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.
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.”
2017 James Joyce Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito AVA, 14.2% ABV, $30 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec (#20*)
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
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.
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.
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