Tagged: Decanting Monterey

Kicking Off the New Year with a Chesebro Favorite!

THE STORY

Image is compliments of https://pngtree.com

I hope you had a great New Year’s celebration with some of your favorite wines. Today’s kick off of 2025 continues with another one of our local favorites.

Quite often we play the Mystery Wine game amongst the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod. We blind taste a wine, guess which continent it is from; then which country or wine region it is from, the varietal, the winery and sometimes even the year. I’m not very good at this game, but it challenges our collective wine knowledge and just makes things a bit more fun.

Last fall, we played such a game and I got it all wrong.  It was a big, juicy wine which I guessed was from Napa Valley. I guessed it was a red blend.  I would have never guessed that the wine was the Chesebro 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from our own Carmel Valley AVA!

I’m bringing you this wine again because of the power of blind tasting a wine – let’s see how my previous review and this one compare! And long ago, I promised to share my thoughts on the 2017 La Grava Merlot. Welcome to tpoday’s post!

THE WINES

Today, I am presenting 2 Chesebro wines.  I last presented their wines to you in August 2024 here: Chesebro New Releases: the 2023 Whites Are Available Now! Winery notes come from the label, their tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted.  Any errors are mine and mine alone; however, as a general rule, I do not correct any typos from the winery’s website.

2018 Chesebro Cabernet Sauvignon, Chaparral Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $48 (#1416)

Winery Notes: “Many people don’t know that Chesebro Winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon because generally it is not released to the public.  This is a real treat for you fans of our heavy reds. From the highest elevation (2400ft) vineyard in Carmel Valley. Chapparal Vineyard is dry farmed and gives a very small yield of less than 2 tons per acre, which means the wine is bursting with flavor, color and aromatics. Aged for 22 months in French Oak. Upon first glance this Cabernet shows a deep dark mahogany core. Soaring aromatics (both savory and fruity) emerge from the glass with dark currants on the nose complimented by fresh tobacco, cedar, sage, cassis and of course chapparal. Wondeful balance, chalky minerality and fine grained tannins. Fruit forward and charming yet densely structured – This has it all but there are only 50 cases made so get it while you can.”

My Original Review: The spicy nose is followed by a tasty palate of dark cherry and berries. It is drinking well now. Can cellar a couple of years. Another vintage (2019) is coming! We took some home. June 2024

My Mystery Game Review: Inky in the glass. Smells like a Sharon kind of big red with jammy dark cherry and black pepper notes. A New World wine, for sure. Woah – a super delicious palate with tart/bright crushed berries on the front with a jammy finish of intense berries, cassis and alcohol. I guessed this could come from Napa Valley, but I did not guess it was a Cabernet Sauvignon and I did not guess whose. This is one hell of a wine. October 2024

2017 Chesebro La Grava, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.3% ABV (#1493)

Winery Notes: “La Grava is our Bordeaux inspired Merlot-based blend that pays homage to the gravelly soils of Cedar Lane Vineyard.” (from the label)

My Review: Garlic, red cherry, raspberry, cedar and mild green pepper on the nose. Palate of medium red and black fruits with a tart finish. Paired well with Trader Joe’s Organic Cacio e Pepe Puffs. December 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

Published with permission from the Chesebro Facebook page

“Come Raise a Glass with Us! We are located at 19D East Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village.”

“We are now open for tasting on Friday through Sunday from noon until 5 PM and by apointment on other days. Due to our limited capacity please make an appointment on all days so that we may better serve you. Appointments can either be set up through this page…or by contacting Alex directly at Alex@chesebrowines.com or 831-238-2618. Due to our remote location, appointments are not available for the winery itself….”

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Boëté Opens a New Tasting Venue Inside The Barrel Room!

Let’s kick off 2025 with some HAPPY NEWS!!

A few weeks ago, Jana Saunders of Boëté Winery sent members an email announcing their new tasting room location. I was very happy to receive this news, as we’ve been enjoying their wines almost as long as those from their estate neighbor, Parsonage.  In fact, long ago (about 20 years ago?), they shared the same tasting room space in the Wagon Wheel Shopping Center off Carmel Valley Road.  Yes, that’s how long I’ve known their wines.  We became instant fans of their Cabernet Franc and their reserve wines. Once they closed that location, we trekked up to their winery a few times to taste and pick up our wines, but just as often, especially in the pandemic, we waited for home delivery. But, I digress.

In December, Jana and John Saunders’ sons Dillon and Jesse opened The Barrel Room at 5 Del Fino Place in Carmel Valley Village, the former location of the Village Wine & Tap Room.  While primarily a sports bar featuring beers and local wines, they are offering Boëté wine tasting from 12-5 daily for $30. The tasting includes their current releases and reserve wines. We even got to taste a new Cabernet Sauvignon their sons created!

THE WINERY

I haven’t written often about Boëté on this website. The most recent post is here from May 2021: Boëté – A Personal Milestone Celebration Inside the Winery! In that post are more links to the Boëté story. 

