Tagged: 2018

Joyce: Exploring the Endless Potential of Monterey’s Coastal Terroir

My neighbor was in town last month and she is always game to “help” me with my wine blog.  We belong to the same winery out in Carmel Valley Village – and she was willing to check out Joyce with me.  I hadn’t been to Joyce since December 2019, when I picked up a case of James Joyce Merlot for a planned (and cancelled) wine class.  My DC area friends enjoyed that case of wine during the pandemic. In the hopes of finding another Merlot for my next class, we headed to Joyce.

We were warmly welcomed in the tasting room and headed outside to one of the very nice tables for the tasting. Our server was very knowledgeable and provided us tons of information, answering even my peskiest question.  The menu was very much focused on Monterey wines from across the county: Carmel Valley, Monterey, and Santa Lucia Highlands sub-AVAs.  While I was still on a mission to find wines for a class, the menu didn’t include their James Joyce label from San Benito County.  And no Merlot to try:  sold out.  And no industry discount.  Alas, I can’t get lucky every time!

I previously wrote about Joyce Wine Co back in December 2020.  You can read more about Joyce there https://decantingmonterey.com/joyce-wine-company-small-lot-wines-from-monterey-california-with-balance-finesse-and-focus/ and on their website https://joycewineco.com/.

Today I am presenting 5 wines we tasted at their Tasting Room in February, plus 1 I purchased for later consumption.  Unless otherwise specified, winery notes come from their website. The map below gives a good visual on the vineyards they use for their wines.

2018 Joyce Wine Co Escolle Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.3% ABV, $35 (#643*)

Winemaker Notes: “The fruit for this Chardonnay comes from Escolle Vineyard located at the Northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands. This site is impeccably farmed by the Caraccioli Family, who are incredible stewards of their land. Very low water usage translates into low yields of intense fruit full of flavor and acidity. The strong marine influence and well drained gravelly loam soils of Chular combine to deliver Chardonnay fruit that showcases both power and finesse.”

Tasting notes: “AROMA Rose hips, stone fruit, clove spice, toast/dough, river stone  FLAVOR Apple, bosc pear, wild peach, steely/mineral, brioche/lees”

My Review: Pale golden in color.  Tropical notes on the nose.  Balanced oak on the tasty and lively palate, with a touch of lime on the finish.  We liked this wine. February 2022

2019 Joyce Wine Co Gabilan Mountains Pinot Noir, Monterey, 12.6% ABV, $45 (#644*)

Winemaker’s Notes (condensed from the Tech Sheet): “The Gabilan Mountain Pinot Noir comes from a small vineyard site positioned on a soft slope located on the east side of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County. Soils consisting of decomposed granite and limestone allow for an ethereal expression of Pinot Noir. To highlight and preserve the purity of the wine, grapes were fermented using partial whole-cluster and native yeast. The resulting wine was then aged for 10 months in neutral French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. These honest winemaking practices combined with thoughful farming allow this vineyard site to show both power and finesse.” 18 barrels produced.

My Review: Translucent bright ruby in the glass with a bright red berry nose.  Smooth on the palate with light berry flavors with subtle structure on the finish.  A pleasant wine. February 2022

2019 Joyce Wine Co Tondre Grapefield  Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, $45  (#645*)

Winemaker Notes: “Tondre Grapefield captures the soul of the Santa Lucia Highlands in the glass with dark brambly fruit, spice, light earth tones and a decedent textural mouth feel that comes from the cool climate site set of the regions sandy loams. This vintage shines with a deep garnet/ruby hue and a medium/full bodied palate of blackberry, plum and of course cherry fruits along with a touch of tea spice, lavender and soft oak. This wine gains in the glass and while youthful fresh it delivers an excellent play between lush ripe fruit and savory briar notes, this is not a vintage to miss.” 18 barrels produced.

My Review: Richer and darker in color, seemingly a tiny bit cloudy in the glass, with a richer bouquet than the previous wine.  Richer flavors on the palate, with some tartness in the balance.  February 2022

2019 Russell Joyce Grenache Syrah, Monterey, 13.7% ABV, $38 (#646*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The special Small Lot Collection Grenache-Syrah is a blend of 70% Grenache from Cedar Lane and 30% Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah. Mostly concrete tank fermentation and aging making for a new California expression of a Southern Rhone style red in an ode to Chateaneuf-du-Pape. The ripe and dark fruited Grenache-Syrah has an intense purple/magenta hue in the glass with an incredible bouquet of wild flowers and spices that leads to a forward palate of olallieberry, racy plum, red currant and huckleberry fruits, sprigs of lavender, pepper, minty notes and a fresh tang with some delicate floral tones, savory elements and lingering kirsch. Seriously proportioned and dense without being heavy, this very limited Grenache-Sryah release, develops nicely with air and love the studied display of fruit and stony earth that comes out.”

My Review: Berry on the nose.  A nice palate of robust, smooth fruit – very appealing to my taste. February 2022

2019 Russell Joyce Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley 13.8% ABV, $60 (#647*)

Notes from the Tasting Room: The grapes for this wine come from the Joullian Vineyard in Carmel Valley.  With light oak notes, it is a more fuller representation of the fruit. 

