Tagged: 2013

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

Make a Donation!

Cruising with Idle Hour Down the Douro River

This Spring, we had the opportunity to travel with Idle Hour Winery for a fantastic trip along the Douro River in Portugal, followed by a private Tempranillo tour along the Ribera del Duero in Spain.  How great it was to get to know the winery owners Anna Marie Dos Remedios and Deb Payne on a more personal level.  The whole experience was amazing – so well done!

We hadn’t talked to Anna Marie pretty much all of the pandemic.  We heard so much on this cruise about how Anna Marie and Deb had to re-tool their businesses (winery, inn, and restaurant) almost immediately – when people visitors quit coming to stay at their Queen’s Inn. Their priority became keeping people employed during this challenging time. As a result, the restaurant became more of the focus, putting wine making on the back burner. 

While on the cruise, we had several wine tastings and a wine dinner with the Idle Hour crew.  Today I am highlighting the wines we tasted on the cruise.  I made a deliberate decision not to take wine tasting notes on my vacation, but some were previously reviewed in this blog and I have included them again here. These are presented more or less in the order tasted. Any quotes below come from their website.  Any factual errors outside of the quotes are mine alone.  This is what happens when you don’t take proper notes…

I have written about Idle Hour wines several times – just type “Idle Hour” in the search bar to find them.  I include Idle Hour in this blog due to their tasting room located in Carmel Valley Village – and their increasing menu of Monterey County wines.  You can read more about their wine making approach and history here. 

2017 Idle Hour Heringer Estate Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Clarksburg AVA, 13.6%, ABV, $30 (Wine #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.  Upon this second tasting, I still find this lean and elegant.

2017 Idle Hour Heringer Estate Vineyard Tempranillo, Clarksburg AVA, 14.4% ABV, $30 (Wine #729)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Tempranillo has become one of our flagship wines, one of two wines of the many varieties we produce that will always be on the list here at Idle Hour. I fashion our Tempranillos after the region I find to be the most alluring in Spain, where this Iberian varietal calls home, the Ribera del Duero. Perhaps the variety sees more press from Rioja, where it is the main wine in the blends produced there. I find the 100% Tempranillo wines from the Ribera to be the most honest and enticing.  I hope you enjoy our version!” 225 cases produced.

In my humble opinion, Idle Hour makes on of the best US-produced Tempranillo wines.  She knows what she is doing.  I’d love to do a side-by-side with those Ribera del Duero wines we had later on our trip.

2019 Idle Hour Alicante Bouschet, Madera County (Wine #728)  

Here was a great opportunity to taste this as a single varietal bottling, as we usually find it as a blending grape. I would like to try this wine again!

2019 Idle Hour Viognier, Sierra Foothills AVA, 14% ABV, $28 (Wine #725)

While I can’t find any winemaker notes for this wine, we typically really like the Idle Hour Viognier for its true expression of the fruit.  This was a great wine to start our on-board tasting!

2019 Idle Hour Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14% ABV, $28 (Wine #726)

This Chardonnay comes from one of my favorite Monterey County AVAs:  Arroyo Seco. This is a clean, big Chardonnay.  We tasted it during the first on-board tasting and it was very good – not the big, buttery Chardonnays we think of, but a great expression of the minerality in Arroyo Seco soil. We tasted it again at the Winemaker’s Dinner, this time in a Burgundy glass – what a difference the glass can make!  It was big, fruitier, with much more depth and florals than the first time we tasted it.  If you can find this wine, I highly recommend it.

2019 Idle Hour Clone 667 Pinot Noir, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.2% ABV, $40 (Wine #727)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The crispness and brightness of Bing Cherry followed by the earthy aromas of forest floor and the sweet and savory notes of sassafras and cola. This wine is the most Burgundian Pinot Noir I have ever made. It’s light color and silky tannins are testament to the extra year of aging on the sediment that I gave it. The wine finishes with the fine structure on your tongue of wet stones.”

You all know by now that I am not that big of a Pinot Noir fan.  The way this wine was made resulted in a more complex and rich wine, one of the best Pinot Noirs I have tasted from Monterey County.  I selected this wine to present at my upcoming John Marshall Chapter, Northern Virginia AWS class. 