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 4 wines for the first time in this blog. Winery tasting notes come from their website, the tasting sheet, or conversations with the tasting room staff. Any errors are mine and mine alone.  As a matter of practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites. I had previously written up the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – it is drinking extremely well – that is a must buy wine!

2019 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $54 (#1489)

My Review: Mocha and warmth (sweet and smoky like the comfort of a campfire) on the nose. Delicious palate of purple fruits – boysenberry and blueberry. I liked this wine. December 2024

2018 Boëté Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $52 (#1490)

My Review: Ripe on the nose, finishing with stewed fruit. So soft on the palate with a full fruit finish. Was opened the day before, so it had the opportunity to fully open up. December 2024

2019 Boëté Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $54 (#1491)

Winery Notes: New release.

My Review: Marshmallow, brown sugar, vanilla maybe camelia blossom (all in a good way), dark plum and subtle sweet tart on the nose. Palate is bright with red fruits including bing cherry and an herbaceous note in the finish. This is dang delicious. 😋

2022 “Saunders Brothers” Cabernet Sauvignon, Dorcich Family Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, $30 (#1492)

Winery Notes: Made by sons Dillon and Jesse, this wine will be sold only in the tasting room and will serve as one of their house wines.  Expecting a label soon.

My Review: Beautiful nose of primarily red fruits, followed by a delicious palate. Very drinkable now.  These young men know a thing or two about wine! December 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

You can taste and purchase Boëté wines at The Barrel Room every day, 12-5 p.m. 5 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village. 

You can read more about the winery and purchase their wines on line here: https://www.boetewinery.com/our-wines-list/Our-wines-list/#close. For more information, please call 831-625-5040 or email boetewinery@comcast.net.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Parsonage: From the 2008 “Snosrap” to the Latest Rocco!

THE STORY

We are never quite sure what will get pulled out of our cellar, but it never surprises me that it will be a  Parsonage wine, as we have been purchasing their wines since about 2002. They are our longest, continuous winery relationship in Monterey County. I do like my big reds.

Our Expansive Relationships with Monterey County Wineries (2021)

In this post, we have 3 cellar pulls, with the 2008 “Snosrap” – the Cyrano, followed by the just-released 2021 Rocco Reserve Syrah. I thought this might make a fun little holiday post. It was shocking to us to find this 2008 wine in our cellar, but, as some racks are double-stacked, anything could be hiding in there! And, IMHO, the Rocco should be tasted BEFORE the voluptuous Xandro (reviewed in the post linked below).  We left with a couple more Xandro’s and I admit I might need to go back and try the Rocco again!

This 2021 Xandro is so big, jammy, and delicious!

My last post about Parsonage was here: Parsonage Releases Stunning Wines from the 2021 Vintage! Since I write about them often, let’s just jump into these wines!

THE WINES:

Today I’m bringing you 4 Parsonage wines across several vintages and varietals.  Winery notes come from their website, newsletters or tasting room. Some of these are so new that tasting notes aren’t even yet available! Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2008 Parsonage Snosrap Bordelaise Red Wine, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $24 (#1485)

“the nose knows…”

My Review: Deep garnet in the glass. Very dark jammy fruit on the nose with coffee and chocolate notes. Upon opening, a bit like ruby port or that new 2021 Corral Cabernet Sauvignon I just reviewed. On day two, drinking so much better. Medium bodied, this wine expresses some SweetTart flavors, balanced by dark brooding fruit mid-palate with notes of spearmint, and a hint of rosemary. Retains a hot and caramelized, port-like finish. I liked this wine. November 2024

2017 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast AVA (#1486)

Winery Notes: “This Cabernet Sauvignon field blend is joined with a mix of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It’s a full-throttle bombastic beauty, typical of younger vines. The nose is all about dark fruit marked by brambleberry compote. Plum and cassis join with brambleberry on a muscular palate that finishes with some major league tannins.”

My Review: Dark garnet in the glass. Red and black fruits having a party on the nose, with cherry predominant. Juicy palate balancing bright red and black as it crosses the tongue with licorice on the finish. Is Cabernet Sauvignon supposed to be fun? This one sure is. November 2024

2015 Parsonage Dario & Bixby Reserve Red Wine, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County (#1487) Merlot & Petit Verdot blend

My Review: Surprisingly bright fruit on the nose – tart blackberry. Huge palate jammed with blackberry and dark fruit flavors. Licorice notes dance on the finish. Powerful for a 9-year old wine. November 2024

2021 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98, (#1488)

Winery Notes: “Our magnificent flagship wine, the Rocco is what we’re known for! A restrained melange of floral, exotic spice and splendidly dark fruit harmonize into a uniquely Parsonage terroir bouquet. The generous palate of black fruit – berries, cherries, currants, plums – accented with dark chocolate, savory spice and mysterious umami all wrapped up in an elegantly full-bodied structure.”

