This is my second of three planned posts on my Spring Release 2021 I Brand wines, with this post focusing on the Le P’tit Paysan label.
But, before we get to them, let’s start with a 2017 P’tit Paysan Viognier (as they say, “vee-oh-NYAY”) which I presented in a recent wine class. Having lived near the Virginia wine region, where Viognier is plentiful, I have been impressed over the years with Le P’tit Paysan Viogniers. In my wine class, we were each asked to present a Viognier from anywhere. In our class we learned about wines from Argentina, France, California, Maryland, Virginia and Washington State!
In addition to the 2017 Viognier, I am highlighting 3 Le P’tit Paysan wines from the I Brand Spring 2021 Club Release, which I sampled at their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village.
Colorfully-labeled Le P’tit Paysan wines sampled in early March at the I Brand Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village
About Le P’tit Paysan (I Brand’s French country-imspired brand from the label: “Le P’tit Paysan – a country man or woman; peasant; clown; in country fashion. We select grapes from vineyards off the beaten path to produce wines that express the soil, climate and character of their source.”
2017 Le P’tit Paysan Viognier “L’Apiculteur”, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Montery County, 13.4% ABV, $22 (#276*)
“L’Apitculteur” from the P’tit Paysan 2017 Viognier Tech Sheet
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: ““L’Apitculteur” translates, “keeper of the bees”. Vibrant aromatics fill the nose with white floral qualities. Honeyed stone-fruits fill the mouth, apricots, peaches and pears. Cooler growing climate produces white floral components, and soft minerality. Med-full bodied weight on the palate, supports a perception of sweetness, due to clean fruit and honeyed characteristics.”
My Review: Straw yellow in color. Yummy boquet of sweet peach, grapefruit and gardenia. Crisp on the palate, delicious, not sweet, with a slight citrus bitterness and perhaps some lavender on the palate. Complex. March 2021
2020 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.8% ABV, $19 (#277*)75% Mourvèdre, 18% Grenache, 7% Cinsault
Le P’tit Paysan Pierre’s Pirouette is always one of my favorite rosés from the Central Coast!
From their webpage: “Our Rosé is a choice blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault. These vineyards are intentionally picked for their rocky & sandy soils which drive up the minerality and keep a balanced bright acidity. A perfect summer sipper with hints of strawberry, orange peel and a subtle spice. Undertone of crushed rock, sea spray and jasmine complete this complex but easy to drink wine. Pairs well with good friends and bonfires on the beach.”
My Review: Dusty rose in color. Peachy watermelon on the nose. Round flavors on the palate – Mourvèdre dominating. A touch of sweetness and gentle tobacco on the lingering finish. Agree with rose petal in the winery’s description! March 2021
2018 Le P’tit Paysan P’tit Pape Red Rhone Blend, Central Coast, 13.4% ABV, $22 (#278*) 52% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre
The 2018 P’tit Pape might be my favorite vintage of this blend yet!
Winery Tasting Notes: “dark cherry, cocoa, stewed plums, white pepper”
My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Chocolate raspberry truffle on the nose. A richer palate of dark cherry and black currant, with rose petal and cherry on the finish. This could be my favorite P’tit Pape yet! I am hoping to showcase this wine in an upcoming Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar class. March 2021
2018 Le P’tit Paysan Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito County, 12.9% ABV, $25 (#279*)
The grapes for this Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon were sourced from nearby San Benito County.
Winery Tasting Notes: “currant, blueberry, cracked black pepper, medium-bodied”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. A light, smooth bouquet and palate to match. Very drinkable – not a big wine, but a great value and drinkable now! March 2021
When my Spring Club Release became available for pickup, I contacted the I Brand tasting room to find a day I could stop by for a quiet, isolated outdoor tasting to taste their new releases. In addition to tasting those wines in early March, we have opened several other Ian Brand wines at home in 2021. I’ll be presenting all of them in 3 separate posts by label: La Marea, Le P’tit Paysan, and I. Brand & Family. Today’s post is about three La Marea wines, Ian Brand’s label for his Spanish-inspired wines.
