Tagged: Cabernet Sauvignon

Rombi: Bold, Distinctive Fruit Wrapped in Elegance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2012 and 2015 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignons

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2011 Rombi Merlot definitely wanted to be decanted!

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

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

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

The 2013 Rombi Merlot stands out as an exceptional vintage!

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

Rombi’s Relaxing, Outdoor Tasting Setting

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

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Parsonage Reserve Wines – My Kind of Big Reds!

Reviews of Parsonage Estate Reserve 2016 Rocco Syrah, 2016 Tanner Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2017 Hawk Pinot Noir

I’m going to take us north from Cachagua to talk about a few wineries we “discovered” with vineyards just south of Carmel Valley Village. I’ll come back to Cachagua in a few posts.

We discovered Parsonage during one of our wine tasting outings to Carmel Valley many years ago.  During that time, it seemed every time we came to the valley, there were new wineries and tasting rooms popping up.  We were at Joullian Vineyards and asked where else we should taste.  The tasting room manager made a call to Parsonage’s winemaker, Frank Melicia, who wanted to ensure we were serious wine buyers before he’d let us come up to the winery.  And thusly began a beautiful relationship! 

Bill and Mary Parsons planted the seven-acre Parsonage Village Vineyard in June 1998, with their first harvest in 2000. According to Parsonage, the vineyard is planted to 3 ½ acres of Syrah, 2 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 acre of Merlot and 1/2 acre of Petit Verdot. Starting at a meager 200 cases back in 2000, annual production today is in the 1500-2000 case range. The Parsons were the first to plant Syrah in Carmel Valley and their wines are the reason I am now a big Syrah fan. 

Parsonage has made five estate reserve wines:  Bixby (Petit Verdot), Dario (Merlot), Hawk (Pinot Noir), Rocco (Syrah), Tanner (Cabernet Sauvignon), and Xandro (Red Blend).  Their reserve wines are named for Bill and Mary’s grandchildren. Mary’s exquisite quilts are featured on the labels and in the tasting room (you can view them on their website). 

Glicee prints of Mary Parsons’s intricate quilts in their tasting room!

Two of these reviews are of 2016 wines. In the summer of 2016, the Soberanes Fire burned for months south of Carmel Valley. The smoke from that fire affected the grapes in the Carmel Valley AVA.  I’ll do a longer piece on the Soberanes Fire in a future blog, as its impact was significant. 

2016 Parsonage Estate Reserve Rocco Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $80

2016 Parsonage Estate Reserve Rocco Syrah

Parsonage says this about the 2016 Rocco:  “This is our flagship wine and what we’re known for. It’s what our dinner guests ask for when they come to visit.  The Rocco is a big red wine to pair with steak or anything grilled or barbecued. We get brambleberry, grilled game, mocha, umami and spice. This wine is delicious now but could be aged for years and years.” 150 cases were produced. All neutral oak was used to mitigate smokiness – brilliant. 

My Review: We detected a little tar on the nose with ham hock and charcoal on the palate “in a good way – like S’Mores”.  This wine has a lot of fruit – it’s like you are sitting around a campfire with a mouthful of sweetness and tart.  The wine seems to work with the smokiness, making it part of its richness, not an offensive aftertaste.  In July 2020, we decanted this wine and enjoyed it even more – much smoother and even less ham hock.  As my husband says, a Rocco Syrah, even from the Soberanes Fire year, is still one of the most delicious Carmel Valley wines.  June/July 2020

I presented this wine at my Fall 2019 Northern Virginia AWS as a compare and contrast of a Carmel Valley 2016 wine with one from another Monterey County AVA.  I didn’t tell them about the smoke and I asked them what they tasted different in this wine.  There were many guesses before the owner of Pearmund Winery guessed smoke. 

2016 Parsonage Estate Reserve Tanner Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $80

2016 Parsonage Estate Reserve Tanner Cabernet Sauvignon

According to Parsonage: “This Cabernet Sauvignon is a burly beast of a wine and the fastest selling vintage we’ve ever made. When folks try it, they buy it. The nose is full of dark fruit with hints of barrel toast. The palate is full of blackberry, black cherry, and tobacco leaf.  Nicely integrated tannins and a long finish. We aren’t fancy and like to pair it with a burger.” 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

My Review: Glass-coating rich, this wine had a little sulphur and green olive on the nose, followed by umami flavors of pepperoni dipped in a good marinade.  Very robust and delicious Cabernet Sauvignon.  Little to no detection of smoke taint, despite the 2016 vintage. June 2020

2017 Parsonage Estate Reserve Hawk Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $60

2017 Parsonage Estate Reserve Hawk Pinot Noir – Photo courtesy of Parsonage

From Parsonage: “A magnificent expression of the varietal character of Pinot Noir California style. All of the beautiful floral spice found in its elegant sibling (the Estate Pinot) but with black cherry and black raspberry and Darjeeling muscatel notes in a bigger, richer, fuller version with an extra dollop of yum. The Hawk is truly high viscosity Pinot on steroids.” Aged in new oak for ~12 months.