2017 Idle Hour Heringer Estate Vineyard Tannat, Clarksburg AVA, 14.1% ABV, $ (Wine #126) 175 cases produced.

This was an interesting wine to taste!  I was surprised how many people we were traveling with had never heard of Tannat.  This was a big, boastful, delicious wine which quickly rose to be one of our favorites on the whole trip.  Nicely done!

Idle Hour Blanc de Blanc Méthode Champenoise Sparkling Wine, Clement Hills, Lodi, 11.2% ABV, $38 (Wine #59) 100% Chardonnay; 44 cases produced.

94 points by Rich Cook – You can read his review here:  https://idlehourwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0091/Blanc-de-Blanc-Methode-Champenoise-Sparkling-Wine

Crisp and tasty.  If you can find it, I recommend it!  And the label is equally delicious.

2014 Idle Hour Winemaker’s Reserve Syrah, Love Ranch Vineyard, Madera County, (Wine #730) 96% Syrah, 4% Viognier 4%

The more time I spend on the West Coast, the bigger Syrah wine fan I become. It has superseded my previous love of Zinfandel.  It started with Carmel Valley Syrahs – then Arroyo Seco – then Santa Barbara – and now Washington State!  We had a previous vintage of this Syrah which my husband just loved.  And we both enjoyed the 2014, pairing well with our meal.  We need to get more of this!

2013 Idle Hour Heringer Estate Vineyard Tempranillo, Clarksburg AVA, 14.6% (Wine #731)

We tasted this during more of a social hour for the Idle Hour trip participants – we felt very privileges to have this vintage on board and we all enjoyed it very much.

You can purchase their wines from the Idle Hour website here. Check out how to visit them in Oakhurst here. Their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village may not be currently open.  Check their Facebook page Idle Hour Tasting Room @IdleHourWine for the latest info!

© Decanting Monterey 2023

Make a Donation!

Shale Canyon: A Big, Structured Cabernet from Arroyo Seco!

We stopped in at Shale Canyon before dinner with friends and stumbled upon a great sale of their 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon for only $20/bottle! What was not to like!  While we produce some fine Cabernet Sauvignons in our warmer growing regions, Monterey County isn’t really known for its Cabernet Sauvignons, but a wine like this one shows the potential for it in some of our warmer growing regions.

I introduced you to Shale Canyon last November here: https://decantingmonterey.com/shale-canyon-daring-to-grow-blend-varietals-not-typically-associated-with-monterey/, so today’s post will be short and sweet. 

Today I am presenting just one Shale Canyon wine.  The winery notes and prices come from their tasting sheet.

2013 Shale Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.8% ABV, $35 (#649*) 

Winery Notes: “A very big floral bouquet of violets and dark berry. This wine is very complex and the most distinctive flavors noted are blackberry, black cherry, and pomegranate.  It is very fruit forward.  A lingering finish with leather, tobacco and elegant structured tannins complement the experience. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.”

My Review: Deep ruby in the glass. Cedar, plum, dark berries and cherry on the nose and palate with a currant/cassis finish.  A fabulous value wine! December 2021

You can buy Shale Canyon wines on their website or at their tasting room on Paseo San Carlos Courtyard, Westside San Carlos between Ocean and 7th, Carmel-by-the-Sea.  They are open Sunday through Thursday 1–5, Friday and Saturday 12-7 and suggest reservations for parties of 4 or more.  You can contact them at reservations@shalecanyonwines.com.

*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

Make a Donation!

Caraccioli Cellars: Adding a Real Sparkle to Our New Year’s Eve!

The Decanting Monterey COVID Wine Pod had been talking about going to Caraccioli’s tasting room in Carmel-By-The-Sea for a long time.  A plankholder of the wine pod is an expert on French champagnes.  I wasn’t going to go there without her.  With the holidays quickly approaching and visitors in town, we finally made it happen in mid-December.

I almost walked right by their tasting room, on the same block as Lepe Cellars – on Dolores between Ocean and 7th.  It looked more like an upscale bar than what we are used to finding in a basic tasting room – there is nothing basic about this venue!  We had reserved our tasting in advance (highly recommended) and were placed in a quiet corner.  Perfect. 

Everything about this venue was upscale – the nice ambiance heightened by quality, professional presentations by staff who didn’t flinch at my peskiest question.  We felt very well treated as consumers and would highly recommend a visit if you are a sparkling wine lover or celebrating a special event.  We walked away with various vintages of the Brut Cuvée and the latest Brut Rosé!

