Tagged: 2012

Parsonage Library Wine: The Last of the Carmelstone!

We learned the hard way that, when your winery allocation includes a library wine, then you really should drink it.  With that in mind, we have been combing our stock for must-drink wines and found a bunch of Parsonage that needed to be opened.  My last post about Parsonage wines was in August here:  https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-showcases-its-powerful-wines-to-the-monterey-aws/.  Since then, we have been to their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village to taste new releases and also sampled quite a few library wines from our own collection.

Years ago, Parsonage bottles a Syrah from the Carmelstone section of their vineyard.  I believe they told me that they no longer get enough fruit from the Carmelstone lot to bottle it separately. It was some of the finest Syrah I had ever tasted.  We found 2 bottles of the 2014 vintage in our private collection – they were enjoyed greatly and are sadly gone. That might be the end of Carmelstone for us. I do notice on their website that they have a couple of vintages of this wine in 5 liter bottles – a bit out of my size and price range, but it is tempting…

Today, I am presenting 9 Parsonage wines – a few new releases and a lot of Library wines. Only two are a repeat – the 2019 Parsonage Cyrano  and the 2016 Rocco Reserve Syrah.  I walked into the tasting room in September and found Bill Parsons and the staff engaged in an interesting exercise: how does aeration affect the Cyrano.  I got to play! So I am sharing that with you.  And the smoke-tainted Rocco is still an intriguing bottling – one I recognized immediately when playing mystery wine – worthy of an update.

I’ve presented Parsonage to you in several prior posts and won’t repeat about them here (just type “Parsonage” in the search bar to see them all). You can check out their website here:  https://www.parsonagewine.com/. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or website, or from the winery direct to me, as usual. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2019 Parsonage Cyrano Red Blend, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $28 (#796) 70% Merlot, 30% Syrah   

Winery Notes: “Our versatile red table wine easily pairs with a variety of different foods. We think it goes especially well with pizza and spaghetti with red sauce. This vintage is full bodied. A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Syrah. Rich, ripe and voluptous. The Cyrano is one of our best sellers.”

My Review: Stumbled into a side by side tasting of aerated and un-aerated Cyrano.  Un: Plum and spice on the finish. Aerated: Slightly more ruby color (call me crazy), much richer palate and smoother finish, less spice. Aeration amplified the flavors! September 2022

2019 Parsonage BDL, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $44 (#877)          

Winery Notes: “The BDL (originally named the Bordelais) is our Bordeaux-style blend with a rapturous bouquet of wildflowers, exotic spice, and a broad spectrum of ripe red, blue and dark berries. A lot of complexity and beauty here. The round, vibrant palate shows off the rich berry fruit of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot blend. The fruit and the spice join together at the finish to force me to cry out, DELICIOUS!!!.”

My Review: Pretty ruby in color.  Coca cola on the nose. This is a very tasty vintage of the BDL, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. October 2022

2019 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast AVA, 15% ABV, $48 (#878) 

Winery Notes: “The nose is marked dramatically by the scent of violets and spice wrapped in black cherry compote. The palate flavors are blackberry, black cherry, black currant, and dark plum with just a hint of cassis. This medium-plus-body beauty is harmoniously balanced with ripe and supple tannins showing off on the delightfully lengthy finish.”

My Review: This wine was a very pleasant surprise. It comes from Russell Joyce’s vineyard in Paicines.  Very smooth, juicy and tasty. We took a couple of bottles home!  October 2022

2012 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $125 (#879)

Winery Notes: “Our biggest cab has a broad nose of huckleberry, horehound licorice, black cherry, cassis and a hint of pepper.  The palate is fully structured (but not stridently so like a big tannicky Napa cab) with fully ripened tannins that lead to a smooth, rounded finish.”

My Review:   Rich dark ruby in the glass. Blackberry, dark cherry and chocolate on the nose. Smooth dark berries and cedar on the palate. Super delicious. Excellent! August 2022

2012 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $125 (#880)

My Review: Inky in the glass. Bouquet of rich, dark jammy fruit, sharp licorice, alternating with sulfur. The fruit and sulfur continue to alternate onto the heavy palate with a tart cherry and tobacco finish.  We had a long discussion about this wine and think we should have decanted it and opened it way earlier! August 2022

2008 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $125 (#881)

My Review: Dark in the glass.  Beautiful nose of dark fruit – like cassis. Palate has notes of plum, prune, and cassis with a hint of sulphur. November 2022

2016 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $80 (#89)

Winery Notes: “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: Inky. Big nose of dark fruit, alcohol, sweet tobacco and licorice (a bit of barnyard). Tons of rich, jammy, dark fruit cloaked in smoke on the finish. I recognized it right away as a Rocco. Still delicious despite the smoke taint. Probably one of the best 2016 Monterey smoke-tainted wines out there. September 2022

2014 Parsonage Carmelstone Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $125 (#882)

My Review: Cinnamon and berry on the nose. Juicy, smooth, rich palate of intense berries and cinnamon spice. I am so sad we opened both bottles and it is gone. November 2022

2015 Parsonage Xandro Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#883) Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon blend

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass.  Dark berries on the nose. Very delicious warm fruit. Scrumptious! May 2022

Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click here for the details.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. 

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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At Rombi, It is More than Just the Exceptional Wine!

A visit to Rombi Wines in Carmel Valley is always a good time.  Sal Rombi treats everyone like a best friend – he is full of stories and such a gracious host while we enjoy some of the biggest wines made in all of Monterey County.  And our visit with him in July was no different.  We were fortunate to have him all to ourselves.  We were able to catch up, hear some stories, and taste his current releases, most of which I have had the fortune to taste before.