My Review: Very berry on the nose. More structure than the Estate Pinot Noir, yet smoother. Intense berry, black tea and a bit of tobacco on the palate. The Hawk is a delicious Pinot Noir enjoyed and highly regarded even by my Burgundy fanatic relatives. June 2020

You can obtain their wines directly from the winery:  They offer flat rate ground shipping for $14.99. Join their wine club for 20% off. 

  • Photo courtesy of Parsonage
Parsonage has moved all tastings outdoors on their genius parklet!

You can also visit their tasting room by appointment only in Carmel Valley Village Thursdays through Monday, 12-5 p.m. You can make a reservation from their home page here. 

Bernardus Marinus 2010 and Parrot Ranch 2005

2010 Bernardus Marinus, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $65 Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 59%, Merlot 29%, Petit Verdot 7%, Cabernet Franc 5%

2005 Parrot Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, $25*, 14.1% ABV. Blend:  Cabernet Sauvignon 86%, Cabernet Franc 9%, Merlot 4%

As I continue my trek through Carmel Valley AVA’s Cachagua region, it is my pleasure to introduce the truly local, long time powerhouse – Bernardus.

Bernardus – The First Tasting Room in Carmel Valley!

I relied heavily on their webpage to summarize this overview over the years I have been presenting their wines.

A former race car driver and Olympic athlete, Dutch Owner Ben Pon’s dream with Bernardus was to make a red wine equal to the finest from Bordeaux. He selected Carmel Valley, confident his vineyards there could produce wines to rival the greatest on the globe.

More than a quarter-century later, he’s accomplished his goal, not only with his estate Bordeaux blend, called Marinus (after his middle name) selling for $75-$125, but with a powerhouse portfolio of single-vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Sadly, Mr. Pon passed away in the Fall of 2019, but his legacy continues. Making over 50,000 cases/year Bernardus has many wines available throughout the US.

A Lineup of Marinus Wines from Our Wine Room!

I’m presenting two of their wines from Cachagua today – two of the 55+ wines from the Central Coast we tasted and reviewed while sheltering in place.

The Carmel Valley’s terrain and climate is ideal for creating rich, full bodied wines; the Bordeaux varietals are favorites here, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot comprising more than 70% of the grapes grown in the AVA.

Ben Pon also had the foresight 20 years ago to open the first tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. It is one of the nicest tasting rooms in the valley – we would always stop in to taste their wines and see what was on sale. They kept telling us we should join their club, but we are very specific in the wines we like to buy. One day, I realized they had a “Marinus only” club and we joined immediately. We have reaped many benefits from private tastings to winemaker dinners since we joined. Let’s dig a little deeper into the Marinus wines…

A Fun, Private Bernardus Tasting with Friends, April 2019

From Bernardus: “Carmel Valley is surrounded by the ridges of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Cachagua Valley is a sun-trap, a “bowl” in a high elevation that is shielded from the coastal fog and ideal for growing Bordeaux-style grapes. The daily temperatures vary from over 100° F. during the day to 50° F. during the night…Marinus vineyard soils are varied. They range from clay loam to sandy loam…Each vintage of Marinus represents the artistic interpretation of the vineyard cultivation along with the flavor elaboration in the winemaking process. A blend of Bordeaux varitetais, Marinus is the signature Bernardus wine from the Carmel Valley estate vineyard…”

2010 Marinus tasting notes:

From the winery: “Our 2010 Marinus exhibits its typical deeply colored robe.  The aromas express beautiful red fruits accented by classic notes of cedar.  The delicious flavors are soft and full, with spicy dark cherry and plus flavors and a smooth texture of well integrated tannins.  Although drinking beautifully now, this Marinus will age gracefully for many years to come.”