More About La Marea from the Winery: “La Marea, (Spanish for “The Tide”), made by Ian Brand of Le P’tit Paysan, is a tiny winery focused on single vineyard Spanish varietals “rooted in the sea, the soil and the sea air”. Brand believes Monterey and San Benito to be some of the most ideally suited climates in California for Spanish varietals like Albariño, Grenache (Garnacha) and Mourvedre (Monastrell). The proximity to the cool ocean waters Monterey Bay provides an optimal climate for Albarino while the warmer San Antonio and San Benito Valleys closely resemble the Spanish regions where these grapes thrive. This region, once the site of a shallow ocean bed millions of years ago, is one of the few spots in California with a high percentage of limestone found in the soil which gives the wines a high naturally acidity. As with his P’tit Paysan wines, Brand works with fruit harvested at lower Brix, ferments using a combination of native and cultured yeast, and favors neutral oak.”
2020 La Marea Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey AVA, 11.9% ABV, $24 (#269*)
“The Kristy Vineyard grows on the western bench over the Salinas River on the broken sediment of ancient sea beds where it is exposed to the consistent cooling winds off the Monterey Bay. Kristy is a special because Albariño in the vineyard reaches full phenological ripeness at low potential alcohol and bright natural acidity later in the season. Usually picked between 20-22 Brix with a sub 3 PH and nearly 9 g/L TA. Whole cluster pressed and cold fermented to preserve aromatics and freshness. Secondary fermentation is arrested.” La Marea
My Review: Pale yellow in color, fragrant Gardenia, grapefruit and lemon curd on the nose. Vibrant acidity on the flavorful palate of sweet grapefruit, with a lingering lemony finish. March 2021
2016 La Marea Grenache Spur Ranch, San Benito County, 13% ABV, $20? (#270*)
“Spur Ranch Vineyard is part of an 11,000 acre ranch located at a 1000 foot elevation with a fifteen degree south facing slope on the south side of Chalone peak. The soils are high-calcareous content clay over the same mica shist substrate that dominates the Chalone appellation. Fermented whole berry with a small percentage of whole cluster with both native and selected yeast strains. Aged in 100% neutral barrels for 11 months. 135 cs produced.” La Marea
Winery Tasting Notes: “Beautiful and bright representation. Profile firmly representative of its unique micro-climate terroir. Cooler region, allows peak levels of ripeness, while also obtaining low alcohol levels. Freshness, purity of fruit and an elegant, silky style. Endless layers of red fruits fill the nose. On the palate, acid leads, allowing bright red fruits, strawberries, cherries and raspberries to pop with a beam of minerality. Green anise and fennel appear, while the red fruits maintain palate saturation.” 124 cases produced.
My Review: Translucent light cherry in color. Light cherry on the nose, a slight bit of vinegar. Very light on the palate, refreshing, almost as light as a rosé! After opening up, flavors became a little more complex. January 2021
2018 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast, 13.6% ABV, $30* (#271*)
The grapes for this “Central Coast” wine were sourced from San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Clara Counties.
Winery Tasting Notes: A traditional Spanish Grenache – “red plums, damp earth, baking spice, subtle complexity”
My Review: Bright, transluscent cherry. Sweet raspberry on the nose, very smooth red currant on the palate, lingering light licorice flavors. March 2021
*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 presented Ian Brand’s wines to you in 4 previous posts (you can find them all with a simple search on “Ian Brand”) including one specifically on a P’tit Paysan wine here: https://decantingmonterey.com/ptit-paysan-creates-a-2019-zabala-vineyard-sauvignon-blanc/. We’ve tasted quite a few over the many months of the Pandemic and have consolidated 5 of them here! The P’tit Paysan wines are the ones that first made us fans of Ian’s wines – affordable, quality wines with amusing labels drawn by his nephew!
The I Brand & Family tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for wine sales and pick-ups!
About P’tit Paysan from K&L Wine Merchants : “Winemaker Ian Brand moved to California to pursue a life of surfing, but quickly got bitten by the wine bug. He is a bit of a rebel, and the purpose of the P’tit Paysan project is to present simple, unpretentious “country” wines. In reality these simple wines come from some unique vineyard sites that Ian has sniffed out in the backcountry of Monterey and the surrounding area. Most of these vineyards exhibit very poor soils, in harsh conditions just on the edge of farmlands. The struggle these vines must face makes for intense fruit.” Because of he sources grapes from across the region, many of his wines carry the “Central Coast” label. I have 5 of his Le P’tit Paysan wines to present to you today.