My Review: Caramel on the nose. Full palate of dark fruit, dark berries. This newly released wine is still quite young, drinking a tad lean yet elegant, not as rich and jammy as other vintages. I would recommend tasting it before – not after the 2021 Xandro, which is such a big, jammy mouthful. You can find that wine reviewed in Decanting Monterey at the post above. December 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

“Hooray! We are open for both indoor and outdoor wine tasting daily.”

19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village

Hours: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm, Last seating for wine tasting: 4:15pm. “Reservations can be made here or by phone. Please call us at 831-659-7322 for same day reservations.”

© Decanting Monterey 2024

**FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Monterey AWS Chapter Wine Group Celebrates the Holidays at LadySomm!

THE STORY

The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society was seeking a place to celebrate the holidays – and I thought of LadySomm at the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel. They have interesting offerings in a great space. Fortunately, the date we were seeking just happened to be open on their calendar. They offered us some fun wine education aspects and a beautiful spread of cheeses and fruits paired with some delicious bread, making for a lovely evening. Roxanne and Tamara were great hostesses for our group that evening. Thank you, ladies! And we were very happy to meet some brand new members of our local wine group!

ABOUT LADYSOMM

From their website: “At the heart of Lady Somm are two sisters, Roxane Langer and Tamara Carver, whose passion for wine has blossomed into a mission to share it with the world. With backgrounds that span the globe and the wine spectrum, they invite you to join them on a journey of discovery, education, and enjoyment. Welcome to our world of wine.”

On their website, you can dive deeper into all of their wine education, tasting salon, travel and special events. I encourage you to take a peek! I am excited about their offerings – there is something for every budget.  They host regular wine tasting and education events, running the spectrum from informal to fancy.  It’s a fun place to explore!

THE EVENT

Our holiday celebration at LadySomm was a fun event.  How lovely to enter their space, all decorated for the holidays with the beautiful charcuterie boards on display plus the 3 wine education stations: 

  • “Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles – Taste three different sparklers that evoke the holiday spirit: Are you a prosecco fan or a method Champenoise fan, OR do you even know which you prefer? Taste three of our favorites to confirm your preference.”

This was eye opening. The prosecco from Italy upon first taste was delicious, blowing my preconceived idea that all prosecco’s are sweet. Others thought it was a tad sweet, which I discovered to be true upon a revisit. Alas. The cava from Spain was extremely bubbly, crisp, and dry – the bubbles obfuscated the flavors for me, which is one of my pet peeves in overly bubbly wines. I probably didn’t give it a fair shake and will try another one again. The Champagne (obviously from France) had the finest bubbles, the most sophisticated of the three.  I do enjoy a good Champagne! Those would have been fun to blind taste to see if we could guess which was which.

  • “Beef or Fowl for your holiday table – which wine region has you covered? Taste a “perfect for your roast turkey” white wine, a big red for your prime rib and a wine that pairs well with both all from one European wine region.”

Here, we learned how different wines pair with turkey and beef. We tasted a Domaine de Cala, Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé with the turkey – an appropriate pairing.

Then we tried the 2021 Wrath Pinot Noir, Boekenoogen Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.3 % ABV, $49 (#1484) (92 points – Wine Enthusiast) with both the turkey and the beef, showing its versatility in food pairing. This wine was fuller-bodied than the typical SLH Pinot Noir, possessing enough structure and tannins to please our palates and stand up to the beef.

Finally we tried a Tribe & Arrow Diamond Dão Proprietary Red Blend (50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot), Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley with the beef.  I didn’t see the vintage, but this is a limited production bottling by Olette Wines with individually numbered bottles. Another great pairing!

  • “Know What Your Nose Knows – Learning the Language of Wine: Learn to smell and identify common scents in three different wine varietals.”

Here they had on display a 2022 Corral Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#1088); a Val de Meigas Albariño from Spain; and a MAX Carménère Reserva from Chile. For this exercise, they put wine glasses upside down over Le Nez du Vin wine odor bottles.  Oh, is that what you are supposed to do with them – who knew? Another fun excursion for a future wine event!

First we focused on the aroma chart or what one might smell by swirling one of the white wines in the glass. Then we could pick up each glass and try to discern the odor in each glass to the chart.  I guessed all of these correctly.  The green apple wasn’t so distinctive, but wet hay was the most memorable for me. Then we had a set of cards to use to identify the odor samples typical for a Carménère. I got green pepper off the bat, and found garlic a bit harder to discern. OK, I don’t consider myself to have a very good nose or palate for detecting the multitude of aromas and flavors in a wine, but I aced them all!

VISITING LADYSOMM

LadySomm is located at 3728 The Barnyard, G-23 on the upper level in Carmel. They are open 2-7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2-5 p.m. on Sundays. Check out their website for upcoming events throughout this holiday period and beyond! 

JOIN THE MONTEREY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY!

December is the perfect month to join the American Wine Society and select Monterey, CA as your local chapter! Please join today so you can participate in our 2025 local wine education activities!

