I hope you enjoyed your holidays and tried some new wines or revisited familiar favorites. I would love to hear from you: Which Central Coast wines did you open over the holidays and how were they? Please comment below!
Our traditional dinner table had far fewer place settings than usual. We also experienced new ways to celebrate – socially distant around a beautiful, warm fire on a chilly Monterey Bay night.
We enjoyed wines from around the world – France, Italy, Washington, Napa, Carmel Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains and Paso Robles.
Here are the Central Coast wines we tasted over the holidays (reviews to come!):
In addition to some of our favorite big reds from Carmel Valley, we branched out and tried some new brands from Paso Robles and the Santa Cruz Mountains!
2011 Bernardus Marinus, Carmel Valley, with our Christmas dinner
2018 Samuel Louis Smith Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains
2007 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley on New Year’s Eve
2006 Bear Cave Cellars Reserve Syrah, Paso Robles, also on New Year’s Eve
And, once again, which Central Coast wines did you open over the holidays – what did you think of them? I look forward to hearing from you!
While Parsonage ingeniously sourced fruit from elsewhere in the aftermath of the 2016 Soberanes Fire, we are glad their 2017 vintages are being released! We tasted these wines at a soft-opening test of their COVID-19 social-distancing procedures back in June 2020.
Parsonage learned a lot from our dry run of their pandemic tasting procedures. Heh.
Parsonage was the winery that showed us Carmel Valley could make the kinds of big reds I love and is the reason I am a Syrah fan these days. In addition to the big Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines and blends, Parsonage makes some delicious, big Pinot Noirs – their Estate Pinot Noir (below) and their reserve “Hawk” Pinot Noir (reviewed here: https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-reserve-wines-my-kind-of-big-reds/).
The Parsonage Estate Pinot Noir – their lightest red – is still a BIG wine!
Winemaker’s Notes: “While this is the lightest red we make, it’s still bigger than your average Pinot Noir. An easy drinker, this wine does not need to be paired with food. But we like it with roast chicken, salmon or even some cheese and crackers. We get ripe cranberry and a hint of Earl Grey tea. Mouth-watering acidity and elegance on the luscious vibrant finish.” This wine spent ~8 months in neutral oak.
My Review: I’m not a big Pinot Noir fan, yet I really enjoy the richer style of Parsonage’s Pinots. Less complex than the “Hawk,” this is a wonderful, enjoyable wine – smooth and delicious fruit on the bouquet and palate, with a little lingering bitterness. June 2020
2017 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $42 (#87*)
So happy to have the estate wines back – the 2017 Syrah!
Winemaker’s Notes: “Big and rich is a great way to describe our 2017 Estate Syrah. Perfect balance and fully ripened tannins allow for a big, beautiful finish without dissonance. The bouquet is a swirl of toasted French oak vanillins that perform an olfactory fakeout with the very ripe Syrah skins that together say caramel mocha. Right behind that is a ripe black raspberry/black currant fusion. All of these aromatics manifest on the palate creating a melange of bittersweet chocolate caramel accented with sea salt (derived from the umami flavor of Parsonage terroir).”
My Review: Deep purple in color. Black cherry on the nose. Palate bursting with black fruit, spice and bay leaves. June 2020
You can obtain these wines directly from Parsonage here and pick them up at the tasting room onr have them shipped to you. Join their wine club for 20% off. You can also visit their tasting room by appointment only in Carmel Valley Village (“the village”) Monday-Friday 12-5 and weekends 11-5. Make a reservation in advance here.
Estate Vines at Parsonage.
*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.
We’ve been trying to get our new friends and COVID wine buddies out to Rombi to taste his incredibly huge and complex Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. And to have that special experience which Sal Rombi provides everyone who comes in to taste his wines. Not only is Sal an expert in winemaking, but also in hospitality. While we haven’t been able to meet up there, we did take our friends a bottle of the 2014 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, which we were able to compare side by side with a Napa Cab! Rombi did not disappoint!
In October, my wine class decided to pay homage to the California wineries besieged by fire and smoke damage. I chose the 2016 Rombi Merlot, as that is a full representation of how the Soberanes Fire affected the Carmel Valley wines. My hat is off to those vintners brave enough to bottle their wines from that vintage – Sal is among the very few.
Damage from the 2020 Carmel Fire provided by Kathy Baker of Rombi Wine.