2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#25*)
It was a rare summery day, reaching over 70 degrees in our little coastal town where temperatures often hover in the 55-65 degrees range. We spent a good chunk of the afternoon enjoying the backyard, eating lunch on the patio, swimming and even sunbathing. It felt like we were at a resort and it called for a “pool wine.” But we got something MUCH better!
Winemaker’s Notes from wine.com: “Made from Grenache and Mourvédre grown in Spur Ranch’s limestone-rich clays and Grenache and Cinsault from the granitic bluffs above the Arroyo Seco River. Picked below 22 brix, with bright natural acidity. Fermented in several lots with some native and some cultured yeasts.” Because grapes are sourced from Monterey County’s Chalone and Arroyo Seco AVAs, this wine earns the “Central Coast” label. 61% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, 5% Cinsault
wine.com Review – 92 points: “It seems lately that Rosés aka Pink Wines are a dime a dozen. The omnipresence has my palate spinning. Fortunately, a few folks are producing some astonishingly beautiful efforts. The 2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé is one of the marketplace’s best efforts. TASTING NOTES: This is a pert little gem with a refreshingly delicious and crisp aftertaste. Its aromas and flavors of bright red fruit fly throughout the wine. Pair it with a chicken salad with slivers of strawberries and toasted sesame seeds.” Wilfred Wong March 2019
My Review: I presented an earlier vintage of this wine to the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar – and this one would be equally worthy – perhaps my favorite rosé of the vintage from the region. It has a fragrant bouquet of rose and gardenia. Keeping sugars in check, this wine is refreshing and balanced, pleasant and crisp – not sweet and not too dry. A bit of bitters on the finish. This is a keeper – highly recommend. April 2020
2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#33*)
No, no, the label was fine. This bottle spent time in an ice bucket!
We had a warm day – one of the warmest and sunniest this spring – short sleeves and sleeveless tops. And a virtual happy hour with our favorite East Coast friends. This called for another rosé! I told my good friend Randy that I needed his nose for my wine blog and he offered to virtually smell the wine – we held the glass of wine near our computer camera – he picked up strawberry and watermelon. Yeah, no, but it was good for a laugh. Yes, this is what it has come to.
Winemaker Notes from wine.com : “The Mourvedre from the Le P’tit Paysan Rose is from two vineyards, one in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Gilroy (rocky, alluvial soils), the other is Spur Ranch in San Benito (limestone). The Grenache is from Arroyo Seco (granite), as is the Cinsault. Monterey/San Benito/Santa Clara Counties.” 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 18% Cinsault
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points : “Fresh aromas of rose petal, watermelon, bubblegum and squeezed lime show on the nose of this pink blend of 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache and 18% Cinsault. There’s a great sizzle to the sip, where a crushed seashell minerality wraps up flavors of light orange and delicate strawberry.” Matt Kettmann September 2020
My Review: This newly-released 2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé has a lovely pale peach, pink color. It is higher in Cinsault than the previous vintage, with peach and pineapple on the nose. It is crisp and light, with the Mourvèdre shining through. Very enjoyable. I might prefer the 2018, but would have to try them side by side to know for sure. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, 13.4% ABV, $25* (#14*)
According to www.sommselect.com, the P’tit Paysan 2016 is California Cabernet “at its most balanced, bursting with finesse and freshness, which instantly makes it eye candy for lovers of classic Bordeaux… You will not find another California Cabernet that delivers this much at such a low price, so don’t miss out…The grapes underwent a long, cool, whole-berry fermentation in separate lots before blending and aging for one year in neutral French barrels. The wine was bottled without filtration.” 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Warm aromas of baked red cherry and caramel grow more complex due to a gravelly minerality and hints of peppercorns on the nose of this bottling by Ian Brand. The palate leads with oregano and pepper, those spices overwhelming the fruit, and the rocky minerality continues, leading into a cocoa-laced finish. It is a lithe and lively style of Cab.” Matt Kettmann June 2018
Good luck finding any. But, if you do, drink now through 2026. Heck, drink now. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Le P’tit Pape, Central Coast, 13.17% ABV, $22 (#37*)
Another beautiful day in isolation – and another Ian Brand Le P’tit Paysan wine. We like these wines as every day drinking – such affordable, high quality, food wines. We have been particularly fond of his Rhône blend “Le P’tit Pape” over the years. As with the red blends from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine is based on Rhône varietals and, primarily, Grenache. This was the wine which originally drew us to Ian Brand’s wines – our first favorite of his many wines.