 In May of 2021, I gave you a preview of Rombi wines to come here: https://decantingmonterey.com/rombi-a-preview-of-wines-to-come/.  Back in the tasting room in July 2022, I am happy to find these wines are now available for everyone to try!  I’ll be re-presenting those wines here, but also adding a few others – including some wines which would now be considered “library” wines from my own collection. 

The fruit from Sal’s Carmel Valley Vineyard is so flavorful, creating wines with up-front intense flavors. Rombi’s wines are very big and complex – highly recommend decanting to get the full fruit flavors.  Actually, we have been double-decanting and double-aerating them for best results…unless you really want to wait a day after opening. Who can wait? I mean, it is not like we decide at noon that we will have one of his big Cabernet Sauvignons after dinner.  It is usually an in-the-moment decision.

I exchanged a few dog-related texts with Sal in September. The last time we visited him in July, our dog messed up the extremely difficult dancing dog puzzle we had been working on. Separation issues. While we knew almost immediately he had eaten a few blue pieces, we didn’t know until we competed this now even more difficult puzzle that he had eaten 68 pieces. 68!!

But what I learned in our brief exchange of texts is the concern of our local vintners regarding this heat wave we’ve been having throughout the west. Harvesting at 115 degrees is not good. I found this informative article about Central Valley grapes from 2020. Fresno State Winemaker Tom Montgomery is quoted in that article as saying this: “Above about 90 degrees …the vines — the metabolism — starts to shut down. And that’s a protective measure for self-preservation. So they’re conserving water and not transpiring and not ripening fruit. Sometimes we see them stall in very hot weather.” We are all hoping for the best outcomes for the 2022 vintage. Sal did tell me later that everything is looking good for his grapes! I’ll be keeping my ear to the ground from our other local vintners as we make the rounds.

In today’s post I will present 8 wines past and present! These include what he is currently pouring in the tasting room plus some wines from our home collection. I think we started collecting Rombi Wine with the 2010 vintage. I’ve presented Rombi Wines to you several times before – just type “Rombi” in the search bar!

Sal has always been generous to Decanting Monterey, whether it is replenishing my home stock or giving me new wines to try.  I will always let you know when a winery has comped me the wine – which a few have done.  Since this is an all-volunteer effort, it is small gestures like these that make operating my blog affordable – in an indirect way! One example is that I now possess the 2019 Merlot, which is not yet released – we’ll wait for the right occasion to open this one for a review. Another donation is noted below. These gifts don’t change my reviews – they are opportunities to taste unreleased wines, share with me more of a wine I really like, replenish my stock, or in some cases wines to present in my all-volunteer classes.

2018 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (#326) (Tasting Room)

This was his 12th year of production.

My Review: Beautiful dark ruby, raspberry swirling in color. Intense berry and a little must on the nose. Mouthfilling tart dark berries on the dry palate. Very good and well balanced. If the 2012 is any indicator, I’ll try to put this away for years to come! March 2021/July 2022

2012 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $65 (#836) (Home Library)

We shared this wine with our wine pod partners in early August. I have to say, these “library” Merlots are drinking incredibly well. I think we all were extremely impressed. Just proving that it pays to hold onto these wines!

My Review: Super dark and beautiful in the glass. Nice bouquet of dark plum, cherry, sagebrush and graphite on the nose. Rich palate of dark cherry, dark black raspberry, olive tapenade, tarragon and some tannin. Drinking great, but could last another 10 years. July 2022

2017 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#328) (Tasting Room)

My Review: Deep ruby in color. Distinctive, intense berry, Cassis and caramel and vanilla on the nose. A classic Cabernet nose. Intense flavors on the palate. Graphite, lean “St Estèphe-like.” Dark, intense fruit on the palate. That’s pretty good. Tongue-coating. March 2021/July 2022

2016 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $ (837) (Tasting Room)

My Review: This was the first time we had tasted this new release, affected by the Soberanes Fire. Dark ruby in the glass, tastes a bit like BBQ ribs with some ash on the finish.  I like BBQ ribs…just sayin’.

2013 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, $65 (#838) (Home Library)

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Rich dark raspberry on the nose. Pretty rich and smooth dark berries on the palate with a very dry finish. While I retain a special spot for the 2015 vintage, the 2013 is one of his best we have tasted. We double decanted and double aerated this wine before tasting. January/May 2022

2011 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#100) (Home Library)

Sometime back, I asked Sal about the 2011 growing season.  He indicated it was a good season – one in which “nothing weird” happened.  This was also his 5th year of production, so he felt he was really hitting his stride.  I told him we really had to let this wine open up before we experienced the delicious, distinctive fruit we remembered from his 2015 vintage.  He reminded me that one must always, always decant his wines. 

My Review: Beautiful deep ruby color. After it opened up, plum and cassis backed by complex tannins on the nose.  Cherry and some tartness on the palate, with the acidity balanced out by lovely round, dark berry fruit flavors. It finishes dry, dotted with spearmint and tobacco notes. For our recent September tasting, we only single decanted and aerated this wine, but it would have benefited from being double decanted and double aerated. We should know better by now!  After it fully opened up and also on day 2, this was still drinking deliciously. July 2020/September 2022

2014 Rombi Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, 14.6% ABV, $75 (#260) (Tasting Room)

My Review: Deep purple-red in the glass. A very different nose with a touch of barnyard. Delicious, chalky, deep plum and cherry on the palate with a leathery finish. Drinking well. August 2020/July 2022

2018 Rombi Petit Verdot, Napa Valley, 14.4% ABV, $75 (#329) (Tasting Room)

This is Rombi’s first Petit Verdot! He shared with us the small fact that Petit Verdot is the last fruit to ripen. I likely had commented that I used to think Petit Verdot was a touch vegetal.  Perhaps others aren’t patient enough for the fruit to ripen fully!