I wrote about Rombi Wine, reviewed earlier vintages, and a bit about Cachagua in this post: Rombi: Bold, Distinctive Fruit Wrapped in Elegance. His home, winery and estate vineyard, The Carmel Valley Vineyard, are in the heart of Cachagua, where the Carmel Fire recently inflicted damage to so many of our favorite wineries and vineyards. I had the chance to drive way out to Cachagua in late September: a narrow, winding road with lots of blind curves, scorched by the fire. The damage incurred is the kind no one wants to experience. From what I have heard, most of the wineries out there are “OK.” I’ll leave it at OK. Let’s not talk about the 2020 crop.
There was almost a 40-degree difference in temperature from way out there and my little coastal town. 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 district. Much of those grapes are grown in Cachagua.
2014 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (153*)**
This was his 8th year of production. His fruit from this vineyard is so flavorful, creating wines with up-front berry and cherry flavors. Rombi’s wines are very big and complex – highly recommend decanting to get the full fruit flavors.
The Rombi 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon stood up to a Napa Cab, in our August tasting.
My Review: Purple in color, chives/wild garlic and raspberry on the nose. Nice legs. Fruit-forward and full-bodied, brimming with delicious brighter fresh fruit. Sour cherries on first sip. Ripe cherry on the palate, with a hint of mint. And a smooth, pleasant lingering cherry and chocolate finish. Good, my Napa Cab fan says. We went back and forth between this wine and one of his favorite Napa cabs – we liked them equally, yet they were so different in flavors. I’m a huge fan of the Carmel Valley Vineyard’s fruit and think I like this one second best of all his vintages so far (2015 is slightly my favorite with even more jammy, up-front fruit). August 2020
2016 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (154*)**
The Rombi 2016 Merlot has intense fruit flavors enveloped in smoke from the Soberanes Fire.
My better half remembers discussing this vintage – Rombi’s 10th vintage of Merlot – with Sal in the tasting room. They discussed how this would have been his best Merlot yet had it not been for the smoke. As I mentioned in this post https://decantingmonterey.com/where-theres-fire-theres-more-than-smoke-taint/, wines produced from a vintage of fire and smoke can be appreciated in the context of what they are.
There is a good review of this wine here on Vivino.com which highlights this is a big, meaty Merlot. Not sure I am allowed to reproduce it here.
My Review: Thick, dense garnet in the glass. Intense berry and deep smokey plum on the nose. A huge wine of intense dark cherry and cassis enveloped in smoke on the palate and finish. Imagine you are grilling ribs over wood chips, inhaling the smoke from the grill while enjoying a glass of a big Merlot. We decanted this wine, as one always should with a Rombi wine.
The lineup at Rombi’s tasting room.
You can learn more about and purchase his wines online at Rombi Wines. You can also contact Kathy and Sal at kathy@rombiwines.com or sal@rombiwines.com for more information about buying wine. In the aftermath of the Carmel Fire, the tasting room remains closed.
*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.
**I have a standing offer from Sal Rombi to replenish my cellar with any of his wines I review. That’s not why I review his wines. I’ve only “cashed in” that offer once…so far.
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.
2014 Silvestri Estate Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $36
Long ago, we joined Silvestri’s wine club because the Parsonage winemaker, Frank, whose wines we adore, also makes their wines. They have a lovely tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea, which was always a nice experience for us when we were in town. We really enjoyed their Syrahs and Barberas. and kept getting Pinot Noir (not my favorite varietal) in our allocations. When my wine class picked Pinot Noir for class this past week, we hunted in our wine room for our last Silvestri and it was a good one!
Alan Silvestri was a famous movie soundtrack composer of great renown, who moved his family to Carmel in 1989. The Silvestri Vineyard was planted in 2000, with its first harvest in 2003. From Silvestri: “Silvestri Vineyards is located approximately 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean up Carmel Valley. This location is the key element in the terroir of this unique site. During the growing season the cool marine influence on one side and the much warmer inland mountains on the other side subject this spot to daily afternoon winds bringing dramatic temperature drops even on the sunniest days. The tight constriction of the valley at this point creates even greater wind velocities here. The vineyards are on benchlands and hillsides several hundred feet above the valley floor further exposing them to the marine onshore flow. Only cooler climate varieties can be expected to ripen here.