2010 Bernardus Marinus: Drink Me Now!

My Review of the 2010 Marinus: We’ve been enjoying this wine for several years now and it does not disappoint.  Drink now.  One of my favorite events of 2019 was attending a Marinus Winemaker’s Dinner catered by a local chef.  They served a different vintage with each course.  That was an amazing night.  Sure hope we get to do that again.  This wine is available for purchase from the winery – watch for sales! May 2020

2005 Parrot Ranch tasting notes:

From the winery: “Robe: Deep crimson-red color. Youthful aromas of cherries and cranberries accented with notes of cedar, toasty oak and spice beautifully express the excellence of the terroir of Carmel Valley.  The vibrant flavors of ripe red fruits, licorice and cedar accented with mineral notes are concentrated and well -focused. Our 2005 Parrot Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking wonderfully now, but the freshness of flavor and fine tannins on the finish promise a rewarding future for several years to come.” 3,000 cases produced.

2005 Parrot Ranch

My review of the 2005 Parrot Ranch: Intense red berries, sweet and pleasantly jammy. Smooth and very elegant, soft round tannins and intense aftertaste.  Any-day occasion wine with a quality feel provided by the aging process, plummy liquorish feel with earthy and forest floor flavors. Drink now. March 2020

My understanding is when the fruit doesn’t meet the quality for the Marinus label, it has occasionally been bottled under the Parrot Ranch label.  We have purchased many cases of this wine and I presented it in one of my Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar wine classes – a bit hit.  We at times purchased it for only $10/bottle and are still enjoying it.  It is sold out.

Their wines can be found in many wine shops around the U.S., with the best place to order directly on its webpage.

As of this writing, Bernardus has not re-opened their tasting room and is focusing on wine production and virtual wine tastings.

2015 Heller Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Cachagua

2015 Heller Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Cachagua, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $25-39

81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Pinot Noir, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3 % Malbec, < 1% Merlot, Petite Sirah & Petit Verdot

Massa Estate Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village

When we first started to visit Carmel Valley for its wines, we used to stop at a place called Heller Estate.  It was the first tasting room on the left.  Back then, we remember buying half bottles of delicious Durney Cabernet Sauvignon.  Durney Vineyards produced wine from roughly 1979-1996.  Heller Estate bought out Durney ~1996 and, in recent years (~2017), Bill Massa, a long-time Salinas farmer, bought the estate.   When we saw the name change on the tasting room, we stopped in, talked to Laurie Massa, and picked up this 2015 Heller Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.    

Cachagua (cah-SHAH-wah) is part of the Carmel Valley AVA.  From Monterey County Vintners & Producers: “Cachagua Valley’s unique mountainous setting sits high above the fog-line along the coast and exposes the grapes to a warmer overall climate. Average summer temperatures can reach into the 100’s with cool evenings dropping into the low 30’s and 40’s. This dramatic swing in temperature extends the ripening time and growing season, allowing the grapes a slow maturation process for eventual complexity in the fruit and the wine.”  Wineries with vineyards in Cachagua include Bernardus, Galante, Georis, Joullian, Massa (Heller), and Rombi.  I will be presenting wines from Cachagua first!

The Current Massa Estate Tasting Lineup

Massa Estate describes this region and wine as follows:  “Overlooking the Cachagua region of Carmel Valley, (“Cachagua” is believed to be an Indian derivative of the French “cacher” and the Spanish “agua” meaning ‘hidden waters’), and framed by the dramatic surrounding hills, lie the beautiful mountain vineyards of the Heller Estate. The 120 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir are planted at an altitude of 1200 – 1500 feet, producing rich, luscious grapes, which result in outstanding premium wines. The vineyards are certified 100% organic…” According to the winery, 2015 was a tough growing season, marked by continuing drought and a cold, windy, cloudy May.  The mild summer helped compensate, enhancing the fruit’s color in its Bordeaux varietals. 

Love this “Dances On Your Palate” label!

This wine spent 20 months in oak barrels.  Massa describes this wine as follows:  Aroma of “juicy berries such as raspberry, blackberry and blueberry with hints of bay laurel, earthiness and spice…Cassis and blackberry greet the palate while some slightly earthy and juicy characteristics mingle beautifully with the dry, dusty tannin structure. On the finish there are notes of dark chocolate and mocha. Pair this wine with braised stuffed cabbage rolls, roasted root vegetables or a juicy hamburger topped with sautéed mushrooms and some nice aged cheddar cheese.”

My review: Dense, dark red color.  Nose brimming with cherry, with oak and yeasty notes.  Bursting with dark fruit on palate (cassis and blackberry) with pleasant acidity.  Solid tannic structure, with the oak coming through.  A bit earthy.

You can taste and purchase this wine at the Massa Estate Tasting Room at 69 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley.  They have a lovely outdoor patio and you can also order from Chef Michael Jones’ menu for patio dining or carry-out.  1000Corks lists this wine as available primarily in the New York area for $22-24 plus tax and shipping. 

Lovely, Relaxing Setting at Massa Estate’s Tasting Room

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