My Review: Inky ruby/purple. Great nose of mocha and blackberries. Full bodied, with rich, dark berries and so smooth on the palate. Blackberry and blueberry with a touch of menthol tobacco mid-palate. Licorice dry long finish. Still the best Petit Verdot I’ve ever had! I like this wine. Sal gave me one to take home. March 2021/July 2022

Visit the Rombi Tasting Room: If you have not yet had the opportunity to taste Sal’s wines, I highly recommend visiting him on a Saturday or Sunday, 12-5 at One Center Street, Carmel Valley Village. You can learn more about his wines online at Rombi Wines.  You can also contact Kathy and Sal at kathy@rombiwines.com  or sal@rombiwines.com for more information about buying their wines. 

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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“Shopping” at Home Yields Interesting I Brand Varietals and Vintages!

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*)

I needed an orange wine for a Halloween wine class and chose this one from my wine room!  Ian Brand’s orange wax was a great tip that this would be the right wine for our purpose!  I reviewed the 2018 vintage in this blog in December 2020 here: https://decantingmonterey.com/i-brand-family-inching-our-way-to-central-coast-wines/. 

K&L Wine Merchants has a good writeup of this wine, including a Wine Enthusiast review of 92 points here: https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1488589

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.”

K&L Wine Merchants has a good writeup of this wine, including a Wine Enthusiast review of 92 points here: https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1488589

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.    

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Lucienne: “SINGLE VINEYARD EXPRESSIONS. SMALL LOT WINES.”

Sometimes my DC wine class members present Central Coast wines that I have not had the opportunity to try.  One of them presented this 2012 Lucienne, consistently rated as one of the top Pinot Noirs from Santa Lucia Highlands.  He was fortunate to purchase this on WTSO for $18! This wine in later vintages consistently scores quite high and the typical retail price is $50. 

About Lucienne: “Lucienne wines showcase the distinct characteristics of Pinot Noir from each of our Santa Lucia Highlands estate vineyards: Lone Oak, Doctor’s, Smith and Hook. The wines take their name from Santa Lucia, the namesake of the appellation and patron saint of light; her crown of candles graces the wine label. These vineyard-designated releases owe their singular nature to variations in climate, topography, and wind as well as an array of clonal selections. The wines are rich, nuanced expressions of the vineyards they come from.”  This is one of Hahn’s high-end labels.

Santa Lucia Highlands AVA Map courtesy of Monterey County Vintners & Growers

About the Smith Family Vineyard: “Smith is not only our highest elevation vineyard, reaching 1,280 feet above sea level, it was also one of our first estate vineyards, planted originally in the mid-1970s. Boasting eastern exposure above the fog line, this vineyard experiences less windy conditions and a long growing season.” 131 acres planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Soil: “Farmed from alluvial materials, predominantly Chualar Loam with pockets of Placentia Sandy Loam and Arroyo Seco Gravelly Sandy Loam.”

2012 Lucienne Pinot Noir, Smith Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $50 (#392*)

Winemaker’s Notes from Wine.com: “This wine shows fragrant strawberry and blackberry aromas with earthy cocoa undertones. Silky and richly textured, this wine’s palate impression is balanced by a high-note of acidity recalling tart plums. Harmonious red and black fruit flavors come together with earthy spice notes on this wine’s long finish.”

Wine Enthusiast  – 91 points: “A heady swirl of aromas ranging from earthy red iron to hard cinnamon candy and violet flowers emerge in this wine sourced from the historic Smith Vineyard. The flavors, which arrive on a silky palate, start with dark chocolate, root beer extract and lots of geologic influence before hitting raspberry fruit.”

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Rich currant and cedar in the bouquet. Smooth and rich on the palate. Cassis and cedar carry through. Even I like this Pinot Noir! June 2021                                                     

Visiting Hahn: Hahn’s tasting rooms at the winery in SLH and in Carmel are open by reservation – click here for more information.

*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.    

Bernardus: Let’s Celebrate the Tasting Room Reopening with Three Great 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.    

Idle Hour: Bringing Clarksburg and Oakhurst to Carmel Valley!

I’m going slightly off brand, but with a purpose.  With the boom of tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village came a couple of what appeared to be interlopers – wineries not based in Carmel Valley or even Monterey County.  Yet, they are also part of our winery/tasting room fabric.  We are quite fond of them and are including them here.  Idle Hour is one of them.  This post is long, but includes all their wines we have tasted since March 2020.  For most, I don’t find professional reviews, so you are stuck with mine.

Idle Hour is Relocating its Carmel Valley location to Big Sur Vineyard’s tasting room at 1 Delfino Place!

We learned of Idle Hour Winery when they opened a tasting room in Carmel Valley. Idle Hour is Oakhurst’s (near Yosemite) first winery, making handcrafted wines (idlehourwinery.com). All of their wines are fermented using native yeasts, those which come from the vineyards with the fruit, also known as resident yeasts, making their wines “truly indicative of the vineyards they come from.” These are award-winning wines for affordable prices.

Owners Deb Payne & Anna Marie dos Remedios are always gracious hosts, whether at one of their tasting rooms in Oakhurst or Carmel Valley.  You will often find winemaker Anna Marie pouring wines and inviting you to come up to Yosemite to stay at their inn.  I love Idle Hour’s bottle labels – fine art by Tim Cantor (www.timcantor.com). 