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Living Room with Friends: A Bunter Spring Pop-Up

THE STORY

Bunter Spring Winery held a pop-up tasting about a month ago.  I had not been in his pop-up space since he took it over and it felt like we were walking into someone’s living/dining room with friends.  Surrounded by Mark Bunter and Margaret Spring’s close friends and their dogs, this felt more like a small party in someone’s home. Mark shared some novel wines, demonstrating his winemaking prowess, and some fabulous sale prices, to boot!

THE WINERY

From the Bunter Spring website:

“Bunter Spring Winery is a small family operated winery in the Coombsville AVA in the southeast corner of Napa Valley.  We also have some production in Monterey.  Most vintages we make a few hundred cases of wine, mostly for ourselves, but also for sale to friends on our mailing list, and a few restaurants and wine shops.  Why make wine?  We just don’t care for many of the wines sold today. We make the kind of wine we want to drink: balanced, interesting, made with few or no additives, and low or no sulfite. We list all ingredients, the actual sulfite level, and the actual alcohol level on every label.  Incredibly, NO OTHER WINERY DOES THAT.”

VINEYARD Update

In his recent email, Mark informed us that the vineyard had been torn out and is replaced by a field of flowers:

“When Dad decided it was time to retire, I realized the winery would not be going forward.  Vineyards require a lot of upkeep.  An abandoned vineyard becomes an unsightly weedy jungle or desert, depending on rainfall.  It breeds fungi which hurt your neighbors vines.  So…”

THE WINES

We really enjoyed this Bunter Spring tasting event, as we were able to taste two wines made very differently from the same (somewhat suspicious) grape. It’s like an on-the-spot lesson in winemaking. Also, Mark dares to break from the expected in terms of what (as an example) a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir is expected to taste like by making one with enough juice from Carmel Valley to completely change its taste profile.

As always, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the winery.  Any mistakes are mine and mine alone.

2022 Bunter Spring White Wine, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, 13% ABV  $20 (#1480)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Your basic dry white wine, like in the Southern Mediterranean. Good with fish.” 40 cases produced. 

My Review: Mark said this might be Sauvignon Blanc, but neither he nor we think so.  More like a lighter white without any distinctive flavors.  It is a pleasant wine – nice and dry, worthy of serving at a party. November 2024

2022 Bunter Spring Macerated White, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, 13% ABV, $20 (#1481)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Same grapes as above, fermented on their skins for extra aromatic punch and exciting texture.” 20 cases produced. 

My Review:  Slightly orange, golden in color with nice legs. Perfume on the nose and palate, followed by a mélange of bold flavors. Quite delicious and interesting. I would serve this to guests. November 2024

2021 Bunter Spring Pinot Noir, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#1482)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Mostly from a famous vineyard in SLH, plus a little lower Carmel Valley fruit.  French oaky, fruity, spicy, fun.” 50 cases produced.

My Review: This was a surprise to me.  This mostly SLH (Santa Lucia Highlands) fruit does not taste like the typical SLH Pinot.  A richer, smoother, fruitier Pinot Noir, with caramel on the finish.  We took some home. November 2024

2017 Bunter “Natur” Syrah, Coombsville AVA, Napa County, 12.86% ABV, $30 (#1483)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Subtle, complex, fresh herbs, berries, floral, meaty, earthy. Superb balance, not BIG SYRAH. That’s OK with me- I like it.” Organic grapes. 50 cases produced.

My Review: This wine was another pleasant surprise. We had for sure tasted a previous vintage – the 2014, I believe.  This one has settled down in the bottle and is ready to drink. We took some home. November 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

You can sometimes find a pop-up tasting by Mark Bunter in the back room of the Big Sur Vineyards tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. Check out the Bunter Spring Winery Facebook Page and the Bunter Spring Winery Instagram page for more information.

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

I Brand & Family Presents a Stunning Collection of Petite Sirah!

THE STORY

I Brand & Family knows how to throw a great party. Their Fall Vertical and Release Party was one of the best yet.  While I try to keep the main thing the main thing (and that would be to be sure to get notes on their new releases), we instead took great delight in the vertical tastings. Today I am sharing our side by side comparisons of various Petite Sirah vintages and the great experience we had at this party!

We had a packed Sunday on November 10, with 2 release parties in 2 different valleys.  We decide not to use GPS to get to the I Brand & Family winery. And, the GPS in my head (my husband says there isn’t one) turned us an exit too soon off Highway 68.  It was a lovely drive, but totally threw off our schedule. I clarified my intent to taste the new releases, but got totally distracted by the vertical tastings. Oops. The lovely BBQ lunch being served looked and smelled so delicious – alas, no time for that, either! Man, we won’t make that mistake again.

ABOUT I BRAND & FAMILY

I’ve written about I Brand & Family many times in Decanting Monterey. The most recent full post was here: I Brand Summer Releases: A Glimpse of the 2023 Vintage! The rest you can easily find by typing I Brand in the search bar on www.decantingmonterey.com.

THE WINES – PETITE SIRAH

Today I will talk about the Petite Sirah vertical tasting at this event. These are not in-depth notes, but rather, impressions of these wines in a quick serial tasting.  Any errors are mine and mine alone!