The first thing I learned was that the estate vineyard for Caraccioli Cellars is the highly esteemed Escolle Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  We have long been enjoying some of our region’s very best Chardonnays by various local producers using grapes sourced from this vineyard.  Now we know the winery that owns the vineyard!

Our New Year’s Eve started with 2 Caraccioli sparkling wines!

When we decided to have the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod to our house to celebrate New Year’s Eve, we were very pleasantly surprised to see that our French Champagne lovers brought the 2013 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvée!  And we had already planned to serve our sole bottle of the 2015 Brut Rosé!  Starting our evening with Caraccioli sparkling wines was an amazing way to kick off our celebration of the new year! We then moved directly into our big reds, our true wheelhouse!

Kicking off our New Year’s Eve with the Caraccioli Brut Rose!

About Caraccioli Cellars : “A family run winery, Caraccioli Cellars takes pride in developing wines that deliver an expression true to vintage and site. Founded in 2006, Caraccioli Cellars’ commitment starts in the vineyard through our utilizing solely Santa Lucia Highlands’ grapes. We aim to highlight the quality of our local Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes by producing fruit centric still wines, and Brut and Brut Rosé in our sparkling wine program. Michel Salgues, previously head winemaker at Roderer Estate, is our head winemaker and through his techniques and expertise the family vision is precisely executed.

“Through light handed winemaking we aim to achieve elegance through rigorous control. Looking to showcase vintage variation our wines receive minimal manipulation, and in 2015 all wines produced will be 100% estate coming from Escolle. Elimination of outside grape sources only supports our efforts to heighten control in every way possible. The maturation of Escolle gives us the oppertunity to fully control every decision that will be made at the vineyard.”

Today, I am presenting 6 Caraccioli Cellars wines – 5 from our wine tasting on December 10th – and one more from New Year’s Eve. 

Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet (I confess to correcting any typos…).

2013 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvée, Santa Lucia Highlands, 12% ABV, $75 (#575*)

Winery Notes: “Translucent yellow. Persistent and vigorous pinpoint bubbles; generous mousse. Rich red and citrus fruits highlighting juicy honey crisp apple and fresh lemon. Yeasty glazed donut; brioche toast balanced with soft florals and chalky minerality. Racy lime, sugared lemon wedge, pineapple and kumquat fruit notes backed by hints of integrated yeastiness throughout. Very bright and fruit forward, salivating crisp finish.” 93 points Vinous.

My Review:  Light golden in the glass.  Yeast, pineapple and a touch of perfume on the nose.  Apricot on the palate with a grapefruit twist on the finish.  Nice, bright acidity – we liked this sparkling wine!  December 2021

2015 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvée, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 12% ABV, $52 (#576*)

Winery Notes: “Pale golden color, miniscule bubbles coming from the core with a pronounced yet fine mousse. Nuanced fruit aromas including Macintosh apple, ripe apricot and lemon zest. Underpinning floral notes enhanced with rich vanilla, creamy lemon and honeycomb. Opens with crisp savory acidity on the front palate. Well structured mouth feel, delivers tastes of citrus and stone fruit with hints of oyster shell minerality. Finishing with a soft creamy, well integrated lingering acidity.” 92 points Wine Enthusiast.

My Review: Mellow on the nose.  Light lemon on the palate,  Less acidic than the 2013.  Light and bubbly with a touch of minerality. I preferred this one to the 2013. December 2021

2015 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Rosé, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 12% ABV, $60 (#577*)

Winery Notes: “Translucent salmon with radiant peach undertones. Fine, energetic and pronounced mousse. Aromas of raspberry sorbet, strawberry, watermelon and tangerine zest. Hints of jasmine and honeycomb. Bright and complex acidity on the front palate wrapped in elements of citrus. Bursts of juicy raspberry and stone fruit balanced with subtle, crisp finish.