The Madera Tribute reported that Idle Hour Winery in Oakhurst received best of class for its Blanc de Blanc, a double gold for its 2015 Tempranillo and silver for its 2016 Petit Verdot in the January 10 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

The Clarksburg AVA, best known for Bogle Vineyards & Winery, is the home to the Heringer Estates, a prime source of Idle Hour’s grapes.

Most of their wines come from the Clarksburg AVA, which spans three counties in California’s Sacramento Valley, including nearly 65,000 acres near the town of Clarksburg (more than Napa and Monterey County!). Think Bogle. The growing region has dense clay and loam soils. Fog and cool breezes from San Francisco Bay keep the Clarksburg area cooler than nearby Sacramento.

Idle Hour Blanc de Blanc, Lodi AVA, 11.2% ABV, $?? (#59*)

The Idle Hour Blanc de Blanc is a nonvintage méthode champenoise sparkling wine made of 100% Chardonnay from the Clement Hills Vineyard, Lodi.  This wine won Double Gold and was rated 93 points, as well as named Best Sparkling Wine at the North of the Gate Wine Competition, April 2019.  With only 44 cases produced, it has sold out. 

My Review: Crisp, clean and a bit peachy.  Refreshing.

2019 Idle Hour Sauvignon Blanc, Sierra Foothills, 13.8% ABV, $28 (#113*)

My Review: Appearing medium gold and slightly effervescent in the glass, we detected a slight stinkiness on the nose, like a touch of sulfur, which rapidly dissipated.  The bouquet was lightly floral and pineapple.  This was a nice wine, with a little sweetness, creamy in the mouth with pineapple flavors and bright acidity.  We enjoyed it – perfect for the occasion – and would buy it again! 

2016 Idle Hour Petit Verdot, Heringer Estate Vineyard, Clarksburg CA, 13.8% ABV, $30 (#3*)

My Review: Petit Verdot is a blending grape typically found in Bordeaux blends, but makes a nice red wine on its own. This is an enjoyable bold red, a bit tight, and we did not get the fruitiness expected from the varietal. I am not the biggest Petit Verdot fan, but my friends just love this wine. Maybe hold for a bit. March 2020

2017 Idle Hour Cabernet Franc, Heringer Estate Vineyard, Clarksburg CA, 13.6% ABV, $30 (#22*)

My Review: My daughter called this wine “spicy and good.”  In addition to spice, I picked up cherry and raspberry on the palate with a little oak and green pepper.  It is one of my favorites, but I would hold this wine a bit.

2017 Idle Hour Tannat, Heringer Estate Vineyard, Clarksburg AVA, 14.1% ABV, $40 (#126*)

My Review:  Garnet and inky in color.  Grass and SweeTart on the nose.  A little vegetal, yet intense flavors of SweeTart, tart cherry and plum on the palate.  Black currant, orange peel and licorice notes on the finish.   100% Tannat – sold out.  August 2020

2015 Idle Hour Tempranillo Winemaker’s Reserve, Heringer Estate Vineyard, Clarksburg CA, 14.6% ABV, $32 (174*)

My Review: Deep ruby in color.  Cherry and raspberry on the nose, upon opening, with dusty notes appearing over time.  At first it was bright cherry and cranberry on the palate, but opened up into deeper, lush flavors.  I highly recommend this wine. November 2020

2012 Idle Hour Syrah Owlbox, Love Ranch Vineyard, Madera County, 14.4% ABV, $28 (210*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Ripe plums surprisingly alive after aging almost 6 years sur lie. Medicinal aromas in this menthol finish. This 94% Syrah co-fermented with 4% Viognier, in a Coté Rotie style, giving a bright acidity and smooth mouthfeel.” (from their website)

My Review: Garnet in color.  Old World smell.  Deep aromas, followed by an initial SweeTart flavor with a dry finish.  As the wine opened up, deep, dark cherry flavors emerged. I’m personally not a big fan of the Coté Rotie style. December 2020

2016 Idle Hour Petite Sirah, Heringer Estate, Clarksburg AVA, 14.5% ABV, $30 (189*)

Fresnolandia Review: “Idle Hour’s 2016 Petite Sirah is bittersweet; it begins on the tongue with a thick, sweet tart dark berry, transitions to a peppy berry, and ends with a tongue drying dark chocolate/licorice. To the nose, it is of a sweet, soy aroma; and if such a thing exists, also vibes of a dark berry vinegar.” Ronan Tetsu, 09/2020 https://www.fresnolandia.com/idle-hour-petite-sirah/

My Review: Dark purple in color, rich dark plum and blackberry. Smooth cherry some bitterness on the palate, dry and licorice finish. Super delicious. I want more of this wine. December 2020

2016 Idle Hour Vin Rouge, Heringer Estate, Clarksburg AVA, 14.2% ABV, $30 (211*) 40% Petit Verdot, 34% Tempranillo, 26% Petite Sirah

My Review: Dark in color, with a fresh and bright nose. A bit tart yet sweet on the palate like a juicy mix of wines. This is one of those blends that, upon opening, I am not sure what it wants to be. As it opens up, it melds together to a lovely red. 

You can purchase their wines from the Idle Hour website here. This wine can be purchased directly from the winery here. For other inquiries and status of tasting rooms, contact them here:  wine@idlehourwinery.com, Tel: 559-760-9090.  Check for specials, as well as the opportunity to buy gift certificates for future wine purchases and stays at their Queen’s Inn near Yosemite National Park’s southern entrance.  Check them out at www.idlehourwinery.com. 

*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.    