2010-2016 PETITE SIRAH WINES

Greeted by Laurel, we were able to taste these 2010-2016 vintages of P’tit Paysan/Paysan Petit Sirah. Now, what fun is that? I believe the fruit for all of them came from Pierce Ranch Vineyards in the San Antonio AVA of Monterey County.

2010 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah “Le P’tite P’tit”, Monterey County (#1475)

My Impressions: This was the best of the bunch and we missed getting the last available bottle by 30 seconds. Pepper on the nose, sweet and smooth, retaining its full depth of dark fruit flavors – this is how a Petite Sirah should taste! November 2024

2011 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County (#1476)

My Impressions: In comparison to the 2010, the 2011 vintage came across lean, a touch vegetal and lacking that sweetness I associate with a Petite Sirah.November 2024

2012 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, ~$21 (#476)

Winery Notes: Black plums, blackberry, crushed rocks, black olive. Full and rich on the palate, but neither hot nor oaky. Structured without being overbearing, rich dark fruit, long finish with hints of stem tannins.

My Review: Inky ruby in the glass. Dark plum, blueberry and earth on the nose. Soft blueberry and blackberry fruit is enveloped by a lingering licorice finish. October 2021/November 2024

2013 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $25 (#1477)

Winery Notes: “Picked at atypically low sugars for the variety. Fermented in small lots with some stem inclusion and some native yeasts. Aged on lees in less than 10% new oak.”

My Impressions: This was a fruitier Petite Sirah than the previous two vintages. November 2024

2014 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $42 (#788)

Wine Enthusiast – 89 points: “Dried herbs, elderberries, peppercorns and a strong streak of gamy meat show on the nose of this bottling, which is less dense and more nuanced in style than many other Petite Sirahs. The gamy element extends to the palate, giving complexity to the black fruits and sticky tannins. ” — Matt Kettmann June 2018

My Review:  Inky purple in the glass. Red raspberry, plum and a touch of brown sugar on the nose. Cassis and dark berries on the palate. A slight tartness balances the jamminess of the fruit. This was our second favorite of the day. July 2023/November 2024

2015 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, $22 (#1478)             

My Impressions:  This vintage was very pleasant and a touch sweet.  We liked this wine. 2024

2016 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, $23 (#1479)

My Impressions: I’m surprised that I don’t already have tasting notes for this wine. This vintage was light on the palate, dancing with a cherry finish. November 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

The I Brand & Family Tasting Room, located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm.  Reservations are recommended – more information here.

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

A Rare Chance to Attend a Corral Release Party!

THE STORY

One of our Decanting Monterey wine partners recently invited me to attend a Corral Wine Co. release party.  I was quite excited about the invitation, as we consider their wines as some of the finest in the area.  For me it was a rare chance to visit their beautiful Bell Ranch estate, chat up the owners and staff, and mingle with the members.  We had a long conversation co-owner and winemaker Adrien Valenzuela who gave us the details about the new red blend, called “Tres Amigos” and the newly released Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rick and Adrien

We were greeted with a pour of their 2022 Monterey County Chardonnay, followed by their 2022 Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) Chardonnay – a stark contrast between the two.  The SLH white was paired with potato chips – very good together! I’d say the Monterey Chardonnay would make a great every day white, while I would save the SLH one for a special occasion – like Thanksgiving!

The “Tres Amigos” is a tasty blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.  I found it very approachable, drinkable now, and right up my alley.  It was paired with Lula’s chocolates.  Yum.  When I try to compare it to the 2019 “See What You Can Do” Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend, I find them completely different.  The 2019 was a much more structured wine, while the Tres Amigos is one I want to serve now.

We also sampled the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, which Adrien says he left in the barrel longer than usual.  It was paired with delicious brisket. The flavors in that wine certainly reflect the extra aging. I would cellar that wine for a while.

Finally, we got a barrel sample of their 2023 Zinfandel from the Enz Vineyard in San Benito County.  It is aging in once-used French barrels. I have to say it is already a big, delicious beauty, one I will look forward to once it is released. I was too blown away to capture notes, but we all said this could be the finest local Zinfandel yet!

My last post about Corral Wine Co.  was here: Corral: Newly Released Pinot Noirs Available Now! I’ve written about them several times – just type “Corral” in the Decanting Monterey search bar.

THE WINERY

From their website:

“Corral Wine Company is a production of Bell Family Vineyards.

“In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, we barreled our first batch of estate Pinot Noir. We’re still in that same barn, but we’ve made even more varietals from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast.

“We’re a family-owned operations – we’re not fancy, but we make good wine.”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 4 Corral Wine Co. wines from this November release party. Winery notes come from their website or provided at the release party. My notes are amplified by my Wine Pod partner. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2022 Corral Chardonnay, Monterey County, 13.2% ABV, $38 (#1469)

Winery Notes: “Barrel fermented with 20% New French Oak and allowed to go through complete malolactic fermentation. This Chardonnay will appeal to a wide variety of palates. Composed of precision, minerality, and freshness but also bringing some structure, body, and concentration. Aromas of toasted oak, crème brûlée, baking spices, and roasted nuts with flavors of lemon custard, pineapple, and butterscotch.”