My Review: Beautiful peach in color.  This was crisp with the very pleasant flavors including strawberry – very balanced acidity.  I highly recommend this wine if you can get it! My favorite of all the sparklings!  December 2021

2018 Caraccioli Cellars Chardonnay, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.9% ABV, $35 (#578*)

Winery Notes: “Pale straw, light golden hue. Lemon meringue, honey dew melon along with tropical pineapple, kiwi, lychee and guava. A flirty balance of fruit, delicate white jasmine flower and salty sea. Creamy mouthfeel coupled with structural integrated fruit throughout the sip. Fruit notes reminiscent of green apple, pear, pineapple, candied peach and nectarine. Soft florals balanced with a brined mid palate acidity, mouthwatering finish that showcases the bright fruit.” 94 points, Wine Enthusiast.

My Review: Pale in the glass.  Touch of soft pineapple, a little butter and woodiness on the nose “like the Lone Cypress” or a cut shrub.  Clean, nice, some minerality.  December 2021

2020 Caraccioli Cellars Rosé of Pinot Noir, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 12.88% ABV, $25 (#579*)

Love the magnum bottle for the Rose of Pinot Noir!

Winery Notes: “Vibrant pale pink. Pure and expressive bouquet of melon particularly sweet watermelon and ripe honeydew. Secondary notes of lychee, mandarin and an overall pleasing citrus. Elegant and refreshing while also soft and bright. Flavors of melon, ripe kiwi and an assortment of tropical fruit. Highly quaffable with crisp and lengthy mouthwatering finish.” 94 points, Wine Enthusiast.

My Review: Pale pink in the glass.  Watermelon on the nose.  Mellow and refreshing.  Low acidity.  Would pair well with a watermelon feta salad with some sea salt. December 2021

2018 Caraccioli Cellars Pinot Noir, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.3% ABV, $50 (#580*)

Winery Notes: “Deep ruby red. Rich luscious nose. Balanced hints of spice, earth and fruit. Cherry cola, plum, dried cranberry, black pepper, cinnamon and notes of savory chaparral throughout. Big and bold in the mouth. Luxardo, Bing and black cherry cola along with raspberry and fig. Complex soft tannin on the front palate, structured acidity through the lengthy, strong finish.” 95 points, Wine Enthusiast.

My Review: Cherry cola and burnt grape (wire) on the nose. Earthy in the cheeks.  Munchy mid-palate with a bitter aftertaste. A “perfect expression of a Central Coast Pinot.” December 2021

Caraccioli Cellars’ Tasting Room is located at 7393 Dolores St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, on Dolores between Ocean and 7th.  It is open for indoor tastings daily from 12-6, opening at 11 on the weekends.  Reservations are HIGHLY recommended – call 831-622-7722 or email your specifics to Samantha@caracciolicellars.com.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery’s website or at their tasting room. 

2021 Wrap-up #2: Spanning Arroyo Seco to SLH to Carmel Valley – and a local Napa!

As promised last week, here is my catchup post of 7 Monterey County wines/vintners to close out 2021! I’ve reserved a few “fr emergency posts” and am excited about the winery visits I’ll be starting with in January! If you haven’t signed up to receive my blog by email, do so today – in the bottom right corner of this page!

Before we get started, may I ask, “What are you drinking New Year’s Eve?”  Please share in the comments below. We might be enjoying a Caraccioli Cellars Brut Rose – to be determined!

2013 Chesebro Las Arenas, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.6% ABV, $27 (#564*)

While I didn’t have any photos of the 2013, I hope these 2015 Las Arenas images will do!

I presented the 2016 vintage of this wine back in June.  This is one of the wines I like to present in my East Coast wine classes!

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Black raspberry, blackberry, lavender and pepper show on the deeply purple nose of this blend of 67% Grenache and 33% Syrah. Dense black fruit shows first on the palate, followed by a zesty explosion of acidity, flowery spices and cola.” Matt Kettmann, 12/2016

My Review: Garnet in the glass. Anise and berries on the nose. Berries, cherry and leather on the palate with lingering anise flavors. August 2021

2016 Rombi Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, $75 (#565*)

Sal Rombi had recommended his club members open one of his Petite Sirahs as it was drinking beautifully.  We opened this one by mistake, but it was a very happy mistake! I include this wine here since Sal is one of our local vintners!

