The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society wanted to do something a little special for its members: food and wine! Self-catered by their wonderful Board Member Anita, we celebrated an early Valentine’s Day at Twisted Roots, on February 3, 2023.
We’ve always been fond of Twisted Roots for its signature Zinfandels and Petite Sirahs, as well as the occasional special red blend. Winery co-owners Josh and Julie Ruiz, and Matt and Whitney Pridey bring us these wines mostly from their Lodi vineyard, established in 1918. Why have a tasting room in Carmel Valley? The Ruiz’s have relocated to Carmel Valley and his wife’s family owns the vineyard in Lodi. A great marriage! And we were fortunate to have both of them and their awesome tasting room manager Shannon present for this event.
About Twisted Roots: “Twisted Roots is the work of five generations of family, dedicated to growing wine grapes following sustainable growing practices. While our family’s vineyard was established in 1918, it wasn’t until 2005 that we began producing our own wines. Our commitment to hand crafted, Sustainable & Green, small-lot wines, allows for the utmost care and attention to detail as we strive to produce premium-quality, consistently delicious wines…
“The name Twisted Roots comes from the deep and twisted roots of Lodi old vine Zinfandel found in Julie Ruiz’s childhood vineyard, where vines date back to the early 1900’s. While excavating vines one day, her beloved uncle remarked “Those roots are really twisted, that would be a great name for a winery.” This would be a day both Julie and her husband Josh would never forget. This is the day the winery was truly born.
“Both Josh and Julie have an incredible love for agriculture, community and friendship. Josh’s mission was to cultivate community around wine, a beverage that wasn’t common in his home growing up. As an entrepreneur, Josh was determined to create a winery that was tied to the original roots of Lodi Vineyards, and share those wines with his now home in the Carmel Valley.
“As luck would have it he joined forces with a few of his very special friends to create a dynamic winery and hospitality experience with a diverse selection of wines you won’t typically find in the area; Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Hard Cider to name a few. All produced in small batches carefully selected from unique sites in an effort to maintain quality and allow for attention to detail shine. We invite you to visit our charming and newly renovated tasting room, the perfect spot for enjoying the most important things in life, the people.”
When I present a class on our local wines, I like to talk about the affordability of going wine tasting there. This winery is a case in point: great wines for a $15 tasting fee!
Today we got to taste some additions to the usual big reds – a real treat. I am presenting 5 wines, plus a bonus wine I knew to ask about. As usual, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the winery website, or tasting room staff. Any errors are mine or mine alone.
NV Brut Rosé, California, 13.5% ABV, $35 (#937)
Winery Notes: “We are excited to release our first Rose! A Pinot Noir based sparkling, with lots of bright red berries. Great for all of your summer events!” The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine come from Alexander Valley.
My Review Powered by Terravenos: Dusty salmon in the glass. Warm on the nose with nice tiny bubbles. We detected rose petal, rainier cherry, and apple cider with a slightly brioche quality on the nose. ENO: high acid, medium alcohol, medium minus body. Creamy mousse with a medium plus finish. Well integrated. Flavors of melon, under ripe strawberry, white peach, rainier cherry. February 2023
2021 Albariño, Terra Alta Estate, Lodi, $35 (#938)
Winery Notes: “A delicious Spanish varietal, Albariño is a great every day white wine. It pairs perfectly with all of your summer time activities.”
My Review: Citrus, pineapple, mango, with acidity and tropical notes on the nose, Meyer lemon and pineapple, a nice palate with good minerality, including peach and sweet, tropical notes. Balanced.
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, 14% ABV, $40 (#939)
Winery Notes: “This is not the typical “Napa Style” Cabernet. Our Cabernet is soft and subtle, with all the fruit of a Cabernet but without that harshness!”
My Review: Rich, dark Cabernet color in the bottle. A rich, dusty bouquet. Lots of oak and berries wrapped in high alcohol upfront. It’s not very Cab-like, but it has a nice spice on the finish. It’s made more in the style of a Zinfandel, more like a fruit bomb. Soft, yet chewy, tannins with a touch of harshness on the finish.
2017 Petite Sirah, Lodi, 15.5% ABV, $40 (#940)
Winery Notes: “The biggest of our red wines, with lots fruit up front, followed with some light tannins, and soft finish.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Big, bold flavor, Fruit-forward with big, bold blackberry and raspberry flavors. Wow. A big … red wine. Well integrated and downright yummy. I took some home and half has already disappeared!
2018 Old Vine Zinfandel, the 1918, Lodi, 14% ABV, $40 (#941)
Winery Notes: “If you’ve ever wanted to know what wine from 100 year old vines tastes like, you’re in luck!! Planted in “1918”, these are the vines that started it all for the Twisted Roots Family. After 3 generations of family farmers, we are now able to bring you this special wine!”
My Review: Dark, dark ruby in color, sweet dark berries on the palate, caramel and vanilla on the nose Very nice .
2020 Ross’s Cherry Road Red, Lodi, 14% ABV, $60 (#942)
Winery Notes: This is a special blend named after Julie’s beloved Uncle Ross, available to wine club members only. 85% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
My Review: Raisins, with lots of cherry and dark fruit. Very big, with prune flavors.
Taste Twisted Roots Wines: “Wine is an experience meant to be shared with others. Stop by our beautiful, newly renovated tasting room and let’s share it together.” Located at 12 Del Fino Pl, Carmel Valley, CA 93924. Open 12-5pm, Thursday-Sunday. Reserve online or at 831- 594-8282. You can also buy their wines on their website!
© Decanting Monterey 2023
Recent Comments