My Review: Yellow with a little green tinge in color. Meyer lemon with grassy notes. Not super buttery, which is a plus in our view! November 2024

2022 Corral Chardonnay, Highlands Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $52 (#1470)

Winery Notes: “Elegant and focused Chardonnay barrel fermented with 33% New French Oak allowed to go completey through malolactic fermentation which brings richness and an oily, silky mouthfeel with a medium to full body. Displaying aromas of tropical fruit, lemon, sweet baking spices, and hints of vanilla and clove. Rich flavors of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and stone fruit that lead way into a long lasting juicy finish because of its bright acidity.”

My Review: Yellow-gold in the glass. Butter deliciousness on the nose. Quite flavorful and classic. The acidity on the finish saves it from being too buttery. Elegant and balanced. November 2024

2021 Corral “Tres Amigos” Red Blend, Central Coast AVA, 14.2% ABV, $64 (#1471) 66% Syrah Highlands Ranch SLH, 20% Petite Sirah, 14% Cabernet

Winery Notes: “Deep purple hued wine showing off its inky color and intensity. With a nice array of aromatics: blackberries, crushed blueberries, black pepper, bay leaf, cedar, and dried herbs; matching its big flavor profile of black fruits, all spice, elegant velvety tannins, and its fresh acidity bringing it a nice long finish.”

My Review: Plum, a little chocolate and deliciousness on the palate. Smooth, with plenty of fruit and so easy on the tannins. Classy label! I want to serve this wine now. I took two home. November 2024

2021 Corral Cabernet Sauvignon, Armory Vineyard, Adelaida District, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo, 14.5% ABV, $87 (#1472)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of dark red cherry, blueberry cobbler, dark chocolate, roasted notes, vanilla, and new leather with hints of tobacco and black pepper. A juicy palate with lots of flavor made up of maraschino cherry, anise, and blackberry; finishing with nice elegant but firm tannins.”

My Review: Purple in color. Black pepper and raisin on the nose, almost a ruby port-like quality (but in a good way). Lots of white pepper and earth on the huge dark fruit palate. Cherry on the finish. That’s a big wine and definitely expresses the Paso Robles terroir. This wine needs to be cellared at least 5 years. We wondered what it would have tasted like had it been decanted. November 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

VISIT US

“We’d love to pour for you at our Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village: 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA”

Open Sunday – Thursday 12-5 p.m., Friday – Saturday 12-6-ish p.m.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Parsonage Releases Stunning Wines from the 2021 Vintage!

THE STORY

As soon as we go to the valley to pick up wine allocations, it never fails that we get another club notification! We live on the chilly coast, so going to Carmel Valley to taste new releases and get warm is a welcome task. In this instance, we went Parsonage Winery.

The real fun with this release is tasting 2021 The Aussie side by side with its reserve version – the Xandro.  I’m impressed with each of these 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blends, but in very different ways.  I also managed to sneak in a purchase of the yet-to-be-released 2021 Rocco Reserve Syrah and a miraculous find of the last available 2019 Rocco.  Someone is looking out for me!

In addition, Parsonage has made two 2023 Chardonnays: one 100% stainless steel and one in oak.  Read below to see which one I preferred!

THE WINERY

Since I write about Parsonage often, I’m including their latest newsletter as the update!

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you 5 new releases wines.  Winery notes come from their website, newsletters or tasting room. Some of these are so new that tasting notes aren’t even yet available! Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Parsonage Chardonnay, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#1464)

Winery Notes: “A charming nose of pear and lemon blossom with subtle hints of kiwi and hazelnut. A fully rounded out palate structure with lemongrass and tropical fruit notes.”

My Review: Golden in color. Grilled pineapples and white flowers on the nose. Full malolactic fermentation. Very flavorful palate, with caramel notes. Very pleasant. I preferred this Chardonnay. October 2024

2023 Parsonage Wood Reserve  Chardonnay, Diamond T Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV (#1465)

My Review: Asparagus and honey on the nose. Leaner and cleaner – a much more sophisticated wine. I confess that I had taken a medication which may have influenced some of these flavors and smells, so don’t go by me! Decide for yourself! Love the new quilt Mary Ellen Parsons made which is on this label! October 2024

2021 Parsonage The Aussie, Central Coast AVA, 15% ABV, $46 (#1466)

Winery Notes: “This 2021 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah has an uncommon level of lusciousness. The nose fairly resonates with exquisitely ripe dark fruit, the full spectrum of bramble berry, black currant, black cherry, and black raspberry with a depth of florl spicy notes.  All of that beautiful, ripe fruit explodes on the palate and prompts tears from one’s eyes on the fabulous finish.”