“The very rocky soils are based on a soft shale locally referred to as “chalk rock”. Devigorating rootstocks were selected to advance the harvest date and match differing soil conditions within the vineyard. Varieties were also matched to different soil conditions, sun and wind exposures. All varieties are a mix of three to five different clones originally selected at research stations in France. This was done to take advantage of the earlier ripening characteristics of these selections and to provide a palette of flavors from which to create elegant and complex wines…”
Delicious 2014 Silvestri Estate Pinot Noir – Bursting with Raspberry and Cherry
Winery Notes for the 2014 Silvestri Estate Pinot Noir: “Raspberry and sweet black cherries are the first aromas out of the glass. You then discover hints of vanilla and clove behind them. Roll that around in your mouth and feel the softness that then completes with mild tannins and balancing acidity.” Case production: 838
My Review: The 2014 Silvestri Estate Pinot Noir is cherry red and transluscent. Raspberry and cherry with sweet-tart and vanilla notes on the nose. Slightly sweet upon opening, which dissipated as the wine opened up, this wine bursts with cherry and cassis on the palate with a slightly leathery finish. This is a delicious Pinot Noir for the most discerning palate. July 2020
Check out their website for information on how to order. Their tasting room is currently closed.
One thing I love is an excellent Cabernet Franc. The first place I saw it bottled as a single varietal was in Virginia, of all places. When I stumbled onto Boëté, I couldn’t have been happier. These are my favorite Cabernet Francs in all of Monterey County, done in a sophisticated Bordeaux style.
The highly regarded Saunders Vineyard is right next door to Parsonage in Carmel Valley and, at one time, the two wineries shared a tasting room in a quaint shopping center as you head into the valley. They make their big red wines from estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from their 7 acres of grapes.
The Lovely Boëté Winery in Carmel Valley – photo courtesy of Boëté
Some background on Boëté quoted from their website here : “In the early 80’s John Saunders made wine at his Soledad Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands. At first making wine was a hobby and when his wines became popular with many of his friends in the restaurant industry, he decided to create a winery. In 1994, John and his wife Jana traded their 250-acre citrus orchard in Soledad California for 15 acres in Carmel Valley; land that had gone uncultivated due to lack of water. The first water well John drilled had gushed enough water to irrigate his vineyard forever. In early spring 1997, they planted their first vineyard on their sun-drenched hillside…
“The result is the Saunders Vineyard and his own label, Boete (Bwah-tay). The secret of the wine, Saunders says, is in the quality of the grapes, and old world wine making techniques that utilize French Oak barrels…Today, more than 6,000 grapevines grow on 7 acres, producing fruit that is widely regarded as some of California’s best.”
WineEnthusiast rated the 2013 Reserve Cabernet Franc Reserve 91 points. “This bottling from a winery whose owners are originally from Brittany shows peppery spice, tart red fruit, rose petal and lava rock scents on the nose. The flavors range widely from white pepper and dill to fresh-pressed strawberry and red plum, with a slight hint of caramel. Varietally pure and very fresh.” Matt Kettmann, July 2017
My Review: While Cabernet Franc is typically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in Bordeaux blends, we enjoy this as a single varietal. This one is definitely a bigger Bordeaux-styled Cabernet Franc vs. the leaner Loire Valley Chinon style. We found this wine to be just about perfect – jammy dark fruit on the nose, a rich mouthfeel of deliciousness on the palate, with an ever so slightly darker, just barely cooked fruit on the finish, ever so slightly tannic.
2017 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc: Leather, Cherry and Vanilla Bean
WineEnthusiast rated the 2017 wine 91 points: “Deep and dark in the glass, this bottling from a vineyard just a mile east of Carmel Valley village shows rich aromas of black currant yet with a spicy licorice kick. That licorice and dark-berry combination soars on the palate as well, proving both hearty yet still offering the grape’s inherent spice.” Matt Kettmann 7/1/2020
My Review: Bright red in color, we detected smoke, leather and sweetness on the nose. Cherry and vanilla bean on the palate. This is an amazing Cab Franc done in a big California style. My favorite Monterey County Cabernet Franc. This is their current release.
You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here. As of this writing, they are not doing tastings at the winery.
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.
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.
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
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.
2014 Joullian Vineyards Retro Rouge Red Wine Blend, Carmel Valley AVA, $25, 13.3% ABV: 48% Merlot, 21% Zinfandel, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2 % Muscat Hamburg.
