Tagged: Cachagua

2017 Georis Merlot: Getting Way Beyond “Sideways”

2017 Georis Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.8% ABV, $36

Merlot got an undeserved bad rap in the movie, Sideways.  That was so 2005 – so let’s get our Merlot on!  There are many fine California Merlots out there worthy of our attention.  Continuing on our march of wines from Cachagua, let’s talk Georis, which is known for its Merlots.

The Tasting Lineup at Georis

We have always had a fondness for Georis.  Why?  Walter Georis’ brother, Gaston, was my husband’s French teacher at the Monterey Institute for International Studies (now Middlebury).  And, right next door to Georis’ tasting room in Carmel Valley Village was Corkscrew Café (now at 1 Pilot Road), where we often dined al fresco when wine tasting in the valley.  In our early days of visiting the valley, we’d either taste Georis wines at the winery or at Corkscrew, but never both.  After all, someone had to drive home. 

The Georis Tasting Room at 1 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village

From the Georis winery’s webpage: “Walter Georis was born of a Belgian father and a German mother who immigrated to the US from Belgium in 1956 when Walter was eleven years old… After having spent his teen years in Southern California, Walter decided to move north to Carmel where he pursued a career in fine arts. Soon after arriving in Carmel, Walter designed a family restaurant, Casanova that would become internationally renowned for its cuisine and style, and its wine cellar… Walter decided to combine his love of fine wines with the challenges and rewards of growing grapes and producing first class wines. In 1981, after consulting with French experts…, he bought a ranch in Carmel Valley and soon planted the grapes that would produce the first crop of Georis wines. The vineyard is located in the mountains of the upper Carmel Valley, California, 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Our 14 acre vineyard is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir grapes. Our terroir is sandy clay loam with gravel and river rocks. Some small vineyard areas include chalky soils.

Beautiful Views at the Georis Tasting Room

“Since 1982, Georis Winery proudly produces a variety of wines exceptional in quality. Georis wines represent authenticity, integrity and a commitment to terroir expressive wines. Our philosophy is to respect European wine-making traditions while embracing the generous California climate of our appellation. Our objective is to craft wines with complexity, elegance and finesse.  Our Estate wines set us apart from other producers. Earthy, opulent and fruit forward, they reveal complex tannin, minerality and dry finish.” www.georiswine.com

2017 Georis Merlot

Georis describes this wine as follows: “Rich and bold yet elegant with sumptuous aromas of mocha, savory chocolate, and black berry fruits. The palate is extremely generous with hints of young berry, black berry, black spices, and silky tannins.” 

 My Review: Ruby/purple in color with plum/blackberry on the nose, brimming with cassis, vanilla and chocolate notes, solid tannins and a cherry finish.   A very delicious, big wine.

Georis has gorgeous, socially-distanced, outdoor settings. Indoor table for better times.

Best place to buy his wines is from his website or at his tasting room. The Georis tasting room is at 1 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village.  Their indoors wine tasting bar and room is very large (for better times). Their outdoor spaces are incredible for significantly socially distance tables for any sized party, even a larger, private event, as appropriate. I would feel very comfortable coming to Georis to do winetasting of his primarily great Merlots. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

© Decanting Monterey 2020

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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