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Ian Brand’s flagship bottling just keeps getting better, yet stays reasonably priced. Light in the glass, this blend of 65% Grenache, 26% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre and 2% Counoise offers lovely aromas of strawberry, red plum, white pepper, wild tomato and forest floor. It’s taut in texture on the sip, holding cranberry and strawberry flavors in check, as dried sagebrush carries through the finish.” Matt Kettmann March 2019
My Review: The 2016 Le P’tit Pape appears table grape red in the glass, light-to-medium bodied with raspberry and cherry, very smooth and refreshing. May 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Cherry blossoms, dusty road, red plums, herb de Provence. Rosewater and red cherry on the palate, nimble with medium body. Grippy finish with firm Grenache tannins and hints of olive and sagebrush.”
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Clean raspberry and strawberry aromas are lifted by a pinch of pepper and fresh marjoram on the nose of this blend of 57% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Counoise. Tart cranberry and strawberry flavors are quite fresh on the palate, but there are also savory hints of meat and white pepper.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: Transluscent medium red with a berry nose. Cherry on the palate, followed by cassis, currant and tobacco on the finish. This wine is representative of how creative sourcing can lead to a very nice, everyday wine at a great value. We recently tasted this wine again – it was a enjoyable break from the super big reds we mostly drink. I appreciated it so much! September 2020
I Brand is closed for tastings due to the Stay-at-Home order but open for wine pickups – email them at HELLO@IBRANDWINERY.COM to order wines. I just heard the 2019 rose is on sale – so contact the winery quickly if you want to get some before it sells out!
*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.
Everyone raves about the short ribs at Poppy Hall in Pacific Grove and one Saturday in June we decided to takeout short ribs. I noticed this $20 Cabernet Franc in the window and decided to try it. What a pleasant surprise!
About Madeleine Wines: “Madeleine was born in Belgium on March 6, 1911. Daughter of a wine merchant, she grew up developing her palate. Her whole life, she collected bottles that she would share with friends. Among them were my parents, and as a boy I had my first sip. In 2005, the first vintage of Madeleine was produced, a tribute to her life and gratitude for her inspiration.” I am presuming this is Damien Georis speaking, also the winemaker at Georis and no relation to Walter Georis – even though they come from the same small home town in Belgium! This wine is produced at Georis’ winery.
2016 Madeleine Maddie Red Wine, Central Coast, 13.5% ABV, $20 (#71*)
Deliciously paired with Poppy Hall Short Ribs!
From the Bottle: “Crafted in the “Loire Valley” style, that will perfectly complement your everyday meal. Un vin de table pour un Plaisir quotidien!”
From the Winemaker: “Opens up with scents of cherry, black olive, leather and truffle. The fruits are ripe and the mouth is full with medium tannins. The finish is dry, chalky and lingering with nuances of thyme and sage. 275 cases produced.
Review from Brix and Barrel, “This Cab Franc will remind you of cherries and truffles when it hits your nose, and the tasting notes have ripe fruit with an amazing dry finish…A lighter-bodied Cab Franc, Strawberry, and some acidity. It was aged in neutral oak, so it will be a brighter red wine that pairs great with food.”
My Review: This is a lighter red in color/density compared to the huge Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux wines we usually consume. Has a dark fruit bouquet with a touch of tobacco. Cherry and raspberry on the palate, very smooth and delicious. We decanted this wine just before consumption. Our daughter liked this wine and it paired nicely with our short ribs. I like this better than other Central Coast Cabernet Francs made in the Loire style.
Available from the winery’s webpage and at Poppy Hall for $20.
*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.
One of my local friends says she loves the Hahn GSM, which she buys at our local market, Andronico’s. We like Hahn wines and featured their SLH Pinot Noir in my Fall 2019 Northern Virginia AWS class. While we tend to avoid the widely-marketed, mass-produced wines, I wanted to give this one a try. This is another Central Coast-designated wine.
Their Estate tasting room is located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands.
From www.hahnwines.com : “Our founder, Nicky Hahn, grew up speaking German. In his native language, the word ‘Hahn’ means rooster, which is why a depiction of this bird has always graced the label of our Hahn wines. From the beginning, Nicky strove to produce exceptional varietal wines from Monterey County where Hahn’s vineyards and winery are located. (My note: The Hahns played a key role in getting the SLH AVA established in 1991.)
