoyed now. Decanting is recommended.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Dusty on the nose. Complex dark berries and a touch of acidity and bubblegum on the finish.
Visiting Puma Road (from their website) (as of May 2022 – check for updates: “RESERVATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED – AMPLE OUTDOOR SEATING Parties larger than six, reservations required.”
Soledad: 32720 River Road. Current Spring 2022 Hours: Thurs-Mon – 12:00pm-5:00pm. 831-675-3548 info@pumaroad.com
Monterey: Portola Plaza, 281 Alvarado Street. Current Spring 2022 Hours: Sun-Thurs – 2:00pm-8:00pm, Fri & Sat – 2:00pm-9:00pm 831-747-1911 portola@pumaroad.com
Ordering and Picking Up Wine (as of May 2022): “At this time, we are offering amazing flat rate UPS Ground shipping prices — $10 for up to 11 bottles, $15 for 12-23 bottles, $30 for 24-35 bottles, and $45 for 36 or more bottles — as well as complimentary local delivery for orders of $40 or more to many parts of Monterey County. Please call 831-675-3548 or email info@pumaroad.com for more information.
“You may also place an order to be picked up at either location – please choose your location at check-out – during our amended hours of operation: River Road Soledad Tasting Room – Thurs-Mon 12-5pm, Portola Plaza Tasting Room – Thurs-Sun 1-6pm. For your convenience and safety, we are also offering curbside pick up. Instructions will be included in the receipt that is emailed to you upon completion of purchase.”
*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.
© Decanting Monterey 2023
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