Irie (i’-ree): “1. To have no worries. 2. Feeling Great. 3. My Australian shepherd.” (from the back label)

Back in 2019, on our “research” wine trip down the Salinas Valley’s River Road, we had a bit of a hard time finding the Smith Family tasting room at the Paraiso Estate Vineyard.  With a fence and dirt roads ahead of us, we made a U-turn and found one of the most beautiful tasting room settings, with a breathtaking view of the Salinas Valley.  Our first wine tasting of the day, we marched through the usual varietals – and then noticed cases of Zinfandel stacked behind us – with an awesome price.  Made by the family’s son, Justin Murphy, this affordable Zinfandel could meet my wine class’ budget – so we took a case home for about $17/bottle! 

The Smith Family has one of the most beautiful views, overlooking the Salinas Valley.

About Irie Wines summarized from the Gold Medal Wine Club (an excellent writeup of Justin Murphy and Irie Wines): Justin is the grandson of the Smith Family founders, who were among the pioneers who planted grapevines in the Santa Lucia Highlands and, along with the Hahn family, helped that AVA earn its designation.   He took a job at Courtside Cellars which sparked his true calling as a winemaker.  He moved to Sextant wines and, in 2006, began producing his own wines. He knew he had to make a distinctive Zinfandel to separate himself from the rest of the Paso Robles pack.   He produced 3 wines:  Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Rose. I believe he is no longer producing wines under the Irie label and is focusing on his winemaking role at Paraiso/Smith Family vineyard.

2012 Irie Zinfandel, Paso Robles AVA, 15.1% ABV, $25 (#201*)

The 2012 Irie Zinfandel was a great find!

About the 2012 Irie Zinfandel: “Irie is the label chosen by winemaker-in-training Justin Murphy, grandson of the vineyard’s founders. He makes his 2012 Zinfandel from grapes grown on the west side of Paso Robles, about an hour south of Soledad. There’s also a Petite Syrah, but 2013’s bottling has sold out, and what’s in the pipeline is not available for tasting.

“We’ve tasted a lot of Zin from Paso Robles. But something happens to these grapes on their short ride north, and the Irie Zin is like no other. This wine is also a definite reflection of its terroir—gently sloping western coastal hills, surrounded by grazing pastures with dry native grasses, very hot in the daytime, with a vigorous arid afternoon wind. Aged for 16 months in 25 percent new French Oak, this Zin just been released and is a very limited production of 335 cases.”

My Review: Very dark red, yet a bit transluscent.  Blackberry and pepper on the nose.  Raspberry, blackberry and cassis on the palate with white pepper and a little leather on the finish.  Pairs nicely with both spicy and sweet foods. August 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.    

Have Mercy! Amazing Wines from the Arroyo Seco Ancient River Channel

We discovered Mercy Vineyards when they opened a tasting room in Carmel Valley Village – they were the very first tasting room as you come into the village. We would often see the Mark Dirickson sitting out front with his lunch and a glass of white wine. All of their wines are from the Arroyo Seco AVA. Why? The dry, cobblestone (“Greenfield Potatoes”) riverbeds of granite and shale and the extreme climate of chilly winds and fog make it an ideal growing area for wine grapes.

The “Greenfield Potatoes” of the Ancient River Channel
photo from Mercy Wines website

From Mercy Wines: “Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco AVA is many things: windblown, numbingly cold, fog laden, semi-arid, rock strewn, austerely beautiful. In essence, the perfect grape source for Mercy wines…the wines are sourced from three contiguous vineyards, all located in a specific part of the appellation – The Ancient River Channel…Found along the banks of a now seasonal creek, this unique riverbed corridor features ideal maritime climate with rocky, meager surface soil and hardpan just feet below ground. Low yields, unique soil attributes and meticulous farming combine to produce flavorful and distinct grapes. Grown in such a dramatic setting, the wines truly are at the Mercy of Mother Nature.” (The vineyards are Cedar Lane, Griva and Zabala.) 

The Arroyo Seco AVA Map – from Monterey Vintners and Growers

We were impressed from our first meeting with Mark and winemaker Mike Kohne, who were also running their nascent tasting room. They also were producing a dry Riesling, something not seen much around here. While most of their wines are Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, they had me at Syrah – my favorite Mercy wines. I featured their 2017 Riesling at my Spring 2019 Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar (WWCS) class, and their 2016 Syrah in my Fall 2019 Northern Virginia AWS seminar.  I had planned to presenting their Sauvignon Blanc and the 2016 Syrah at my 2020 Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, which is on hold indefinitely. My DC friends got to consume those wines!  And I have to say we are really enjoying their Pinot Noirs – it took the pandemic for me to realize I might actually like Pinot Noir!

The truly sad news is that Mercy Vineyards is now closed.  Their website www.mercywines.com is still operational. We love these guys and are sorry to see them go.

Today I am presenting 7 of their wines – some tasted before I was writing my own tasting notes, some for which there is little-to-no published information.  6 of these were tasted during the Shelter in Place order. If you gotta stay home, drink good wine!

2017 Mercy Dry Riesling, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, ABV, $21

Aspiring to make a dry, old-world style Riesling, Mercy sourced Germanic clones from vines set in extremely rocky, low-yielding topsoil.

From Mercy Wines: “Fermented dry, with just the slightest touch of sweetness added back for texture, this “troken” style Riesling showcases aromas of orchard fruit as nectarine and pear notes mingle with honeysuckle, fennel, pollen and minerals in the bouquet.”

2017 Mercy Sauvignon Blanc Zabala Vineyard, 13.8% ABV, $24          

I needed a good white to cook with in April and, since we bought this wine for half price, I didn’t feel too bad cooking with it – and even got to enjoy some with my meal. Just like many Mercy wines, this one is from the Zabala Vineyard – man, that place produces great fruit.  I’m going to have to lean on my friends to find out which other wineries buy from Zabala or get to know the grower. 