“This assemblage of classically-styled varietal wines—along with our GSM Rhone-inspired blend—are now under the care of second-generation vintner Philip Hahn, who proudly carries on his father’s legacy. Vintage after vintage, we style our Hahn wines to be fruit-forward, balanced and supple. Our vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco AVAs are a significant source of fruit for these wines.”
Hahn 2018 GSM, Central Coast, 14.5% ABV, $15* (#43)
A Wine Enthusiast Top Best Buy in 2020!
About the GSM from Hahn Wines: “Inspired by the Rhône blends of Southern France, our GSM combines the character of each component into rich layers of flavors and textures. Bright, fruity Grenache grown in Arroyo Seco contributes raspberry, strawberry and cherry flavors, while Syrah from the Santa Lucia Highlands lends color, tannins and hints of blueberry and black pepper. A small amount of Mourvèdre contributes richness to the mid-palate and lengthens the dry finish.”
Winemaker’s Notes (same link above): “Enticing aromas of strawberry, black cherry, white pepper and cinnamon. On the palate, notes of raspberry, a hint of cinnamon spice, along with strawberry and black cherry. Finishing with a smooth and luscious mouthfeel.”
Wine Enthusiast Review – 90 Points and #43 of Top 100 Best Buys in 2020: “Aromas of dark red berry and crumpled hibiscus make for a delicious entry to the nose of this blend of 69% Grenache, 29% Syrah and 2% Mourvèdre. The palate is lively in acidity and texturally engaging, carrying flavors of dark berry, licorice and star anise.” Matt Kettmann, 11/2020
My Review: Deep red in color, with a mellow berry and currant on the nose. Smooth cherry and cedar on the palate, with a slightly leathery, tobacco finish. This opened up to be a very drinkable and enjoyable wine. It is such a great value and taste – hard to believe such a great wine came from my grocery store.
I purchased this for $11 at Andronico’s. You can find some Hahn wines at Pearson’s in Washington DC.
Hahn Tasting Rooms are located a their estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, as well as in Carmel Plaza. They are open by reservation only – you can find 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.
I mentioned previously that I took some of my new girlfriends to Hollister in San Benito County to explore their wines back in August 2019. The drive out was on a rough and windy road (funny, we don’t remember that coming back…). We started out at Calera, where we had our picnic lunches outside in 90-degree heat (really sweltering for us Central Coast gals). The wines were presented in flight stemware servers. The wines were great and the experience, special!
We enjoyed our August 2019 visit to Calera – for most of us, our first exposure to their wines.
Calera, part of the Duckhorn family of wines, is known primary for its Pinot Noirs from Mt. Harlan, but today’s wine is a Chardonnay, so I am focusing on that story. From www.calerawine.com: “Josh Jensen’s winemaker mentors in Burgundy were adamant that pinot noir and chardonnay must be grown in limestone-rich soils…to make great wines. Upon his return from France in 1971 he spent two years searching throughout California to find limestone…In early 1974, Josh Jensen purchased a high-elevation parcel with a limestone deposit of several million tons. Located 100 miles south of San Francisco and about 37 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the limestone-rich parcel is found near Mt. Harlan in San Benito County. Its elevation at 2,200 feet above sea level makes it one of the highest and coolest vineyard properties in California.” “Calera” is the Spanish word for “limekiln.”
Calera 2016 Chardonnay, Central Coast, 14.2% ABV, $25 (#64*)
The 2016 Chardonnay: golden in color, with aromas of peach and pear, and pineapple notes.
About the 2016 vintage: “After five years of drought, we welcomed a return to normal winter rainfall in 2016…After a warm spring led to an early budbreak, summer seemed to arrive quickly on the Central Coast. While, we had abundant warmth in July and August, cool evenings allowed the grapes to mature perfectly, and harvest commenced in mid-August. While the grapes were small and dense, good-sized clusters delivered yields close to our annual averages…”
The 2016 Chardonnay is truly a “Central Coast” wine.
The Calera 2016 Central Coast Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay, aged 10 months in 90% neutral French oak. The grapes come from San Benito, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties, making it truly “Central Coast.” From the winemaker: “Vibrant and inviting, this wine captures the essence of Chardonnay grown on the cool, windswept Central Coast. Aromas of jasmine, vanilla bean and passion fruit rise from the glass revealing this wine’s youthful charm. On the beautifully fruit-driven palate, layers of green apple, grapefruit and pineapple are framed by subtle oak and a refreshing acidity that carry the flavors to a bright, focused finish.”