My Review: Dense, dark ruby in the glass.  Berry notes on the nose.  A medium palate of dark berry flavors.  Pretty yummy. February 2022

2019 Joyce Wine Co Tondre Grapefield  Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.4% ABV, $35 (#648*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Planted in 1997, Tondré Grapefield sits in the center of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The terroir is defined by portruding Southeast facing slopes, strong marine influences from the Monterey Bay and ancient glacial soils consisting of decomposed granite, gravel and sandy loam. To show transparency, the fruit was harvested at moderate sugars and fermented using 60% whole clusters and native yeasts. The wine was then aged for 10 months in a combination of small concrete vessels and neutral French oak barrels before being bottled infined and unfiltered. These honest winemaking practices combined with thoughtful farming allow the savory fruit and natural acidity of this cool climate Syrah to shine.” 10 barrels produced.

Tasting Notes: “AROMA Black fruits, peppercorns, dried lavender, minty herb, crushed violets, forest floor FLAVOR Black raspberry, pomegranate, damson plum, liquid violets, embers, mixed spices”

My Review: Fresh ruby in the glass.  At first, Bing cherry on the nose.  Palate of bright, tart cherry flavors a la Jolly Rancher.  As it opened up over a couple of days, the flavors balanced out, revealing a little more earth and deeper flavors. March 2022

You can buy Joyce wines from their web site or tasting room. Their tasting room is located at 1 East Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village is open.  It has a lovely outdoor setting.  You can find more information and make a reservation 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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“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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Hahn Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Decanting Monterey!

Now that in-person venues are reopening more fully, wine class is back!  I’ve signed up to present Monterey wines to 2 different organizations in June back in DC and Northern Virginia.  I like to represent as many of our sub-AVAs as I can – and definitely want the Santa Lucia Highlands in the mix.  I used a Hahn Pinot Noir in my 2019 class and felt it was about time I went back to do a full tasting.  Doggy Grooming Day provided the perfect opportunity.  As always, feel free to comment or “like” this post – engagement is welcomed!

We were warmly greeted by Coby Shammas and Bill Anderson in their Carmel Plaza tasting room.  Coby worked with me for my 2019 Northern Virginia American Wine Society class and Bill gave us a thorough tutorial on the winery, its vineyards, and the wines.  We felt very special! 

I am presenting 7 Hahn wines today. Winery vintage and tasting notes come from their website. I encourage you to read more about Hahn here: https://decantingmonterey.com/hahn-inspired-by-the-rhone-blends-of-southern-france/ and on their website.

2020 Hahn Rose, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.2% ABV, $24 (#624)  

Vintage Notes: “Vineyards planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands experience a long and dry growing season that results in wines with remarkable depth, complexity and ripe fruit flavors. Hahn’s SLH vineyards – Lone Oak, Doctor’s, Smith and Hook – are planted on a narrow bench at elevations ranging from 200 to 1,200 feet above sea level. Here, plentiful sun and well-drained soils aid concentration and flavor development.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Beautiful bright salmon in color, this Rosé opens with aromas of fresh raspberry, strawberry, citrus blossom, guava and hints of rose petal. Bright acidity highlights flavors of juicy strawberry and Bing cherry, which are complemented with clean mineral notes on a lingering finish.”

My Review:  Pink, almost orange in the glass.  Sweet citrus blossoms with a hint of tangerine on the nose. Balanced with good Pinot Noir flavors and minerality shining on the back end. Very smooth. I was planning on using this wine in one of my wine classes, but it sold out before I could seal the deal.  Now I am looking forward to the 2021 release! February 2022

2019 Hahn Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $25 (#625) 

Vintage Notes: “About average winter rainfall provided good soil moisture profile for the start of the growing season. Budbreak started the last week of February, mostly in younger blocks, with the rest popping out mid-March. Canopies were at arm’s length by the end of April with no signs of cap fall until the middle of May. Veraison started slightly later than normally, towards the end of July, which led to a later start of harvest. The weekend of 9/14, we had a heat spike, but after three days the weather returned to normal. The harvest started fast, but overall had a beautiful even pace with cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures throughout the end of season. The quality of the fruit was outstanding, resulting in wine with beautiful color, concentrated flavors, balanced tannins, round mouthfeel and soft acidity.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Lively aromas of citrus, orange blossom with hints of tropical fruit and butterscotch. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied with a silky, smooth mouthfeel and balanced acidity. Flavors of lemon, pineapple and pear, combined with delicate butter notes and creamy minerality, lead to an elegant long finish.”

My Review:  Light golden in the glass. Butter, a hint of caramel and grilled pineapple on the nose.  Very balanced and not overdone – the toast on the barrels is just right. Minerality on the finish. This would also be a great example of a representative SLH Chardonnay for one of my classes. February 2022

2019 Hahn Winery Selection Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#626)    

Vintage Notes: “The fruit for this wine was sourced from our estate Ste. Philippe vineyard in the Arroyo Seco appellation. Located south of the Santa Lucia Highlands, this vineyard lies in a dry riverbed with sandy-loam soils affording excellent drainage. Arroyo Seco river stones, or “Greenfield Potatoes,” named for the adjacent town of Greenfield, CA, are unique to this region and integral to the soil as they store and release heat. Cool winds channeling South from Monterey Bay through the Salinas Valley contribute to an extended growing season, ensuring complexity and intensity of the fruit.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of red and black cherries, red currant, and strawberry with notes of violet and rose petals. On the palate, layers of red fruit and fresh berries, rhubarb pie with a touch of warm spices complemented by vanilla notes and integrated oak on a long delicate finish.”