2017 Mercy Sauvignon Blanc Zabala Vineyard

From Mercy Wines: “This Sauvignon Blanc is comprised exclusively of the low-yielding, Musque clone (FPS 27) from vines at the Zabala Vineyard. Set in the Arroyo Seco AVA’s ancient river channel the property’s locale features granitic topsoil arrayed on cobblestone beds. Such meager soil further diminishes yields and in concert with strong winds and dense fog combine to provide an environment ideal for compelling fruit.

“Hand-harvested in early September 2017, the Sauvignon Blanc grapes were crushed into stainless steel for fermentation. Racked to small mueller, steel barrels the wine aged for 6 months until being bottled on April 26, 2018. Innately racy, the straw colored wine features a bouquet with exotic aromas of melon, pineapple and star fruit, as well as lemon blossom, fresh cut hay and mineral characters. Replete with acidity, this aromatic wine has, due to the clone, a nice weight while remaining bright and refreshing.”

2012 Mercy Pinot Noir Zabala Vineyard, 14.6% ABV, $38 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast

In the spirit of creating some isolation fun, Charlie decided we would taste this wine blind – he poured me a glass and made me guess what it was.  This was a big red with a spicy bouquet.  Zinfandel!  Nope.  Joullian Retro Rouge?  Nope.  He confirmed it was a Monterey wine.  Then he said that it is not one of my favorites – which jumped me to Pinot Noir! I guessed based on its heft that it must be the Parsonage Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir!  Wrong again – close, but no cigar. 

On one of our 3 trips to Mercy in February 2020, the tasting room was boasting it had found these 2012 Pinot Noirs from the Arroyo Seco AVA, tucked away at the winery.  They let us taste it and we bought a bunch. 

2012 Mercy Pinot Noir Zabala Vineyard

This is a full-bodied Pinot Noir, once again a wine hailing from the fabulous Zabala Vineyard.  The label describes this wine as follows: “Wind blown, Zabala Vineyard bears the brunt of regional maritime elements.  This small-lot Pinot Noir hails from the “South Pointe”, a section of vineyard blocks nearest the seasonal creek.  From this rocky locale, Mercy sources “Dijon” clones 115 and 667, as well as a touch of Pommard clone.” 

From Mercy Wines: “A barrel selection of nine distinct barrels, this wine showcases the dense, juicy berry-nature of Pinot Noir grown on the Zabala ranch. Aromas of black berries and cherry mingle with notes baking spices, violets and earthy-mineral tones. Richly textured, firm tannins enhance the fruit flavors on the palate and melt away as part of the long finish.” 

If I could get my hands on more of this, I would.  We had this wine for Sunday night dinner with steak and a flavorful barley risotto.  It was a fabulous combo. It is making me re-think my views on Pinot Noir!

2014 Mercy Pinot Noir, Cedar Lane Vineyard, 14.4% ABV, $32 (Outbreak Wine #120)

About Cedar Lane Vineyard from Mercy Wines: “Located against and somewhat sheltered by a natural bench, a 40-foot palisade of bedrock along its northern border, this 60-acre vineyard is owned by Mark Chesebro and farmed by Michael Griva. Found at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains the sand as well as shale and granite cobblestone topsoil are meager with little nutrients, ultimately helping to diminish yields. The vineyard is planted to multiple varietals, including 7 different clones of Pinot Noir of which Mercy Vineyards sources two (“Pommard” clone 4 and clone 667).”

2014 Mercy Pinot Noir, Cedar Lane Vineyard

Wine Enthusiast rated this wine 89 points: “Concentrated lavender and incense aromas make for a woody perfume on the nose of this appellation blend, giving lots of character to the core of cherry syrup. The palate shows the same levels of intense incense and purple flowers, which nearly overpowers the cranberry and pomegranate fruits.” Matt Kettmann October 2017

My Review: Beautiful crystalized cork.  This wine has a dark robe, slightly brownish.  Musty, blackberry with cedar notes on the nose.  A palate of blackberry, cherry and a little leather, giving a slightly bitter finish – perhaps a little raisin.  This is a very rich and full-bodied Pinot Noir.  I do like my wines made from Cedar Lane grapes!  August 2020

2009 Mercy Syrah, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.9% ABV, $28 (Outbreak Wine #121)

My Review:  We tasted this wine last after a series of big wines – I did not capture good tasting notes. Very dark in color, this wine has lost some of its fruit and beyond its prime.  Nevertheless, it was a terrific wine. 

2012 Mercy Syrah, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.1% ABV, $28

According to their website, “Mercy sources three clones from the Zabala family (clone 7 an Aussie Shiraz clone, and two French ENTAV clones 470 and 877). All get co-fermented in small open top bins and ultimately the wine spent 18 months in French oak barrels (11% new) prior to bottling.”

2012 Mercy Syrah Zabala Vineyard

Wine Enthusiast gave it 93 points with this review: “Ripe and plump blackberries shine through in a showcase of fruit purity, lifted by dried fennel, hot black gravel, peppercorns, toasted sesame and soy. There is tremendous structure and acidity on the sip, with black pepper and black-sesame nuance plus juicy boysenberry character to the midpalate.”

My Review:  Almost 4 years later, this wine is drinking beautifully – blackberry and mocha with a touch of spice, full and smooth on the palate. Yum. Tasted March 2020

Mercy 2016 Riverbed Syrah, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.5% ABV, $30

I presented this wine at the October 2019 Northern Virginia AWS class as a compare and contrast of wines from the same 2016 vintage, different AVAs, to show how the Soberanes Fire affected wines from Carmel Valley but not from the other Monterey County AVAs.  