Wine Enthusiast Review – 91 points: “The nose of this wine is sharp and precise in tones of chalk, tangerine cream, dried lemon and crushed nuts. There’s a strong mineral quality through the entire palate that accents flavors of lemon juice and yellow pear.” MATT KETTMANN
My Review: The wine is a golden color, with aromas of peach and pear, and pineapple notes. It is a big, delicious, mouthfilling, a little bit oaky Chardonnay, with a little bitter lemon-lime on the finish. We enjoyed this Chardonnay very much, both back at last August’s tasting and during our Shelter-in-Place. This is a keeper.
You can purchase the current vintage (2018) for $25 on their webpage 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.
We stopped in at Joyce Vineyards’ tasting room in December 2019 on a hunt for a Merlot for my next class. I stumbled upon a great deal for their James Joyce Merlot, as well as the 2017 Cabernet. We lucked into some specials for both of these wines. James is winemaker Russell Joyce’s middle name – they produced both a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with their sideways label – the label is literally sideways and a bit of a play on the movie, “Sideways.” Watch them for different Bordeaux blends, depending on yield, especially from their tiny Carmel Valley Estate Vineyard.
These December 2019 prices were bargains for such nice quality wines.
About Joyce Wine Company: “Joyce Wine Company is the result of family interest in Monterey Country’s diverse terroir. With minimalistic cellar practices and on-site production, our goal is to produce wines with balance, finesse and focus while exploring the endless potential of the coastal terroir in Monterey County…Joyce Vineyards began as a chance planting by Francis Joyce in 1989 on a steep hillside in Carmel Valley. Joyce Wine Company now tells the stories of Monterey County’s unique terroir through Francis’ son Russell Joyce, a second generation winemaker who grew up working amongst the vines at the family’s estate. Russell showcases the area’s premier AVAs in a classic and minimal approach to winemaking. He utilizes this approach to create wines of purity and elegance while focusing on the local varietals grown in Monterey County and its surroundings.”
Joyce Wine Company produces about 8,000 cases annually in the same Salinas industrial park as Ian Brand, and sources grapes from some of our best known vineyards across the Central Coast, primarily Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, and San Benito AVAs.
“San Benito County lies along the San Andreas Fault just beneath the Gabilan Mountain Range; neighboring Monterey County. The calcareous soils combined with warm days and mild nights provide the ideal growing conditions for Bordeaux varietals. The Teague Vineyard uses minimal irrigation, producing grapes with great intensity and concentration.”
The distinctive “Sideways” label for their 2017 James Joyce Cabernet!
Winemaker Notes (website): The 2017 James Joyce Cabernet comes from the Teague Vineyard, planted against the Diablo Mountain Range. The soil is heavy clay and loam. With minimal irrigation, the roots are stressed to dig deep for water. Bordeaux varietals grow well in this climate of warm days and mild nights. For this Cabernet, the “grapes were 100% destemmed and left on the skins with minimal extended maceration 7 days past dryness and full fermentation.” The Cabernet Sauvignon took longer to ferment. “The wine was aged on heavy leas for 16 months and no new French oak was used. Never fined or filtered.” 1000 cases of this wine were produced.
According to www.wine.com, the winemaker described this wine as: “In addition to the blackberry base, minty herbs and leather, this offers a strong woody character and pine needle aromas. The very dry black-currant fruit is awash in flavors of dill, savory black pepper and black olive.”
My Review: “Classic!” my daughter says. This wine is very dark ruby in color, with a mocha-plum nose and a refreshing and smooth plum and cassis on the palate. It is a nice wine one could enjoy every day.
2016 James Joyce Merlot, Central Coast, 13.9% ABV, $25 (181*) 90% Merlot 5% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Cabernet Franc
My DC friends got to enjoy this case of wine I had purchased for my Fall 2020 wine class, indefinitely postponed!
Winemaker’s Notes (condensed from the Tech Sheet): The Merlot grapes were harvested by hand, “…destemmed, and placed in small open top fermenters where they were cold soaked for 4-5 days before fermentation began naturally. Primary fermentation lasted between 14-18 days before the wine was drained and the must gently pressed. The wine was then transferred to 100% neutral French oak barrels where it finished malolactic fermentation. Once this fermentation was completed, a small sulfur addition was made and the wine was left to age sur lie for 16 months before being bottled un-fined and unfiltered.” 850 cases produced.