My Review: Fruit forward bouquet. Plum and yum with menthol and cinnamon notes. Very tasty palate – a Sharon kind of wine. But tears, really?? October 2024

2021 Parsonage Syrah, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $52 (#1467)

Winery Notes: “The nose is powerfully aromatic with a core of ripe dark fruit and a dusting of mixed spices. Chewy intensity in structure with layers of blackberry, current, plum, and blueberry with subtle notes of mocha, peppercorn and a hint of graphite on the finish.”

My Review: A darker rich color. Dark fruit and leather on the nose. Intense, concentrated dark flavor. This is one to watch. October 2024

2021 Parsonage Xandro Reserve, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98 (#1468)

Winery Notes: “Our reserve blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Nose of black and blue fruit, fig newton, earthy exotic black cardamom-nutmeg-vanillin, and Parsonage terroir perfume. Opulent palate of blackberry, black currant, black cherry, blueberry, and curry spices. Exquisitely lengthy and delicious finish!!

My Review: Dark purple in the glass. Big, rich, fruity nose and the palate will wake you up! Sophisticated, intense, a reserve for sure! We liked this wine. October 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

“Hooray! We are open for both indoor and outdoor wine tasting daily.”

19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village

Hours: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm; Last seating for wine tasting: 4:15pm.

“Reservations can be made here or by phone. Please call us at 831-659-7322 for same day reservations.”

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

An Unexpected Tasting of New Bernardus Pinot Noirs!

THE STORY

We stopped by Bernardus Winery in late October with an out of town visitor.  My goal was to re-taste the 2018 Signature Marinus to update a recent post. And we lucked into a number of new releases, including its trio of 2022 Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs, which it is selling as a package deal! We tasted these  wines without knowing their order – I guessed the Rosella’s right!

My last post about Bernardus was here: Bernardus Hosts Monterey AWS for the Very First Time!

ABOUT THE 90+ SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIRS

“Explore our single vineyard Pinot Noirs from Gary Francioni’s vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.  Each designated vineyard is expressive of its unique terroir.” $168 for the bundle (normally $240). 

  • 2022 Sierra Mar Pinot Noir- 95 points Wine Enthusiast
  • 2022 Soberanes Pinot Noir- 95 points Wine Enthusiast
  • 2022 Rosella’s Pinot Noir- 92 points Wine Enthusiast

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 5 Bernardus wines from this late October tasting. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $28 (#1459)

Winery Notes: “Our 2023 Griva bottling has tropical fruit aromas accented by grapefruit and white peach.   The palate exhibits hints of minerality with rich, lush tropical fruit flavors. With notes of guava, citrus peel, and stone fruit, this intense Sauvignon Blanc finishes with refreshing acidity.” 92 points- Wine Enthusiast.

My Review: Pale in the glass. Pineapple, grapefruit, perfume and honeydew on the nose. Bitter grapefruit zest up front, followed by Meyer lemon and grilled pineapple. October 2024

2023 Bernardus Rosé, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 12.5% ABV (#1460)

Winery Notes: (Just released – no notes available as of yet!)

My Review: Ballet slipper pink. Honeydew on the nose. Flavorful palate of marshmallow, melon, watermelon and citrus. Lingering flavors in the palate. October 2024

2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV (#1461)

Winery Notes: “Santa Lucia Highlands’ two most renowned growers, Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni, have joined forces on an exciting vineyard located next to the celebrated Garys’ Vineyard in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is called Soberanes Vineyard. We at Bernardus are honored to be among the few wineries to receive both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from this fabulous vineyard! We have chosen two Pinot clones: the celebrated Pisoni clone and Dijon clone 667.

“Our 2022 Soberanes Pinot exhibits aromas of ripe blackberry and cola. Typical of this special vineyard, the palate is full and intense with flavors of ripe, dark red fruits. The finish is long, rich and silky.”

My Review: Cherry and earth on the nose. Lighter palate of very SLH flavors but without sour cherries. Pomegranate, cranberry bright red fruit and soft spices. October 2024

2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $70 (#1462)

Winery Notes: “Sierra Mar is a superb vineyard planted by the renowned grower Gary Franscioni on a dramatic hilltop location at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands. We at Bernardus are honored to be among the few to receive both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from this SLH super star…

“Our 2022 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir exhibits seductive scents of ripe red cherries and raspberries accented with hints of spice. The palate shows bright fruit flavors of cranberry, plum and baking spice notes on a long flavorful finish.”

My Review: More purple in the glass. Darker, sweeter fruit in the nose. A much bigger palate of warm, dark plum and brown sugar with an acidic punch. October 2024

2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard,  Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.4% ABV (#1463)

Winery Notes: “The Santa Lucia Highlands are known as one of the premier Pinot Noir appellations of the world. One reason for this lofty reputation is Rosella’s Vineyard, one of the finest Pinot and Chardonnay vineyards in California. Gary Franscioni planted his home ranch, named for his lovely wife, in the heart of the Highlands. His home vineyard is planted with a selection of the best available Pinot Noir clones and farmed with unparalleled passion and attention to detail. We at Bernardus are fortunate to have access to three small blocks: 2 planted with Dijon clone 777, and a third with the celebrated Pisoni clone.