My Review:  Garnet in the glass.  A sweetness on the nose with red raspberries and chocolate.  Some good fruit on the palate, with a traditional Pinot Noir finish.  We heard this is called “the yummy Pinot.”  February 2022

2018 Hahn Winery Selection Grenache, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $35 (#627) 

Vintage Notes: “The year started with about a half of the average rainfall amount and most of the pruning was finished by the end of January. March storms brought some more rain and all blocks had some sign of budbreak by the end of the month. Blooming season was longer than average due to cooler weather and heavy marine layer influence. Consistent and mellow summer temperatures ensured slower fruit maturation and provided more time for development of flavors, color and depth, which led to another outstanding vintage in the Santa Lucia Highlands.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “This medium-bodied red is dark ruby in color with aromas of black cherry, strawberry and notes of vanilla and spice. A delicate mouthfeel features further flavors of dark fruits, black currant and strawberry with hints of spice and toasted oak accompanied by silky tannins and a persistent, lengthy finish.”

My Review:  Beautiful ruby in the glass.  Hint of cranberry and red berry on the nose.  Cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry with a tang on the finish – not cloying.  February 2022

2018 Hahn Winery Selection Highlands Cuvée Red, Central Coast, 14.5% ABV, $35 (#628) 

Vintage Notes: “Varying microclimates and soils throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands naturally make different varietals excel in this remarkable appellation. With this understanding, we set out to craft a true Santa Lucia Highlands blend, featuring superlative varietals within this AVA. This blend of Grenache (72%), Petite Sirah (14%) and Syrah (14%) makes for a full-bodied, perfectly balanced wine.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Enticing aromas of black cherry, strawberry mousse, white pepper and hints of vanilla. A delicate mouthfeel features further flavors of red berries, black cherry and strawberry with a touch of violets and spice on an elegant medium finish.”

My Review:  Rich ruby in the glass. Touch of sweet, smoke and spice on the nose, like a BBQ.  Rich red and black berries on the palate.  We liked this wine and took some home. February 2022

2018 Hahn Malbec, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#629) 

Winery Notes (from our tasting):  100% Malbec grown at 1200 feet in the Sant Lucia Highlands in that sweet spot of the Hook Vineyard, where these other big reds come from.  A somewhat surprising spot in the otherwise cooler, shadier Santa Lucia Highlands!  16 months in the barrel, 60% new oak.   

My Review:  Dark ruby in the glass.  A subdued nose and super dry on the finish.  Smooth and mild.  I would have preferred to taste this before the cuvee! February 2022

2018 Hahn Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#630) 

Vintage Notes: (See Grenache notes above)

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Our 2018 Syrah displays rich and expressive aromatics of dark fruits, blackberries, blueberries, white pepper and violets. The palate mimics the aromas adding rich texture and intrigue with silky tannins and a gentle toasty finish. Rich and luscious, it rounds out with chewy, thick tannins and a long finish.”

My Review:  Jammy, plum and yum!  We tasted this wine at home. This is a surprisingly good Syrah from a rare, warm, high altitude vineyard in SLH.  I would like to get more of this! Our Decanting Monterey wine pod partners also enjoyed this wine. My husband stood alone.  February 2022

Hahn Tasting Rooms are located a their estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, as well as in Carmel Plaza.  You can find more information and make a reservation 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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“Come Say Hello” at Corral Wine’s New Tasting Room!

We were seeking parking in Carmel Valley and saw a spot just outside Sal Rombi’s tasting room.  We knew he was closed, but he was there – and invited us in.  While we were there, Larry Bell came in to pass a flyer about Corral Wine’s new tasting room opening.  He started to tell us about his wines – but he didn’t need to say too much – he had me at Sauvignon Blanc from Zabala Vineyard, one of my absolutely favorite combinations. We decided to change our plans for the afternoon to visit Corral Wines!

Larry Bell
Sam

As a 5th generation local, Larry Bell told us a bit of his personal story, growing up in Salinas, his family ranch – Bell Ranch – with both cattle and vineyards, and a long career in tradeshows. He shared colorful stories about his grandfather. On the cool side, he was a pilot who made some daring flights including under the Bixby Bridge (did I hear that right?).  On the tragic side, as a dairyman in his 30’s, his grandfather was making deliveries at the Toro Café and was attacked by banditos, leading to his premature death – a shocking story, reminding us that it really wasn’t that long ago that this area really was the wild, wild west. I’m sure there are many more stories yet to be heard!

If you get the chance, please stop by soon to try their terrific wines and welcome them to the neighborhood! Tell them I sent you! Their stylish and comfortable tasting room is located right between Parsonage and Chesebro at 19 East Carmel Valley Road in the old White Oaks shopping center.

About Corral Wine Co.: “Corral Wine Company is a production of Bell Family Vineyards. In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, we barreled our first batch of estate Pinot Noir. We’re still in that same barn, but we’ve made even more varietals from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast.

We’re a family-owned operations – we’re not fancy, but we make good wine.” Overall production is about 1500 cases. 

They have two tasting:  The Cellar Rats (referring to Larry and Skip) and The Maker, referring to their winemaker, Adrian. 