We have been visiting Joullian Vineyards since our early days exploring wines in Carmel Valley Village. Its tasting room is in a lovely stone building which looks a bit more like an old church than a wine tasting room. They were one of our early favorites for unique Semillon blends and Zinfandels, a rare find in the valley.
Joullian’s Tasting Room at 2 Village Drive is open – reservations required!
This is another Cachagua winery! Distilled from Joullian’s webpage: In 1982, Joullian Vineyards, Ltd. purchased 655 acres of hillside benchland at an elevation of 1400 feet, in the heart of the remote Carmel Valley AVA. 40 acres were planted to Bordeaux varietals in the rocky Arroyo Seco series loam…plus Carmel Valley’s first Zinfandel! The rest of the vineyard was grafted in the 90’s to pre-Prohibition Zinfandel selections, sourcing clones from reputed sources such as Mount Veeder, 3 Palms, Diamond Mountain, Sterling, Ventana, Brandlin, St. Peter’s Church and Lytton Springs.
In their tasting room many years ago, we discovered the Retro Rouge. Joullian’s winemaker based this kitchen sink blend off the style of wine he enjoys. Initially, it was house blend for his private consumption only until he began sharing a few bottles with Wine Club members. Back then, it was a nonvintage blend, but now it depicts a specific vintage. And from time to time, I have stumbled into a reduced case price, helpful for my volunteer wine education efforts. A great red blend at a discount from Carmel Valley? I’m all in. Even at the $25 list price, it is an exceptional value for such a great tasting red blend from Carmel Valley and there is plenty 2014 left, last I checked about 6 months ago.
2014 Joullian Vineyards Retro Rouge
A few years back, I showcased a nonvintage bottle at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar (WWCS) in Washington, DC. Last Fall, I included this 2014 vintage as part of my Northern Virginia AWS class. It was slated be in my upcoming WWCS class, but that is scrubbed due to COVID-19. Sigh.
Joullian’s winemaker’s notes: “Deep ruby color that continues all the way to the edges. Fresh plums, cola and rhubarb pop on the nose. It jumps back and forth between its Bordeaux and Zinfandel base. Soft and velvety at first, then a burst of dried fruit, leather and bright acidity through the finish. Somewhat waxy, lingering flavors of white pepper spice and black cherry. A wonderful, everyday drinker with or without food.” Aged 12-36 months in Center of France oak barrels. Winner of the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Award.
My review: Brilliant dark cherry/garnet color. A sweetness and smoothness on the nose of mocha, blueberry, dark plum and spice. Upon opening: deep fruit, spice and leather on the palate. After it opened up, round and juicy on the palate with a blackberry, cherry, cassis finish. Great food wine.
You can buy this wine and other Joullian wines on the winery’s webpage. As of this writing, you can also find 12 bottles of it at the Accidental Wine Company for $15.99. And I have 12 bottles parked in DC…
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.
As I started to write my first blog posts, I realized, if I am going to do a Real Wine Blog, that I need a lot more photos. It’s been kind of overcast and cool in Pacific Grove, day after day. Last weekend, I decided I would drive out to Carmel Valley Village where I would be sure to find some warmth and sunshine and could take some pictures of the tasting rooms. I was able to check out their outdoor wine tasting venues, as that’s what’s permitted here in Monterey County as of this writing. A nice warm sunny day, lots of wine flowing everywhere. Except to me – I was on a mission!
I parked in front of the former location of Mercy’s tasting room and set out on foot. (I miss Mercy so much.) The tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village are easily walk-able, unless you are intending to buy a lot of wine! As you go through this list, please remember we are living in a very fluid situation right now. If you are planning a wine tasting visit, the best option is to review the winery’s web page to see if they are open and if you need a reservation. Safety is the most important feature of each of these venues.
I began my trip with Massa Estate, 69 W. Carmel Valley Road, as it was where we started our Monterey County wine exploration way back when. It is the first tasting room as you enter the village. The owner, Laurie Massa, welcomed me in, showed me their tasting list, and allowed me to take photos of their outdoor space. Massa has an incredible outdoor space to not only taste wine, but also for food. Local Chef Michael Jones is here with a very special menu – you can taste the wines and order a meal – or carry one out. So many cute, outdoor tables with umbrellas – it’s just adorable here. In addition, there’s croquet in the front lawn so you can come, play, and relax. Open Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Massa Estate has a cute, fun, yet elegant outdoor space.