Regarding the 2016 Riverbed Syrah from Mercy Wines: “The progeny of grapevines located in the ancient, dried riverbed corridor of the Arroyo Seco AVA. This wine combines fruit from vines set in meager, nutrient-deficient topsoil which feature cobblestone beds of granite and shale. In addition to the distinct and finite terrain, the riverbed channel location is also is noted for its extreme climate as forceful winds and dense fog persist throughout the growing season. All these factors combine to create a distinct environment that is suited for Rhone varieties.

2016 Mercy Syrah Riverbed – the Last Release and a Great One

“Harvest in late October the grapes were transported to the winery in the early morning. At the winery the fruit was crushed with the ‘must’ racked to small bins for fermentation. Once dry, the wine was pressed off and transferred to neutral (1 and 2 year old) French oak barrels. Ultimately, it was aged 20 months before being bottled. The resulting wine shows aromas of juicy late-summer plum, cherry, lavender, sagebrush and holiday spices.” 

My Review: Raspberry, blackberry and cassis on the nose.  An explosion of berry and cassis on the palate, and a lingering finish.  Smooth and delicious.  May 2020

© Decanting Monterey 2020

Chesebro: “artisan wines, lovingly farmed and made by hand”

We are going to venture out of Carmel Valley AVA and into another one of my favorites, Arroyo Seco AVA.  Back in 2019, we took a family drive down 101 to Greenfield and back up through the valley just so I could see first hand the “Greenfield potatoes” – the big rocks in the vineyard soil – of the Arroyo Seco AVA.  We know how to have a good time!

The Monterey County Vintners and Growers  says this about the Arroyo Seco AVA: “First planted in 1962, this AVA extends from a steep canyon at its westernmost border, opening to encompass the benches around the Salinas River near the towns of Soledad and Greenfield. Bordeaux grape varieties prosper in the mouth of the canyon, which is protected from wind and warmed by reflective heat generated the surrounding cliffs. The valley floor is much cooler, providing ideal climactic conditions for the Burgundian varietals. Integral to this area’s soils are the “Greenfield Potatoes” – small cobblestones which store and release heat and provide excellent drainage.”

When the White Oak shopping center in Carmel Valley became a row of tasting rooms, we discovered Chesebro wines.  We were intrigued by the delicious, white varietals we weren’t so familiar with (Albariño, Vermentino), and impressed by the red blends.  Quality, artisan wines at affordable prices. 

  • From the Chesebro Wines Facebook page
The Chesebro tasting room is very charming on the exterior and offers both wine tasting and art on the inside! Sadly, currently closed.

I immediately became a fan of the Chesebro Syrah-driven Rhône blend, La Montagne Sauvage, which I presented several years ago at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar.  We became fans of the tasting room staff and visited often when in town.  Chesebro has been very helpful to me over the years in my wine education efforts. 

From www.chesebrowines.com: “Mark took a crush job at Bernardus Winery under Don Blackburn in the fall of 1994, and ended up staying until the spring of 2005. First working in the cellar, then as Enologist, he eventually became Winemaker in January of 1999. He basically held every production job available at this 50,000 case winery. Mark notes that this was truly his real winemaking education: it taught him not only about winemaking, but also about the extreme importance and impact of farming. He candidly observes that wine is very easy to botch up in the winery, but it can never be better than the raw materials. Respect for this concept became the guiding force in his approach to the production of fine wine.”

Chesebro Wine Lineup from Their Facebook Page.

“With lots of 300 cases or less, and a penchant for offbeat, as well as mainstream varietals, Chesebro’s production may be small, but the effort is prolific. We are passionate about true varietal expression, as well as preserving the unique voice of each vineyard site, from soil to glass. All of our wines are made solely from our vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Carmel Valley AVA’s.” They own Cedar Lane vineyard in Arroyo Seco, which has supplied grapes to other wineries, including Mercy and Parsonage. 

Chesebro 2012 Las Arenas, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.4% ABV, $25

According to the bottle, “Las Arenas refers to the sandy soils of Cedar Lane Vineyard.  This Rhone style blend of 67% Grenache and 33% Syrah, resulting in a wine that combines intense aromatics with smooth texture and bright acidity.”  Wine Enthusiast rated the Chesebro 2013 Las Arenas 90 points and the 2011 La Montagne Sauvage (another favorite of mine), 93 points.

The Chesebro Las Arenas is one of my favorite Arroyo Seco wines.

My Review: Blackberry on the nose, followed by plum and cherry with bright acidity on the palate.  This wine alternates for me between a smooth finish and a more tannic, woody, leather finish.  I presented the 2013 vintage at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar Spring 2019, which everyone loved.  The 2015 was well received at the October 2019 Northern Virginia AWS meeting.  Recommend decanting.  May 2020

Buying Chesebro Wines: From the Chesebro Wines Facebook page: “Although we are not currently open for tastings, Chesebro wines remains at your disposal for all your Summer sipping wine needs. Contact us directly (831) 238-2618 or email info@chesebrowines.com to place an order for curbside pickup or free local delivery.”

© Decanting Monterey 2020

Rombi: Bold, Distinctive Fruit Wrapped in Elegance

We saw the big Rombi sign tucked away in the shopping center just off Carmel Valley Road, just behind Boekenoogen Vineyards, and knew we had to stop in.  His brother previously owned Joe Rombi’s – a restaurant in our beloved Pacific Grove, where my father-in-law was always treated like he was someone special.  Rombi is typically only open on the weekends, so it took us a while to catch him in.  We were so delighted finally to meet Sal Rombi, pouring wine for his guests.  An amicable fellow, Sal loves sharing his wines and stories with those who walk in the door to learn about his wines.  And he always treats us as though we are his special, dearest friends. 