Today, I am presenting 7 Corral wines. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website.

2019 Corral Zabala Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, $28 (#604*)

Winery Notes: “Bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit, such as guava and grapefruit dominate along with some fresh cut hay, lemon blossom, wet stone and racing acidity.”

My Review:  Pale in the glass with a frgrant nose.  Delicious palate of soft pineapple and white peach.  Super good. January 2022

2020 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, $26 (#605*)

Winery Notes: “Bright and fresh aromas of strawberry and orange blossom, with nice, bright acidity.”

My Review: Pale salmon in the glass. Vey nice and balanced with a full-flavored kick.  We liked this rose! January 2022

2018 Corral Zabala Vineyard Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco AVA, $34 (#606*)

Winery Notes: “Rich tropical aromatics such as grilled pineapple, ripe fruit, and toasted coconut with hints of vanilla.   With a slight oaky characteristic enhancing the richness of the wine.”

My Review:   Honey on the nose.  Rich on the palate.  The oak in this wine is very subtle. January 2022

2018 Corral Pinot Noir,  Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $48 (#607*)

Winery Notes: Red fruit:  cherry, raspberry, and strawberry.  Savory with hints of smoked meat, leather, and mineral.” From Pavo Real (Spanish Springs) and KW Ranch. 

My Review: Typical Pinot Noir on the nose, yet a richer palate than most local Pinot Noirs. January 2022

2018 Corral Estate Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, $42 (#608*)

Winery Notes: “Bright vibrant aromas of strawberry, dark cherry, and rose petals. Rich texture, balanced acidity, and a long fruit driven finish.”

My Review: Slightly lighter ruby in the glass with expected Monterey County Pinot Noir flavors.  Compares favorably to the SLH! January 2022

2018 Corral KW Ranch Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, $55 (#609*)

Winery Notes:  “Full of flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, bay leaf, clove, and spice.  Deep, rich fruit, with a long finish.”

My Review: Super dark ruby in the glass. Plum and dark cherry on the palate – big and rich.  If I were playing Mystery wine, I’m not sure I would guess it was a Pinot Noir. We liked it quite a bit! January 2022

2018 Corral Petite Sirah , Paso Robles AVA, $52 (#610*)

Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit, black raspberries, tobacco, dark chocolate, cocoa, and toasted spices.  Rich, powerful, with a long finish.”

My Review:  Dark ruby/purple in the glass. Aromas and flavors of dark plum, blueberry and blackberry.  Smooth, rich and delicious. One of my favorites! January 2022

Come say hello at our newly opened Tasting Room at 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA!  Hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00ish pm; and closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

*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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Dawn’s Dream: “Dreams are the touchstones of our character”

It is always a welcoming experience in the Dawn’s Dream Tasting Room!

It’s doggie grooming day once again – and an opportunity to visit another Carmel-By-the-Sea tasting room.  We first discovered Dawn’s Dream when their tasting room was located in the old White Oak Shopping Center, now a winery row.  We stop in from time to time, but it has been a while – and long overdue to write up their wines in Decanting Monterey!

About Dawn’s Dream: “With a passion for life and a head for business, Dawn Galante started producing award-winning wines in 2011 while maintaining a business model that allows for the opportunity to give back. Dawn’s passion for helping women and children equals her passion for making wine. With the goal to produce approachable wines of exceptional quality and elegance Dawn is sourcing fruit from the finest vineyards in California.  With a focus on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé, the vineyards range from the coastal regions of Monterey County, to the warm, golden hills of Carmel Valley and Santa Lucia Highlands….”  You can read more on the website about her start in the winery business working with her husband, Jack Gallante, creating her own winery and pursuing her philanthropic work.

Today, I am presenting 8 Dawn’s Dream wines. Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet.

2019 Dawn’s Dream Escolle Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.2% ABV, $32 (#585*)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of fresh, ripe white peach and nuances of clean, floral French oak barrels envelop your senses.  A hint of spring honey leads into a palate of lean minerality and bright citrus flavors; finishing with Granny Smith apple and honeydew melon.” 93 points, Wine Enthusiast

My Review: Mild tropical notes, tart pineapple on the palate – very tasty. December 2021

2019 Dawn’s Dream “Frances Jane” Chardonnay, Monterey, 13.4% ABV, $55 (#586*)

Winery Notes: “The inaugural vintage! Bright minerality and toasted oak greet the senses, leading to a bone dry, lemon and lime mid palate, hinting at green apple and Bosc pear. The finish simultaneously cleanses with crisp acidity while coating the tongue with a touch of creamy vanilla.  Named for Dawn’s second-born granddaughter with $5.00 of every bottle going to Peace of Mind Dog Rescue.” 

My Review: Dusty yellow in the glass. A bit mellow on the nose.  Butter on the palate, yet crisp with good minerality. December 2021

2019 Dawn’s Dream “Rachael” Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.5% ABV, $44 (#587*)

Winery Notes: “Aromatic hints of dried plum, exotic spice, and sweet cedar entice you in, while flavors of warm stewed black cherry and blackberry balance with cedar notes. This beautifully complex Pinot finishes with mild oak and lingering, soft, yet bright tannins.”