My Review: Very dark ruby, almost purple in the glass.  Plum and blueberry on the nose.  Rich on the palate brimming with smooth dark fruits:  blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and a touch of smoke.  This is fruity yet elegant, smooth and rich, with a little tobacco on the finish.  Very pleased with how these wines have matured! September 2021

2020 Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 12.3% ABV, $28 (#566*)

From the Bernardus Website: “All our Sauvignon Blanc grapes come from a block specially planted for Bernardus in the Griva Vineyard with the celebrated “Musqué” clone. All our grapes are hand-picked during many successive pickings at various ripeness levels in order to have a broad palette of flavors and acidity levels from which to create our final blend…

“Tasting notes:  Our 2020 Griva bottling shows aromas of lime zest accented by grassy notes. The palate is soft and long, exhibiting crisp fruit flavors with notes of lime and grapefruit. Our 2020 version exhibits a beautiful balance of rich texture and a gently crisp, refreshing acidity.” 10,550 cases produced

My Review: Quite pale in color.  Fresh, tropical notes on the nose – honeysuckle and white nectarine.  Smooth, tropical flavors of papaya and gentle pineapple with bright acidity and a lime zest twist on the finish.  We liked this wine so much that I brought a couple of bottles home – it remains a favorite! October 2021

2018 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $80 (#567*)

From the Bernardus Website: “The Santa Lucia Highlands are known as one of the premier Pinot Noir appellations of the world. One reason for this lofty reputation is Rosella’s Vineyard, one of the finest Pinot and Chardonnay vineyards in California. Gary Franscioni planted his home ranch, named for his lovely wife, in the heart of the Highlands. His home vineyard is planted with a selection of the best available Pinot Noir clones and farmed with unparalleled passion and attention to detail. We at Bernardus are fortunate to have access to three small blocks: 2 planted with clone 777, and the third with the celebrated Pisoni clone.

“Our 2018 Rosella’s Pinot displays gorgeous aromas of ripe red fruits along with notes of cola and toasty oak. The palate is beautifully lush, exhibiting bright ripe red cherry and plum flavors, accented by subtle hints of spice.” 93 points – Vinous. 866 6-packs produced

My Review: Bright ruby in the glass.  Nice mellow cherry and cedar on the nose.  Oak (structured tannins) on the palate – dark cherry and berries (slightly sweet fruit) with leather on the finish.  Very good. October 2021

2018 Boëté Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, 14% ABV, $50 (#568*)

During one of our visits to the winery this year, we got to taste this wine – the first time I know of that they bottled a Merlot as a single varietal – it usually is blended in their popular Cheval Rouge.  They weren’t sure they were going to continue to bottle it alone – we encourage them to do so, *if* supply permits! You can find all their available wines here:  https://www.boetewinery.com/

My Review: Purple in the glass.  Rich and juicy in the mouth with some solid dark fruits, blackberry and black currant.  Balanced and very smooth on the finish.  This wine is a big hit.  I just bought more of it!  October 2021

2017 Spring Cabernet Franc, Carmel Valley, 14.34% ABV, $35 (#569*) 86% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon

We opened this wine just after my recent, big post about their amazing wines.

From the Bunter Spring Winery Website: “This wine is from a historic organic vineyard in the hills high above the Carmel River.  The AVA gives a distinct and recognizable character to its fruit, something midway between Napa and Paso Robles- which is exactly where it is! Super ripe red fruit flavors with a whiff of lavender and spice.”  20 months in French and American oak barrels, 50% new.

My Review: Blueberry and blackberry on the nose and palate.  Smooth and perfectly balanced.  I really was impressed by this Cab Franc and hope we can get some more! November 2021

2017 Silvestri Red Ranger Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $75 (#570*)

I couldn’t find any notes about the 2017 vintage, but I did review the 2018 here: https://decantingmonterey.com/moving-on-inside-for-a-tasting-at-silvestri/.

My Review: Deep purple in color. Dark fruit on the nose. A bit heavy handed dark fruit upon opening with a tobacco finish. Smoother after it opened up, rounding into blackberry and plum with a touch of mint on the dark fruit palate. Some clove on the finish. Paired very well with dark chocolate. I think it is still too young to drink this wine and we should have decanted it. November 2021

Blue Fox: A Relatively New Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village!

When I was at Galante recently, they recommended Blue Fox Vineyards tasting room.  While I haven’t been there myself, a plank-owner of our COVID Wine Pod, brought me this wine, which we enjoyed greatly.