Tasting Notes from The Cave: “Aromatics: Plum, Black Cherry, Baking Spice. Palate: Lush & Supple, Bright Acidity, Velvety Tannins”
My Review: Deep, rich ruby in color. Cherry and a hint of caramel on the nose. Rich and bright, juicy cherry-berry on the palate, smooth tannins with lingering licorice and a touch of spearmint.
The Joyce Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village is open – make a reservation here.
You can buy Joyce wines from their web site, tasting room, and commercially marketed at www.wine.com and other websites and local markets.
*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.
Now we are going to get outside of Parsonage’s sweet spots of Carmel Valley and Arroyo Seco AVAs by presenting wines labeled “Monterey County” – and even “Central Coast”! This post represents the beginning of our transition outside of Monterey County wines and into San Benito County, specifically to Paicines, which I will describe more in the next blog.
I have 3 red blends for you today. Sadly, two of them are already sold out – we will need to wait for the next vintage to be released!
2017 Parsonage The Aussie Red Wine, 15% ABV, $38 (#15*) 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah
2017 The Aussie was so delicious, I had to go back and buy more.
From the Winemaker: “Our popular, magical blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. We like to pair it with rack of lamb or duck. This is a big red wine.”
My Review: Blueberry, blackberry and earthy, with silky-smooth yet full tannins. An elegantly balanced extended finish. This wine is my kind of wine – I went back and picked up more! Now it appears to be sold out. April 2020
2017 Parsonage Wild Card Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (#85*)
“The Wild Card is a Complexity Bomb.”
From the Winemaker: “This is the tenth iteration of Frank’s wild and crazy idea to make an experimental blend from all of the varietals in our barrels. Forgive my failure to curb my enthusiasm but this 2017 Wild Card red wine is the best one yet!
“Each and every vintage has been fascinating and delicious, but 2017 wins by a landslide. This is the biggest, richest, most fascinating of all of them. As full-bodied as it is, it is still elegantly balanced. The Wild Card is a complexity bomb. Those six components of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Grenache, and Pinot Noir have fused in synergistic harmony to create some serious magic…
“The nose opens with a burst of floral and spice notes, star anise prominent, followed by hints of the full spectrum of red, blue, and black fruit and berries. The mouthfeel is full of texture with fine, ripe, silky tannins. All of the fruit reappears on the palate including red currant, pomegranate, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, and blackberry.
“By patient, vigilant mindfulness I can identify the constituent varietals one by one. Merlot with its foundation of cherry and red currant, Cabernet Sauvignon by its cassis and tannic backbone, Syrah from its savory hint of umami, Petit Verdot with its blueberry and drier finishing tannins, Grenache for its floral and spice notes, and finally, Pinot Noir for its bing cherry, cola and subtle Earl Grey black tea notes.”
My Review: We tasted this wine along with all of the current releases back in June. We found this mélange of both Rhône and Bordeaux varietals to be refreshing. With so many different grapes and flavors, we, however, couldn’t align it to distinct flavors as well as Parsonage could. I was able to re-taste this wine with a friend in October. Ruby in color, raspberry and currant on the nose, cherry and currant on the palate with a nice, lingering finish. My friend enjoyed it so much she took two bottles home!
2017 Parsonage The BDL, Central Coast, 15% ABV, $42 (#173*)
The BDL sold out quickly – by fans who remembered its predecessor!
Winemaker’s Notes: “BDL is shorthand for Bordelais, a wildly popular (but illegally named) wine we produced years ago. This exquisite Bordeaux blend is 52 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 24 percent Merlot, and 8 percent each Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cab Franc. It has all the bells and whistles Bordeaux lovers expect from an elegantly balanced and much more expensive bottle that crosses the Atlantic to get here.” (This wine has some juice from Paicines AVA – I’m guessing the Malbec.) This wine sold out very quickly.
My Review: Very dense dark red in color. Bodacious dark nose – sweet dark cherry and caramel. Rich dark fruit on the palate, with some sweeter bright cherry fruit on the finish, bordering on a port-like finish. Slightly vegetal with a little leather. August 2020
You can obtain the Wild Card and other Parsonage wines directly from the winery here and pick them up at the tasting room or 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.
The Parsonage wine tasting parklet is spacious and the staff, very attentive to CDC protocols.
*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.
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