My Review: Translucent ruby in the glass with a big nose. Dusty rose, black tea and plum on the palate, a bit tannic, with a touch of sweetness on the finish.  December 2021

2018 Dawn’s Dream “Alyssa” Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 13.1% ABV, $44 (#588*)

Winery Notes: “Notes of Bing cherry, pomegranate and orange zest point the way to glimmers of dried raisins, black tea, and bergamot on the palate; light toasty oak lends itself to a soft and lush finish.  An incredibly elegant wine!”93 points, Wine Enthusiast

My Review: Pretty ruby in the glass.  Fragrant on the nose with a bit of barnyard on the palate and a touch acidic. December 2021

2018 Dawn’s Dream “Nicole” Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.1% ABV, $52 (#589*)

Winery Notes: “With a deep maroon-brick color, this wine exhibits soft, dark leather, cedar, and cranberry fragrances.  Flavors of ripe blackberry, dried plum and allspice are prominent, and bold tannins make the Nicole Pinot Noir the driest of Dawn’s trilogy.  One of our most food friendly wines!”

My Review: Dark, translucent ruby in the glass.  A touch of barnyard on the nose.  Coca cola, plum and cherry on the palate with a slight bitterness on the finish. Our favorite of the 3. December 2021

2018 Dawn’s Dream Bel Sogno Reserve Pinot Noir, Monterey, 13.5% ABV, $75 (#590*)

Winery Notes: “Pedigreed Pinot Noir clones and new French oak come together to create this shining star in Dawn’s portfolio.  Dark berry, violet and espresso bean aromatics lead to flavors of dried blackberry, anise and vanilla.  The new French oak presence gives this “beautiful dream” a toasty, bold finish.” 93 points, Wine Enthusiast

My Review: Dark ruby, almost purple yet somewhat translucent in the glass.  Good cherry flavors, very balanced. December 2021

2016 Dawn’s Dream “Alyssa” Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14% ABV, $85 (#591*)

Winery Notes: “Springtime wild berries intrigue on the nose, while piquant notes of pomegranate, raspberry, and candied orange-peel dazzle the tip of your tongue with a bright yet sumptuous acidity. The finish is silk-soft and swift, making this 2016 vintage the most expressive release of our beloved “Alyssa” pinot yet!”

My Review: Very purple in color. Mellow nose. Smooth and balanced with black tea and cranberry flavors. December 2021

2019 Dawn’s Dream “Eliza Jane” Syrah, Carmel Valley, 13.5% ABV, $58 (#592*)

Winery Notes: “Ripe plum notes prevail throughout, with traces of earthy minerality, white pepper and blueberry.  Bold tannins, finishing with spice and leather make our inaugural Syrah, named for Dawn’s first-born granddaughter, a first of its kind and daring addition.” 92 points, Wine Enthusiast

My Review: Inky purple in color.  Deep plum on the nose – smells so smooth. A bit of spice and bubble gum on the finish. We took one of these home to try again later. December 2021

Dawn’s Dream Tasting Room, NW Corner of 7th and San Carlos, is open for tastings daily – click here for the details.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room. 

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

Parsonage Part 2: Virginia Wine Experts Seek Decanting Monterey’s Advice!

I usually don’t do back-to-back tastings at the same winery, but I had to make an exception.  Doug Beakes, the Chair of the John Marshall Chapter (Northern Virginia) of the American Wine Society (AWS) was in town to bike with friends and wanted to know where they should taste wines. 

(Some history here: Back in the Fall of 2019, I presented Monterey wines to their AWS chapter at Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, VA.  Doug previously had seen me present our local wines at the Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar.  It was a fun venue – right among the winery’s barrels.  He says I’m invited back; maybe I’ll do it again next fall!)

Back to my story: I always ask people what kind of wines they like so I can recommend the right spots – do they like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (what Monterey is widely known for) – or are they looking for something else?  His answer was BIG REDS – and they only wanted to go to one spot. I decided to take them to Parsonage, even though I had just been there the week before. 

Doug was accompanied by Mike Wassenberg,  his AWS chapter Vice-Chair, and their biking buddy/wine drinking/nice guy friend Mark Svedlund from Sebastopol. We were unexpectedly joined by Bill Parsons, who just happened to be in the tasting room when we dropped by.  It was a warm afternoon in Carmel Valley Village and my companions were a bit wilted from their bike ride. Nice guy Mark fetched cheese and bread and Bill provided colorful narrative to the wines.

Bill Parsons holding court with our Virginia visitors. Alex Lallos from Chesebro Wines joined us at the end.

Today, I am presenting 5 Parsonage wines – 3 from our tasting that day  and 2 library wines from our personal collection which were tasted separately. Last week’s post included combined tasting notes for 3 wines we tasted with this group and our barrel tasting buddies – the 2018 Estate Syrah, the 2018 Rocco and the 2017 Xandro.  We tasted 5 other wines which I have previously presented here – they are not included! Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet.

I’ve written about Parsonage to in many 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/.                           

2018 Parsonage Estate Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $48 (#541*)

Winery Notes: “The nose promises richness with its ripe bing cherries and that rare, fully vine-ripe raspberry that you’d get at a farmer’s market. The bouquet carries a mysterious spice akin to baking spices with a trace of black tea. The red fruit shows up in a big way on the palate – very rich and dense on the long, full, and delicious finish.”