Sal Rombi’s grapes are grown on his estate, the Carmel Valley Vineyard, down in Cachagua (pronounced “Cah-Shaw-wah,” Sal reminds me – loosely meaning “hidden waters”).  The backs of his elegant bottles say this: “Carmel Valley Vineyard is at the pinnacle of the Carmel Valley Appellation.  Located atop the ridge line at an elevation of 1650’ its orientation captures the cooling marine influences nightly.  The vineyard is hand tended with sustainable practices.  The well drained rocky soil creates balanced vines with limited yields of superior fruit that produce exceptional wine.” You can read more about Sal and Rombi wines in this fun SFGate article: Monterey: Salvatore Rombi, one man winemaker of Carmel Valley.

While many vintners make their wines in a style approachable and drinkable now, Rombi’s wines are the type you definitely want to cellar and decant before drinking.  Both his Cabernets and Merlots are huge, complex wines, with his Cabernet Sauvignon referred to as the best in the valley – all from his tiny estate vineyard of about 2 acres.  Cachagua’s chalky and sandy soil and its warm days and cool, foggy nights make this a great place for a vineyard. 

These wines are great not just due to their location: Sal’s attentive farming and winemaking make them different from any other in the valley.  More than half of the Carmel Valley Vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon.  He matures this wine in French oak barrels, 50% new and 50%, 1-year old, for 18 months.  We always have to resist the temptation to open his wines too soon. 

Today I am presenting 5 Rombi wines which we have tasted during the Shelter-In-Place Order.  Yes, we’ve been busy!  Sal has offered to replace the wines I review the next time I see him (whenever that will be!) – very generous of him. 

2011 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85

I asked Sal about the 2011 growing season.  He indicated it was a good season – one in which “nothing weird” happened.  This was also his 5th year of production, so he felt he was really hitting his stride.  I told him we really had to let this wine open up before we experienced the delicious, distinctive fruit we remembered from his 2015 vintage.  He reminded me that one must always, always decant his wines.  And we will, going forward. Rombi = BIG WINES! 

My Review: Beautiful deep ruby color. After it opened up, plum and cassis backed by complex tannins on the nose.  Cherry and some tartness on the palate, with the acidity balanced out by lovely round, dark berry fruit flavors. It finishes dry, dotted with spearmint and tobacco notes. Next time, we will decant this wine as he recommends!  This is an excellent Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – delicious fruit. July 2020

Rombi 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 14.1% ABV, $85

My Review: The 2012 is the older, leaner version of the 2015 (below). The nose has mint and herbal notes.  Very similar in flavors, with less of the up-front fruit. The palate shows dark fruit, a bit vegetal and spicy, very smooth with some tobacco, tar and licorice on the finish.  May 2020

The 2012 and 2015 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignons

Rombi 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 14.1% ABV, $85

Back in March when we were first sheltering on place, I had to (yes, had to) go to the valley to pick up my Rombi allotment.  While I was there, Sal gave me a half bottle of his 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon in advance of its release.  Nice. 

After I tasted this wine, I got Sal on the phone to talk about the 2015 growing season.  Everything was going great, until flowering, when there was a lot of wind and rain.  This resulted in about 55% fruit yield for the season.  Because there were fewer berries creating less weight on the vines, the fruit was much more intense, resulting in this delicious wine.  That explains why this vintage is so delicious. 

My Review: This is a fruit-forward, jammy wine. The 2015 has a lot of fruit up front.  Blueberry and cassis with chai notes on the nose.  The palate is jammy with cassis and blackberry and a touch of mint and leather.  The tannins are surprisingly balanced at this young age. May 2020

2011 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley, 14% ABV, ~$60                         

Merlot is finally overcoming its Sideways stigma. This Rombi is a huge Merlot, probably unlike any you have tasted.  I did ask Sal for winemaker’s notes since nothing is publicly available on this vintage, but he preferred to let the wine speak for itself.   Instead, he sent me pictures of an apple pie he was baking, with these notes: “I’m picking up a bit of spice a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon a toasty sweetness the French would say tartartan!”  Thanks a lot, Sal. 

The 2011 Rombi Merlot definitely wanted to be decanted!

My Review: “The color is a beautiful beet, dark cherry red.  A slightly sweet aroma of blackberry and dark plum, with cassis and caramel notes.  Complex blackberry flavors jump out of the glass, with medium tannins and bit of tartness on the mid-palate, finishing with a touch of cranberry.”   April 2020

2013 Rombi Estate Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $65

I have to eat my words.  Recently, I was reading a consumer’s review about Rombi wines indicating a specific wine was no comparison to a Napa.  I responded with the point that it is from Carmel Valley and should taste like a Carmel Valley wine.  Well, now I stand corrected.  Everything about this Merlot stands up to a Napa Merlot – from bouquet to palate to finish.

The 2013 Rombi Merlot stands out as an exceptional vintage!

My Review: Deep ruby, almost purple in color. A rich, brambly high-quality bouquet (kind of Zin-like – my husband looks at me askance).  This is a BIG WINE of dense dark berry on the palate, opening to a very smooth and voluptuous wine – like a Napa wine.  Touch of tar, mint and cedar on the finish.  Fabulous wine.  July 2020

Rombi’s Relaxing, Outdoor Tasting Setting

Rombi’s tasting room is located at 1 Center Street, Carmel Valley Village.  Sal has created a relaxing, quiet spot to taste his big wines just in front of his tasting room.   Open Saturday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.  You can learn more about his wines online at Rombi Wines.  You can also contact Kathy and Sal at kathy@rombiwines.com or sal@rombiwines.com for more information about tasting or buying wine. 

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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