I don’t know much about Blue Fox. It had a tasting room in Cannery Row, but moved in the past year to Carmel Valley Village into the space Talbot used to own, right behind Cowgirl. Edible Monterey published a beautiful article about owners Edward and Julia Lovaas which you can find here. I can’t wait to taste its interesting and uncommon whites like Arneis and Tocai Friulano plus the big reds I enjoy, including Syrah and Zinfandel.

2013 Blue Fox Cellars Syrah, Seebass Vineyard, Mendocino County, 15.2% ABV, $45 (#430*)

Winemaker Notes: “Our Syrah thrives in the gravely clay soils of Seebass Vineyard.  Aged for 33 months in French Oak Barrels the bold tannins are tamed to create an elegant impeccably balanced wine, expressing flavors of plum, ripe raspberry, earth and spice.  Our Syrah goes well with braised meats, wild game, mushroom risotto and hard aged cheeses.  Cheers!” 

Wine Enthusiast – 83 points: “This wine is rustic in flavor and sturdy in texture, showing cedar and dried cherry notes framed by very firm tannins, full body and a dry mouthfeel.” Jim Gordon 05/2019

My Review: This was a delicious Syrah from Mendocino, worthy of a higher score than it received.  Elegant, balanced, flavorful and ready to drink.  While not as rich as some of my Monterey County warmer climate Syrahs, I am intrigued and want to explore more of their wines! July 2021

You can buy this wine on Blue Fox’s website or visit them in the former Talbot tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. 

*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

Make a Donation!

Chesebro Round Two: The Reds!

As a wine consumer, I appreciate a vintner who delivers very good wine at a great price.  Years ago, we found these qualities in Mark Chesebro’s wines, which he continues to this day.  I especially enjoy the more unique whites like Albarino and Vermentino.  Today’s post, however, is about his reds, following last week’s post about his whites!

While we stuck to the usual tasting menu on this day, we noticed a Merlot on their wine price list!  It is the 2017 La Grava Merlot/Grenache blend.  They have made this before, but I was very happy to see it there. We are seeing more and more Merlots being produced on the Central Coast – it is about time!  I haven’t tasted it yet – and will save mine for a future blog post!

2017 Merlot/Grenache – “La Grava”

I’ve presented Chesebro reds at several of my wine classes back east, including the La Montagne Sauvage and the Las Arenas – they are a big hit! And I’ve written about Chesebro several times – just search “Chesebro” and you will find them all!

Chesebro 2018 Pinot Noir, Cedar Lane/Mission Ranch Vineyards, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.2% ABV, $22 (#365*)

Winery Notes: “Brilliant ruby red.  Medium bodied with aromas of rose petals, raspberry and dried orange peel, followed by subtle earthy notes.  The silky mouthfeel features soft tannins and a smooth cleansing acidity, which reinforces the berry characteristic along with hints of minerality in the finish.” 100 cases produced.

My Review: Pale ruby in the glass.  Light cherry notes on the nose.  A very light Pinot Noir with a bubblegum finish. May 2021

Chesebro 2016 Las Arenas, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $27 (#366*)

Winery Notes: “Our Southern Rhone Style (Chateauneuf du Pape) style blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Aromas of cranberries and blackberries over a background of coffee and a hint of white pepper.  Smooth and velvety with a long finish.  Enjoyable now with a long life ahead.” 233 cases produced.

My Review: Pretty ruby in the glass.  Full berry flavors balanced by the acidity of cranberry notes.  White pepper on the finish. I presented the 2015 vintage to the Northern Virginia AWS – it was a big hit! May 2021

Chesebro 2013 La Montagne Sauvage, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $25 (#367*)

Winery Notes: “Grown on Carmel Valley’s rocky mountain soils, this Rhone style blend of 80% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre is powerful and rich with aromas of dark forest berries, scorched earth and spice.  Blockbuster!” 180 cases produced.

My favorite Chesebro red blend year after year!

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass, delicious dark fruit on the palate – perhaps my favorite Chesebro wine.  I couldn’t leave without picking up a few! May 2021

Buying Chesebro Wines: You can buy Chesebro wines via their website (www.chesebrowines.com) or in their tasting room at Updated information on its tasting room hours and reservation link is here.  They are open Thursday through Sunday from noon until 6:00 PM by reservation. Chesebro has curbside pickup and has always been great about shipping wines to the East Coast for me. 