My Review: Beautiful deep ruby in color. Cherry on the nose.  Chewy palate with a touch of acidity.  Darker, richer than a typical Monterey Pinot Noir – we liked it.  October 2021

2014 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $26 (#542*) Merlot, Syrah blend

My Review: From our cellar: Stunning bouquet.  Very big, jammy cherry-berry nose.  Rich, dark berries on the palate and anise on the finish.  Still drinking well. October 2021

2001 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $125 (#543*)

My Review: From our cellar: Dark ruby in the glass. Rich dark berries in the nose with prune notes (at first, sulfur, which died down to a slight cooked prunes smell.) Big mouthfeel and bursting with blackberry with cola and tobacco flavors. Still something on the finish – like cooked fruit and tobacco. This wine could go another 5 years or so. October 2021

2018 Parsonage Bixby Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15%, $80 (#544*) Petit Verdot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

My Review: Wow! Dusty on the nose. Pretty, intense dark fruit – berry and cherry on the palate and milk chocolate on the finish. I become a bigger fan of this wine each year! October 2021

2008 Parsonage “Snosrap” Cyrano Bordelaise Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#545)

My Review: This Bordeaux blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon.  This was the last wine we tasted, so my notes are very weak.  I think Bill said “hoisin sauce.”  This wine was rather tasty and I took a bottle home! We are looking forward to tasting it again soon. October 2021

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. 

*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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Parsonage: A Glimpse of the 2019 Vintage

It has been a good, long while since I have presented Parsonage here.  I’ll be making up for that with the next couple of posts! I had the opportunity to take our COVID Wine Pod plus some visiting friends to the Parsonage Village Vineyard for a barrel tasting, at the invitation of Bill Parsons himself.  Who was I to say no?  Little did we know when the date was set that they would be harvesting that day!  We did our best to stay out of the way of the action. 

It is always exciting to get a glimpse of the future of your favorite wines.  It is also an opportunity to get inside the head of the vintners a bit, gain insights about techniques they used to make up for the lost vintage of 2020, the detrimental impact of drought conditions on fruit production, and pandemic influences.  Bill and I have an agreement that I can write about anything he tells me – and so I will! Hope I got it all right!

Bill talked a bit about the changes implemented in reaction to the pandemic that had a positive impact, such as having outdoor space and a reservation system for wine tasting. They have a beautiful parklet with plenty of sun for us coastal dwellers to enjoy, as well as ample shade for those warmer days. On the negative side, he highlighted supply chain issues for critical supplies including bottles, foils, and corks. About the drought conditions impacting his fruit, he said, “I am a farmer.  I am at the mercy of the elements.”  The Syrah was still hanging at the time of our visit.  Shortly after our visit, we had that torrential rain – I was very worried how my beloved Syrah survived the storm.  Bill just told me this week: “Not only did the Syrah survive the inch and half drenching in five hours, but it thrived as a result. We just harvested this morning in fact!”

Today, I am presenting 10 Parsonage wines – 5 barrel tastings at the winery and 5 wines currently available in the tasting room.  I tasted a few of these wines the following week with another group of experts. I’ve melded my notes here – the rest of those wines will appear next week!

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/.

2019 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#528*)

My Review: 100% Estate fruit. He will produce 100-120 cases.  Aged in 100% new French oak, it will be bottled in Spring 2022.  Dark ruby, purple in color. Jammy raspberry and blackberry with a touch of vanilla on the nose.  Intense berry fruit on the palate with some anise on the finish.  Delicious! I can’t wait to purchase this when it is released! Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2019 Parsonage Bixby Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#529*) ~65% Petit Verdot, ~35% Cabernet Sauvignon

My Review: “An outlier wine” loved by a select group of wine club members. Deep ruby in the glass.  Plum and cherry on the nose. Plum, herbs. leather, tobacco yet violets on the palate – not fruit forward.  Caramel notes on the finish.  Certainly more tannic than the Merlot. Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2021 Parsonage Petit Verdot, San Antonio Valley AVA, 15% ABV (#530*)

My Review: This wine is sourced from the Argyle Vineyard down in the very southern part of Monterey County. Tucked between the Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Mountains, the San Antonio Valley has a long, warm growing season, enefiting from the lake effect from Lake San Antonio.  We tasted this wine when it was only 3 weeks old – a first for me, for sure!  Vegetal on the nose.  Intense plum on the palate with green bell pepper notes.  Has a great foundation and is structurally balanced – can stand on its own and will be good blended with a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2019 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#531*)

My Review: Super dark ruby.  Deep berry and plum on the nose.  Rich dark fruits including black currant on the palate with lots of structure.  28-29 months n the barrel.  Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2019 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#532*)

My Review: Bill calls the 2019 vintage as “the greatest in winemaking history.” Inky ruby in the glass.  Smokey essense on the nose.  Super smooth on the palate with rich raspberry, blackberry, cherry, red currant and vanilla bean.  Dry on the finish.  Terrific, wonderful. Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2018 Parsonage Wild Card, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (#533*)

My Review: Ruby in the glass, alcohol on the nose.  Chewy.  My experience with this wine is it needs a bit of time to settle and meld.  After all the barrel tastings, though, we probably needed a reset! Will taste again sometime with a well rested palate! October 2021

2018 Parsonage BDL, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $44 (#534*)

My Review: Transluscent ruby in the glass.  Raspberry on the nose, rich raspberry on the palate.  Tasty and drinkable now.  Would be good with garlic roasted chicken or salmon with root vegetables. October 2021

