Tagged: Chalone AVA

Melon de Bourgogne: Daring to be Different with a Mixed Up Varietal!

When we got one of our I Brand shipments, we noted something different, a Melon de Bourgogne!  What the heck is that and why is Ian making it? 

About Melon de Bourgogne from wine.com: “Made famous in Muscadet, a gently rolling, Atlantic-dominated countryside on the eastern edge of the Loire, Melon de Bourgogne is actually the most planted grape variety in the Loire Valley. But the best comes from Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, a subzone of Pays Nantais. Somm Secret—The wine called Muscadet may sound suggestive of “muscat,” but Melon de Bourgogne is not related. Its name also suggests origins in Burgundy, which it has, but was continuously outlawed there, like Gamay, during the 16th and 17th centuries.”

For more information on the growing popularity on the West Coast of Melon de Bourgogne, I found this excellent article:  https://daily.sevenfifty.com/why-american-winemakers-are-embracing-melon-de-bourgogne/. This article highlights that the original grapes planted in Oregon were mislabeled as Pinot Blanc and this mislabeling spread as the grapes did down into California, including in the Chalone AVA!

About the Chalone AVA from https://montereywines.org/vineyards/avas/: “The Chalone region is nestled at 1,800 feet in elevation in the central part of the Gavilan Mountain Range – set against the dramatic backdrop of Pinnacles National Monument. This region has a long history of grape growing, dating back to 1919. Here are found the oldest producing vines in Monterey County. Chalone was awarded its own AVA designation in 1982. Because of its elevation in the mountain range, Chalone is truly unique among Monterey County’s appellations.”

The Chalone AVA is located in an isolated spot in the Gavilan Mountains, along the border between Monterey and San Benito Counties.

Graff Family Vineyard is “a small family vineyard on the Chalone Bench of the Gavilan Mountains. Our family has a 50 year history of winemaking in the Chalone Appellation.” If you look at the map, it appears to be smack in the middle of the Chalone Vineyard!

2019 I Brand & Family Melon de Bourgogne, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, 11.2% ABV (#350*)

This wine boasts CA Hwy 146 on its label. 146 runs to the east of Chalone in both Monterey and San Benito Counties, leading into Pinnacles National Park.

Winemaker’s Notes: “…  because Chalone is nothing like Muscadet, we weren’t at all trying to reference Melon’s home turf. We made this wine with 5 days on skins, then barrel fermented and aged on lees for seven months. Due to the terroir and the skin, it’s decidedly broader than typical Muscadets, but has a subtle brawniness that I enjoy…” (found on winebeserkers.com)

My Review: Straw color in the glass. Fresh gardenia and lemongrass on the nose. Slightly sweet with honeycrisp apple and … on the palate. A little bitter on the finish. Has a very familiar taste – yet hard to pinpoint – very Chardonnay-like, which makes sense, yet a bit like a Sauvignon Blanc, too! I enjoyed this wine! April 2021

I Brand’s tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for tastings – reservations recommended.  https://www.ibrandwinery.com/visit.  And BIG NEWS:  You can now purchase I Brand wines directly from their website at https://www.ibrandwinery.com/!

*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. Brand & Family: “What we do is simple, without artifice, and we enjoy it.”

I needed a Grenache for my wine class a few weeks ago and found this I. Brand & Family blend in our wine room.

I wrote about I. Brand & Family previously in this post:  https://decantingmonterey.com/ian-brand-discovering-great-vineyards-at-the-edge-of-sensible-farming/ with reviews of some of his P’tit Paysan and La Marea lines.  To add to that is this statement from I. Brand & Family:  “We are not in “wine country” nor do we have trophy wineries. This is farm land, desolate hills, and solitude. What we do is simple, without artifice, and we enjoy it.”

Today I am bringing you one of their wines from the Chalone AVA, which I introduced you to last week here:  https://decantingmonterey.com/cima-collina-transitioning-from-san-antonio-to-the-chalone-ava/. The I. Brand & Family label represents their higher end wines. 

About Chalone Vineyard: “Perched in the remote Gavilan Mountain Range, 1,800 feet above California’s Salinas Valley, this rugged vineyard sits at the base of an extinct volcano bordering the Pinnacles National Park. Chalone Vineyard is one of the few wineries in the U.S. growing grapes in limestone-based soils, the same as in Burgundy…”

2018 I. Brand & Family Grenache/Syrah, Chalone Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $42 (#151*)  72% Grenache, 28% Syrah

The grapes for this I. Brand & Family wine are sourced from the Chalone Vineyard.

My Review: Transluscent cherry in color.  Sweet warm berries on the nose with a big burst of raspberry and cherry on the palate, yet light and refreshing, with subtle tannins enveloped in light caramel on the finish. A little SweeTart with a toasted marshmallow finish. September 2020

I Brand is open for outside porch tastings by reservation only – email them at HELLO@IBRANDWINERY.COM to order wines or reserve a tasting. 