*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.    

Chesebro Is Open for Wine Tasting – Round One: the Whites!

We were so happy to learn that the Chesebro tasting room in Carmel Valley Village had reopened and stopped by on a quiet Friday before a 3-day weekend.  I admire the wineries that put their own staff’s safety and winemaking first and discouraged gatherings during the height of the pandemic to help stop the spread of the virus.  But I sure am glad they are open now! It was great to see tasting room manager Alex Lallos after well over a year.  He has been helpful to me over the years with my wine classes and is one of several winery subscribers to Decanting Monterey!

We tasted a lot of wines that day across three tasting rooms – and there was a lot of catching up to do – so not all of my own notes are very detailed.  Fortunately, I do have the winery’s tasting sheet to help me along!  Most wine descriptions come from the tasting sheet – except the Grenache Rose!  I will be splitting our tasting into 2 posts – the whites today and the reds, next week!

Current Tasting Sheet at Chesebro, May 2021

I’ve written about Chesebro several times – just search “Chesebro” and you will find them all!

Chesebro 2019 Grenache Rosé, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.2% ABV, $19 (#360*)

Winery Notes: “This Provençal style 100% Grenache Rosé is beautifully light pink in color. Aromas of fresh picked strawberry, grapefruit skin and raspberry essence. Perfect for a warm afternoon. Classic!”

My Review: Very pale pink/salmon in the glass.  Light and refreshing in a similar style to the 2018, which our French Rosé wine pod members loved. By the way, this wine is getting in short supply according to their webpage.  May 2021

Chesebro 2019 Vermentino, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $23 (#361*)

Winery Notes: “Vermentino is a variety most often associated with Sardinia. Corsica and Liguria.  It has appealing aromas of pines and citrus and a smooth palate balanced by mouthwatering acidity.  It is late ripening in this cool site allowing the development of complex and elegant flavors.  Refreshing and vibrant.” 98 cases produced.

My Review: Perfume on the nose, a touch of lime on the palate and a smooth finish.  Classic.  Chesebro was the first California Vermentino we had ever tasted and probably my favorite Chesebro white. May 2021

Chesebro 2017 Grenache Blanc, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $25 (#362*)

Winery Notes: “Brilliant light almost translucent gold in color with a kaleidoscope of aromas including white peach, grapefruit, citrus blossom and tangerine. A subtle hint of vanilla and butterscotch really round out the nose. On the palate, citrus and stone fruits.  Round yet refreshing through the finish.” 100 cases produced.

My Review: Sweet aromatics, white peach and citrus on the palate, slightly metallic, and a lingering finish. May 2021

Chesebro 2016 Chardonnay, Soledad Mission Ranch, Arroyo Seco AVA, $25 (#363*)

Winery Notes: “Pale yellow gold in color.  Fabulous aromatics with white flowers, lemon verbena and ever so subtle vanilla bean.  The palate is fresh and vibrant, almost Chablis-like in its cut and precision.  Each sip has amazing energy and tension balanced by the inherent richness of the clean Chardonnay fruit.” 80 cases produced.

My Review: I said pork rib BBQ on the nose.  Alex suggested “gun flint.”  Well, ok, fine.  Intense flavors on the palate. May 2021

Buying Chesebro Wines: You can buy Chesebro wines via their website (www.chesebrowines.com) or in their tasting room at Updated information on its tasting room hours and reservation link is here.  They are open Thursday through Sunday from noon until 6:00 PM by reservation. Chesebro has curbside pickup and has always been great about shipping wines to the East Coast for me. 

Chesebro price list as of May 2021

*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.    

Twisted Roots: Deep Roots on the Central Coast!

For the last couple of months, this blog has been on a roll.  With the pandemic winding down and wineries opening up, it only took a handful of wine outings to feed the blog with some hefty articles.  I hope you’ve enjoyed them.  If you missed them, take a look on back!  With our daughter in town, we’ll be slowing this back down to its usual old pace for a bit – until we get out again and create new stories to tell.  Meanwhile, I’ve had some wines in the wings waiting to be presented, so let’s go!

Twisted Roots Tasting Room at 12 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village is OPEN!