2018 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $48 (#535*)

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass.  Dark berries with some caramel and spicy smokiness on the nose – like a cinnamon hard candy. Good fruit on the palate with spice melding with meat – “cinnamon and bacon,” with lingering finish of anise and pepper.  “Like a Cote-Roti.” Our friends bought a bottle of this wine and we enjoyed it at dinner the following evening. October 2021

2018 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#536*)

My Review: 30% slope hang, chalk rock. This is their flagship wine and my personal favorite.  Purple ruby in the glass.  Allspice, caramel and earth on the nose, a bit like old leather.  Intense dark berries and plum on the palate with vanilla notes. Done in a traditional, earthy Rhone style. This vintage is pretty impressive – I took a bottle home of this new release. October 2021

2017 Parsonage Xandro, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#537*) 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah

My Review: Bill calls the 2019 vintage as “the greatest in winemaking history.” Inky ruby in the glass.  Smokey essence on the nose.  Super smooth on the palate with rich raspberry, blackberry, cherry, red currant and vanilla bean.  Dry on the finish.  Terrific, wonderful. October 2021

Tasting Room Photo Courtesy Parsonage

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. 

*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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Bunter Spring: How Many Former Senate Staffers Does It Take to Find Great Wines?

Another DC friend came to town – one who also happens to be an old colleague of Margaret Spring, the Spring of Bunter Spring Winery.  With three former Senate staffers in the mix, wouldn’t it be fun to taste there? With their grapes sourced from multiple counties and winery and vineyards in the Coombsville section of Napa, we were delighted to learn they are open again for tasting on the weekends (Friday-Monday). I’d say our tasting far exceeded my expectations, which were already high!  By that I mean high quality wines for reasonable prices. Winery notes come from their website. Check them out here. 

2019 Spring Sauvignon Blanc “Oyster Wine” Santa Cruz County, 12.16% ABV, $20 (#518*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Our 2019 continues the series of standout wines from this vineyard, which we began using in 2014.  Barrel fermented and aged six months in older “neutral” French barrels.  Totally dry, light-bodied, tart, with subtle aromas of citrus, nectarine, and dried grass.  This wine was literally made for oysters on the half-shell.  It’s also great with goat cheese, or alone as an aperitif or refreshing thirst-quencher.  Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast, sulfite.  Filtered, not fined. At bottling: total sulfite 39 ppm, residual sugar <0.1 g/l (totally dry).” 48 cases produced.

My Review:  Made to go well with oysters!  VIneyard is near Corralitos and Watsonville.  Pale in color, a very light yellow.  Honeysuckle on the nose.  Lean on the palate with bright acidity. October 2021

2018 Spring Reserve Chardonnay, Monterey AVA, 14.43% ABV, $35 (#519*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This wine is fuller bodied and has a more powerful flavor and mouthfeel than our “regular” Chard, but since that’s sold out, you have to take our word for it.  Pear, yellow apple, edamami, with an unctuous texture.  Ingredients: grapes, yeast, sulfur dioxide.  Not fined, not filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 90 ppm, residual sugar 0.5 g/l (not totally dry).” 25 cases produced.

My Review:  From Chula Lina VIneyard outside of Chualar.  Very yellow with a lovely bouquet and delicious on the palate with butter, caramel, plenty of fruit and a touch of lemon zest on the finish. We thought this was an exceptional Chardonnay! October 2021

2019 Spring “Orange Wine” Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Cruz County, 12.08% ABV, $20 (#520*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Orange wine is a potentially misleading name for wine made from white grapes fermented on their skins in the manner of red wine.  Depending on the variety, and how long the maceration, the color can range from pale straw to deep pink, almost red.  This one’s relatively light as it was only on the skins for five days.  It has interesting aroma and flavors reminiscent of stone fruit and herbs, dried grass, savory spice.  Slightly tannic, with more texture than white wine.  Good with many foods, especially Asian, and shrimp. Ingredients: grapes, yeast, 40 ppm total sulfite. Dry.” 48 cases produced.

My Review:  I tasted this wine later for a special virtual wine class on “orange” wines. Pale orange, bold gold in color.  At first, scents of yeast, with emerging floral notes on the nose.  Strong flavors on the palate, including ripe peach – like a very bold rose – the oak comes through.  After opening up, very round and flavorful on the finish.  This would be a great food wine. October 2021

2019 Spring Rosé “Snow Globe”, Monterey AVA, 12.34% ABV, $20 (#521*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Made from Grenache and Syrah, grown on a rocky sunbaked hillside in far southern Monterey county, picked expressly for rosé.  Beautiful pale color, high-toned aroma.  It has an excess of totally harmless cream of tartar that precipitates in white flakes when refrigerated.  For fun, chill it, turn it upside down, and watch it snow!  Ingredients: grapes, yeast, tartaric acid.  Fined with milk and silica dioxide, then filtered.  At bottling: 58 ppm total sulfite, 0.4 g/L residual sugar (dry).” 50 cases produced.