*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.

© Decanting Monterey 2020

Cima Collina: Transitioning from San Antonio to the Chalone AVA!

While hunting down a rosé for a summer wine class, I noticed a 2013 Cima Collina Syrah from Chalone AVA – a Monterey County Syrah for under $25!  Since I am not very familiar with Cima Collina or the Chalone AVA, and I love our Monterey Syrahs, I thought I’d give it a try.  What a pleasant surprise!  I also picked up a 2014 Cima Collina Syrah Tre Gatti Vineyards from the San Antonio AVA – we did a blind tasting of this wine over the weekend. Our friends guessed this was a new world Zinfandel, Syrah, and even one vote for a Petite Sirah.

About the Chalone AVA (from Monterey Vintners & Growers Association):  “The Chalone region is nestled at 1,800 feet in elevation in the central part of the Gavilan Mountain Range – set against the dramatic backdrop of Pinnacles National Monument. This region has a long history of grape growing, dating back to 1919. Here are found the oldest producing vines in Monterey County. Chalone was awarded its own AVA designation in 1982. Because of its elevation in the mountain range, Chalone is truly unique among Monterey County’s appellations…” Read more about the Chalone AVA here.

Map of the Chalone AVA from Monterey Vintners and Growers Association (link above).

About Cima Collina from A Taste of Monterey: “Cima Collina produces artisan wines from small Monterey vineyards. The idea of an “artisan wine” is the partnership with growers who meticulously cultivate vineyards, the insistence on using only carefully chosen fruit, and the creation of wine on a barrel-by-barrel basis.

“The focus on Monterey vineyards is an acknowledgment that this region is now and will continue to produce wines that are interesting, compelling and unique. Many factors conspire to make this a truly gifted region for growing grapes. With the cool maritime climate, well-drained soils and energy of their winemaking colleagues, a dynamic renaissance is currently underway in our region.

“From the rugged Big Sur coastline to the prairie lands of south Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco, every vineyard develops its own set of diverse flavors. It is their passion to discover these local flavors and produce unfined, unfiltered wines that reflect a sense of place. Each of their food-friendly current releases, reflect Winemaker Annette Hoff Danzer’s commitment to authentic artisan winemaking, with dedicated growers, carefully chosen fruit and the creation of wine on a barrel-to-barrel basis.”

Cima Collina has had a tasting room in Carmel Valley Village since 2012.  I learned that Albatross Ridge had moved into that tasting room.  What I didn’t realise at the time  was that Albatross Ridge actually took over both the winery and tasting room in 2019 after the death of one of the prime family members running the business. 

2013 Cima Collina Syrah Antle Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $23 (#84*)

This 2013 Cima Collina Syrah from Chalone is a rich, delicious wine.

Winemaker Notes condensed from the label: The Antle Vineyard is “…on the southeastern edge of the Salinas Valley in a protected, warm, beautiful south-west facing site of decomposed granite/gravelly loam soil…:  This wine is made from a “…“Phelps” clone of Syrah – the oldest clone of Syrah in California…” This wine “…is lush with textrue & fruit but also offers layers of complexity often missed in California Syrah as it furnishes aromas & flavors of licorice, rosemary, white pepper with a seamless, delicious mouthfeel and finish…”

My Review: This was a big, dense wine and reminiscent of an Australian Shiraz.  Very full and smooth on the palate.  Cassis on the finish.  We really liked this wine and bought more of it.  As of 10/2, there was at least one bottle of this vintage left at Bottles n’ Bins in Pacific Grove.  Worth finding this Syrah from the Antle Vineyard, Chalone AVA in another vintage. June 2020

2014 Cima Collina Syrah Tre Gatti Vineyards, San Antonio AVA, Montrey County, 13.5% ABV, $23 (#148*)

This 2014 Cima Collina Syrah from San Antonio was quite tart upon opening.

Winemaker Notes from the label:  “Tre Gatti is a carefully managed 5 acre vineyard in the southernmost reaches of Monterey County…planted on…a southern-facing rocky hillside whitewashed with limestone-rich soil.  The head-trained vines are a unique selection of Syrah that produces lower yields and uncommonly small berries in compact clusters.  We vinified these grapes in open-top fermenters then aged the resulting wine in French Oak for 14 months.” 

My Review: Purple in color. Unfiltered.  Deep red fruit and pepper on the nose. Acidic, sour cherry on the palate “like sucking like a cherry Jolly Rancher.” After the tartness dissipated, one of our friends indicated they liked it. I’d say stick with the Antle Vineyard, Chalone AVA Syrah from Cima Collina, if you can find it. October 2020

The 2012 vintage of the Cima Collina Syrh Tre Gatti Vineyards was rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast.  You can find that review 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.

© Decanting Monterey 2020

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