“Our 2022 Rosella’s Pinot displays beautiful aromas of ripe plums and boysenberry. The palate is very rich and full-bodied, with ripe black cherry flavors accented by subtle baking spices ending with soft tannins and a long, silky finish.”

My Review: Even a richer wine. Warm nose and big rich dark palate with a leathery, tannic finish. I like this wine the best of the 3. I have become a huge Rosella’s fan. October 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

Welcome to the Bernardus Tasting Room – The first tasting room in Carmel Valley!

“In June 1994, pioneer Ben Pon opened the doors to the first-ever tasting room in Carmel Valley, establishing a legacy that endures to this day. While in the region enjoy a scenic journey along the 17-mile drive from Pebble Beach to our Tasting Room, where you can savor some of the highest quality wines in the region. Visit us!”

Location: 5 West Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley. Open Sunday and Monday – 12:00pm to 4:00pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 11:00am to 4:00pm; Friday and Saturday- 11:00am to 5:00pm.

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Sideways Uncorked: The Perfect Pairing of Film & Wine!

A Decanting Monterey Book Review!

THE STORY

When we were in Carmel Valley wine tasting with an old friend, he asked what the meaning was of the word “sideways,” in the 2004 Alexander Payne directed movie of the same title.  He thought it was because wine bottles need to be stored sideways. I hadn’t thought much about it, but suggested maybe because both of the lead characters, Miles (played by Paul Giamatti) and Jack (played by Thomas Haden Church) were sideways in their mid-life crises. I told our friend I would know the answer soon, as I was about to receive a pre-release copy of a new book, “Sideways Uncorked: The Perfect Pairing of Film and Wine.”

I was contacted in September by Barbara Cortlett, Media Outreach for Mira and Kirk Honeycutt, the authors of “Sideways Uncorked,” set to be released on 4 November (can be pre-ordered on Amazon).  They included the press release and asked for my address to send me an advanced copy.

We saw the movie “Sideways” for our anniversary when it was first released. The story was engaging – a wild bachelors’ weekend in and around Buellton and Los Olivos with loads of laughs and uncomfortable moments.  Each of these men brought their own baggage to the weekend, from Miles’ insecurities egging him to present himself as an expert on Burgundy (Pinot Noir) and as a successful writer about to be published – to Jack’s drive for some final sexual exploits before he ties the knot. 

I’ve been to the Santa Barbara wine growing areas a couple of times and have written about my 2022 visit in these 4 posts: Bien Nacido Estate: First Stop on Our “Sideways” Tour! , Tensley: The Ultimate Los Olivos Syrah Tasting: “Sideways” Part 2!,  Stolpman Delivers a World Class Experience: “Sideways” Part 3!,  Wrapping Up our “Sideways” Tour with Beckmen Vineyards!

Thinking about the wines I focused on during that visit, if the movie were set today, would Miles have focused on Syrah instead of Pinot or would Syrah have been his Merlot? My husband says, “Absolutely not. There was a lot of bad Merlot being made at that time in California.” And the Syrah from the region is among my favorite. Plus, I think Pinot Noir retains a bit of that snob appeal, going back to its Burgundian roots.

THE BOOK

Just like when I review a wine, I prefer not to read everyone else’s opinions and tasting notes in advance, so I didn’t read the other reviews both in the press release and on the back of the book itself.  (See the press release below!) So, I thought it was going to be about the movie. On the contrary, when I first started reading it, I was worried it was only going to be about Pinot Noir, which happens to be one of my least favorite grapes! In actuality, this book weaves together the interesting tales of both: the making of the movie and Pinot Noir’s upsurge in California and Oregon.  It has increased my interest in learning more about the grape. And, most importantly, it clarifies the meaning of “sideways.” Inebriated. Let’s not over think it. There you go, Scotty.

MY REVIEW: “Sideways Uncorked” is a fun yet educational read for anyone who enjoyed the 2004 movie, as well as wine afficionados like me interested in learning more about the growth of Pinot Noir winemaking in California and Oregon – and beyond.  Authors Kirk Honeycutt and Mira Advani advanced my appreciation of the Pinot Noir grape while giving engaging insights on the making of the movie – from Rex Picket’s initial discovery of The Windmill Inn and The Hitching Post leading to the initial screenplay, to director and co-writer Alexander Payne’s journey in the making of the movie – from obtaining the financing to make the film, and selecting the quirky cast, combining unlikely lead actors (Paul Giammati and Thomas Haden Church) with new faces (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh) to create one of the most hilarious yet uncomfortable movies of the time.  The book goes on to tell the story of working with Frank Ostini, winemaker and restaurateur of The Hitching Post, and getting the local community on board for this film. The impact on Santa Barbara wine tourism is evident, as is the boost the movie gave to Pinot Noir and the devastating impact on Merlot in the California wine industry.  Reading the book brought back many fond memories from watching the movie the first time and re-awakened a desire to watch it again.

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

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