My Review:  “A real rosé'” Pale salmon in the glass.  Caramel on the nose with real red fruit flavors on the palate. Light bodied.  Balanced acidity with a nice finish.  October 2021

2018 Spring Pinot Noir, Hilltop Ranch, Carmel Valley, 13.68% ABV, $30 (#522*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “In one of the many examples of AVA nonsense, this vineyard, a mile outside Carmel Valley Village, isn’t in the Carmel Valley AVA, although vineyards ten miles away, in neighboring Cachagua valley, are.  So legally it’s not Carmel Valley wine, it’s Monterey wine. Whatever.  It is VERY easy-drinking, medium bodied, perfectly balanced, with lots of varietal fruit and a distinctive spicy character from custom-coopered French oak barrels. Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast , 60 ppm total sulfite.  Not fined, reverse osmosis filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 60 ppm, residual sugar 0.5g/L (dry).” 107 cases produced.

My Review:  Ruby in color.  Some cherry notes on the nose.  Very nice on the palate – even this non-Pinot lover liked this wine. October 2021

2017 Spring Cowboy Surfer Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, 13.74% ABV, $30 (#523*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Our second iteration of this outrageous blend of normally antithetical varieties.  The first Cowboy Surfer, 2014, was a resigned wishful last resort use for a barrel of weird Pinot.  People loved it!  When it was gone they asked for more.  Not so easy, it turned out- there’s a reason why no one blends these two.  The result almost always tastes like either a pathetically weak Cab or a nasty hot puckery Pinot.  It took three years, but we finally made two wines that worked.  FYI the Pinot, from close to the beach, is the surfer.  The Cab, from cow country high up in the hills, is the cowboy.  Black cherry, raspberry, spice, and tannin, just slightly on the aggro side right now, will mellow into a very laid-back ride.  Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast, sulfite.  Not fined or fitered.  At bottling: total sulfite 65 ppm, residual sugar 0.1 g/l (very dry).” 49 cases.

My Review:  Dark in the glass yet a bit transluscent.  Perfume on the nose with a deliciousd palate showing the best of the Carmel Valley fruits – a great Cab Sauv-Pinot Noir combo – we really liked ths wine.  October 2021

2016 Spring Cabernet Sauvignon “Burger Wine,” Contra Costa County, 13.27%, $18 (#524*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Contra Costa is a great place for Zin, Petite Sirah, and Carignane.  It’s not well known for Cab, so we got a sweet deal on this fruit, and so do you. We treated it with the same respect as all our wines, including nice once-used French oak barrels.  Medium bodied, soft tannins, juicy blackberry taste, perfect with burgers.  It’s vegan, so veggie burgers work too. Ingredients: organic grapes, water, yeast, tartaric acid, sulfite.  Filtered, not fined.  Made using reverse osmosis.  At bottling: total sulfites 88 ppm, residual sugar 0.3 g/l (dry).” 73 cases.

My Review:  We tasted this wine last – it was quite good, very drinkable, especially for an $18 bottle of wine.  I’d like to taste it again, as being last did it a great disservice!

2014 Bünter “Natur” Syrah, Coombsville, Napa Valley, 13.27% ABV, $30 (#525*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Earthy, nutty, meaty, slightly spicy, slightly floral, with medium full body, good natural acidity, and rich tannins. Goes great with very spicy (hot) food, as usual for this wine.  It actually cools and soothes your mouth after a bite of anything painfully spicy.  The texture and mouthfeel are superb. The aroma and flavor are typical of no-sulfite reds: less fruity, more earthy. Definitely different.  Ingredients: Organic grapes. Not fined, not filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 2 ppm, residual sugar <0.1 g/l (bone dry).” 100 cases produced.

My Review:  Beautful dark ruby.  Dark fruit notes of cassis and currant on the nose.  Palate consisted largely of cherry flavors and was a little lighter than I was expecting, based on the nose. October 2021

2018 Spring Red Wine “Garagitage,” Highlands Vineyard, Monterey County, 14.64% ABV, $24  (#526*) 76% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker’s Notes:

Winemaker’s Notes: “These grapes come from a small vineyard in the hills above Arroyo Seco just north of Carmel Valley Road. They were harvested, very ripe, on Sep 30, 2018. Upon release, in spring 2021, as I write, this wine is a rough and tumble California fruit bomb, with tons of grapey flavor, plenty of alcohol, and no manners.  Maybe, someday, it will grow up.  Meantime, have fun! Aged 15 months in once used French oak barrels.” 76 cases.

My Review:  OK, this was my favorite wine:  Very dark ruby in the glass. Perfume on the nose, followed by a yummy palate of dark fruit.  We keep drinking it – what an incredible wine for a bargain price! October 2021

“Schniki”
With a vast array of wines to choose from, Mark helps customers narrow it down with his daily tasting menu. Herr Doktor Schnickerdoodle was the visiting winery dog that day!

Want to taste their wines?  From their website:  Great news! Bunter Spring has resumed tasting room operations.   Our Carmel Valley tasting room is open Friday through Sunday 11-5 PM.  We are open the rest of the week by appointment.  Since we work often in Napa, at the winery and vineyard, we are not always available, so please call in advance if possible.  Your hosts are fully vaccinated.  The tasting fee is $20 per person for six wines, with crackers and cheese.  The tasting fee is waived with a two bottle purchase.  Tasting is free to wine club members as per our Wine Club policy.  Call Mark at (202) 744-1343 for an appointment.  We would love to see you!

You can see the current releases here and contact Mark by phone or email to order.  Directions are here.  They ship within California and to Washington DC and Florida. 

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

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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