The next winery I went to was Georis, 1 Pilot Road. We’ve always had a fondness for the brand, as Gaston Georis (Walter’s brother) once taught my husband French! 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 primarily his great Merlots. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Georis has the largest outdoor space with distanced tables, and a vineyard setting.
Then I walked over to Seabold, 2 Pilot Road. I am not yet familiar with Seabold, so it was a good way to meet them and see their outdoor spaces. They have smaller outdoor tables as well as big picnic benches and the occasional late afternoon music. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Seabold: Great space and some music, too!
Cowgirl Winery, 26 Pilot Road, has incredible outdoor space for wine tasting and fun – open 11:30-5 daily. (Sorry, I didn’t make it there to get pictures.)
Even though their wines come from elsewhere, I include Twisted Roots in my blog because of their tasting room location at 12 Del Fino Place (oh, and we enjoy their great wines). They also have a nice outdoor setup on the side of their building open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m. Reservations suggested.
Twisted Roots has an excellent, quiet outdoor space for wine tasting!
I walked by Bunter Spring at 9 Del Fino Place, which is not doing public tastings until further notice. Mark Bunter told me he is doing pickups by appointment, free local delivery, 20% off any six bottles, 25% off twelve bottles, and half-price shipping to CA, DC and FL only.
Bunter Spring is closed for tastings and Idle Hour is moving down the street!
Idle Hour right next door had a big sign saying they were moving in with Big Sur Vineyard’s tasting room at the end of the street. That was welcome news to me, as collocation with Big Sur will probably result in a more constant presence than the out-of-town Idle Hour could always provide.
Big Sur Vineyards at 1 Del Fino Place was setting up as I dropped by. Owner Lenora Carey showed me something really cool they are using for their outdoor wine tastings – wine vials that look like big test tubes called “taste tubes!” Customers receive the flight of wines in a tube rack and pour their own when ready, improving social distancing during the tasting. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Big Sur Vineyards is using these cool “Taste Tubes” for a more touch-free experience!
Joullian, 2 Village Drive, is open daily 12-4 p.m. – reservations required. They had a couple of small tables visible on their front patio.
Bernardus is still closed for in-person wine experiences due to their current focus on wine production and some virtual wine tastings.
Boekenoogen, 24 W. Carmel Valley Road, has an incredible outdoor patio, so their transition to outdoor operations was very easy. They are open daily, 12-5 p.m.
The lovely patio was occupied, so photos will have to wait.
I’d been talking to Rombi Wines, 1 Center Street, which, like the rest of the wineries, had just set it all up for indoor operations when the order came down to move things outside. Sal Rombi was able to create a relaxing, quiet spot to taste his big wines just in front of his tasting room. Open Saturday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Rombi’s first outdoor tasting guests!
Joyce, 1 E. Carmel Valley Road, has a nice outdoor space and some great wine sales. Reservations preferred; weekends also first come, first served. Wednesday-Friday 12-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Over to Albatross Ridge, 9 E. Carmel Valley Road, which showed me their outdoor space behind their tasting room – a lovely space with plenty of tables. Sunday-Thursday 12-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12-8 p.m. Reservations preferred. They are open in Carmel-by-the-Sea, as well.
Finally, a very short walk over to the old White Oak shopping center at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road, where the rest of these tasting rooms can be found:
We were invited several weeks ago by Parsonage to help them test-drive their indoor wine tasting procedures (they learned a lot from our visit, as we tasted EVERY wine!) – only to have to revamp their procedures and space for outdoor operations. They have built a parklet and are able to serve several tables outdoors. Reservation required. Thursday-Monday 12-5 p.m.
Parklet photo courtesy of Parsonage – very clever!
Rexford Winery tasting room is closed. For a limited time, they are offering complimentary shipping on new orders of 3 or more bottles. Chesebro tasting room was likewise closed.
Windy Oaks is using a couple of small tables in front of its tasting room for outdoor operations. The staff is very welcoming. According to their website, the Carmel Valley tasting room is open Friday-Tuesday 12-5:30 – reservations recommended. Their Carmel-by-the-Sea location is open for limited tastings Wednesday-Monday 12-6 p.m. by reservation.
I Brand also has some small outdoor tables and is open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 and by reservation.
These wineries are so happy to be sharing their wines with you. I hope, if you get a chance, that you will get out to the valley and try some yourself. Check to see if they require a reservation and confirm they are open. It all looked good to me! Come on out, give it a shot come out and support your local vintners.
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