Back in January, I introduced you to Twisted Roots as one of several out-of-area wineries which have opened tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village. You can review that post here:   https://decantingmonterey.com/twisted-roots-showcasing-lodi-right-here-in-carmel-valley/. I include them in this blog, as they are part of our local wine tasting fabric. You can read more about the history and current team at Twisted Roots on their website. While mostly known for their big reds, they are also now making a couple of whites and sparkling wines – I look forward to trying those!

2013 Twisted Roots Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi AVA, 14.3% ABV, (#342*)

From the label: “Aromas of warm brambleberry, black tea and clove grace the palate with dark, luscious fruit-firm tannins.  With a finish featuring bright cherry notes, this is a fine wine to pair with most foods and it’s even enjoyable with cheesecake.  A portion of the profits from every bottle sold will be donated to the ALS Association to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease.” The 2015 vintage sells for $33, a very nice price.

My Review: Translucent ruby with a garnet ring in the glass.  Dark fruits of cherry and cedar notes on the nose.  Dark fruit flavors of cherry and plum with a bit of mushroom and earth mid-palate.  Almost slightly sweet on the finish. Yep, this is a Lodi wine alright!  March 2021

You can buy Twisted Roots wines on their website and at the tasting room.  Check out their webpage to hear more about their wine tasting options – inside and outside on their patios.  Nice!

*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.    

Rexford’s Dark and Intense Merlot: Drink Me Now!

While we are up in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, let me bring you another wine also from Regan Vineyard, but made by a different winery – Rexford.  I introduced you to Rexford back in September 2020 here: https://decantingmonterey.com/rexford-unique-wines-crafted-in-santa-cruz-california/.

Joe and Sam Miller, father and son team, say this about their winemaking on their website: “Our style is strongly influenced by the character of fine European wines that pair well with food. We work closely with selected growers to secure fruit that will produce well-balanced wines that are true to the variety and without excessive alcohol. Absolutely minimal cellar handling is used to preserve the full character and complexity that the grapes can provide. Racking and bottling schedules do not follow rigid timelines, but are adapted to fit the development of each wine.  The finest barrels are used judiciously so that oak flavors are not dominant and at most provide a subtle background to the intrinsic aroma and flavor profile of the wine. We do not fine or filter our wines. The wines are exposed minimally to air during production and aging, and they can be expected to continue to improve with several years of bottle aging, though all Rexford wines can be drunk with pleasure on release.” https://rexfordwinery.com/

2013 Rexford Winery Merlot, Regan Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, 14.8% ABV, $35 (#256)

From the Label: “The 2013 Rexford Merlot was made from grapes grown in the Regan Vineyard located on a hillside near Watsonville. This site yields very dark and often intense Merlot that shows similarity to the wines of Bordeaux. We punched this wine down by hand during fermentation and aged it in 50% new French oak. Bottled without fining or filtration, the wine has complex aromas of earth and spice that are true to the varietal. The taste is driven by fruity flavors that are well balanced by tannin and acidity. This excellent Merlot is ready to drink now , but will continue to develop with further bottle age.”

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Father-and-son vintners Joe and Sam Miller consistently deliver solid wines, including this twist-top Merlot that’s aged in 50% new French oak. Its boysenberry fruit is awash in the green peppercorn, herb and crushed graphite character associated with the mountainous region. That pyrazine touch hits the palate, along with black pepper and dark chocolate spice, accenting the tangy red fruit.”  Matt Kettmann, July 2017

My Review: Rich garnet in color. Plum, vanilla, spice, cedar, blackberry and cassis on the nose.  Complex on the palate – smooth, rich cherry and cedar with some structure.  Cassis and a touch of licorice and lemon on the finish. Pretty delicious. January 2021 

Check out their current releases on their website. You will find several “firsts” there:  a red blend, a Cabernet Franc, plus their 2017 Merlot from the Black Ridge Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara County! Their prices are mostly $30-35 per bottle and they are currently (as of 3/5/2021) offering free shipping with the purchase of 3 or more bottles.  Sounds crazy good, eh? 

Stay tuned for the reopening of their winery tasting room in Santa Cruz later this month!

*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.    

SIGN UP HERE TO GET Decanting Monterey DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL!!

Don't miss a single exciting post about our Central Coast/Monterey wines! Enter your email address below for a free subscription to Decanting Monterey. Be sure to open the confirmation email and validate your subscription! See you soon!!

Verified by MonsterInsights