Tagged: @decanting_monterey

A NEW TURLEY FROM PASO ROBLES!

THE STORY

It was another evening warranting a Turley. In my hunt in our wine room, I found this 2020 Zinfandel from Amadeo’s Vineyard in Paso Robles. This would be the first time trying a wine from this vineyard and is the singular wine in today’s post. 

But perhaps the even bigger news is my discovery that Turley recently closed its Amador County tasting room and winery.  When I couldn’t find that tasting room on its website, I found the news in this Instagram post.

You can read my last post about Turley here: SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO ENJOY A TURLEY!

THE WINERY

ABOUT TURLEY (from their website)

“Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by former emergency room physician Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 different wines from over 50 vineyards across California, primarily Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, with many vines dating back to the late 1800s. By farming organically and focusing on old vine vineyards of these varieties, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.”

THE VINEYARD

ABOUT AMADEO’S VINEYARD (from the Turley website)

“This historic site was planted in the 1920s as the only vineyard supplying the family-owned Amadeo Martinelli winery, located adjacent to the dry-farmed vines. In true Italian tradition, the vineyard is interplanted with cherry trees, as well as a handful of Grenache vines. The slope faces north and as such Amadeo’s is the coolest climate site we work with in Paso Robles, making it the last one to come in at harvest. As a result, the wine has a sleek texture, phenomenal acidity, and impressive depth.”

THE WINE

I have just 1 wine to present to you today from Turley. Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2020 Turley Zinfandel, Amadeo’s Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15.3% ABV, $42 (#1547)

Winery Notes: “A cooler climate 1920s dry-farmed estate vineyard in Paso. Black currant, black pepper, garrigue, meat marinade, crème de mûre, and lavender. Lush yet savory, would be excellent with lamb. Drink now at 55°-60°F.”

My Review: Garnet, almost purple, in the glass. Dark berry jam notes on the nose. Rich berry jam on the palate. Some yeasty notes throughout. April 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Want to try a Turley? Let’s head on down to Paso Robles!

Paso Robles Tasting Room: “A few miles inland of California’s storied Central Coast, Paso Robles is a pioneer’s paradise, where surfers, cowboys, vintners, farmers, and ranchers commingle amidst ancient vines, towering oak trees, and rolling hills.”

It is open daily 10 am – 4 pm. If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Showcasing the Exceptional Wines of Lucia by Pisoni!

THE STORY

Today’s post is about 2 exceptional Lucia by Pisoni wines we have enjoyed recently. One was given to us by a visiting friend and the other we ordered while dining at the The Fish Hopper on Monterey’s Cannery Row. 

I’ve written about Lucia by Pisoni a couple of times –the best way to find them would be to search “Pisoni” on the Decanting Monterey website.

THE WINERY

About Lucia by Pisoni:

“The terrain was rough.  There was no water.  ‘Gary is crazy’ everyone said.  Years later, he had developed one of “California’s great sites.” Read the whole story here!

Gary Pisoni is one of the pioneers in exceptional winegrowing and winemaking in the Santa Lucia Highlands. When he told his parents he wanted to plant vineyards on their farmland, his parents thought he was crazy.  He planted his first 5 acres in 1982 and, once he found a water source, he expanded the vineyard another 17 acres. Those grapes are now amongst the most respected and coveted in all of Monterey County.  He finally began producing his own wines in 2000.  His operation is a family affair, with his two sons, Mark and Jeff Pisoni, joining the team.

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 2 Lucia by Pisoni wines. As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2022 Lucia by Pisoni Estate Cuvee Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $55 (#1545)

Winery Notes (2018 Vintage): “The Lucia Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée represents the synergy that develops when three estate-farmed vineyards are blended and bottled as a singular wine. The 2022 vintage is comprised of 70% Pisoni Vineyards, 14% Garys’ Vineyard, and 16% Soberanes Vineyard. As the wine’s medium-ruby hue fills the glass, aromas of crushed strawberry, spiced plum, and underlaying hints of dark berry develop. The Pinot Noir transitions to the palate and shows savory notes of Asian spice, black tea, then gains volume with notes of plush red berries and subtle vanilla—from eleven months of aging in 45% new French oak barrels. The heavy morning fog and bracing coastal winds of the mountainous Santa Lucia Highlands keep this wine fresh and provide acidity that reawakens the palate after each sip. The finish shows youthful and layered, yet distinctly approachable tannin.”

You can read more about this wine on its tech sheet here.

My Review: Translucent, dark ruby with a purple tinge in the glass. Faint cherry nose with a quaffable palate with cherry and brambly flavors. This is not your typical SLH Pinot Noir! April 2025

2021 Lucia by Pisoni Syrah, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $65 (#1546)

Winery Notes (2018 Vintage): “Staking its claim as an immaculate representation of the new world, yet harkening back to its ancestral old-world roots, the 2021 Lucia Soberanes Vineyard Syrah is a harmonizing display of this variety. The explosive profile bursts from the bottle immediately upon removing the cork and amplifies as this deep purple wine splashes into a glass. The aromatic intricacies are woven around notes of macerated blueberries and blackberry compote paired with a perfume of anise, violets, and fresh herbs. Coating the palate, this Syrah manages an unmistakable concentration and an undeniable elegance. Berry cobbler, new leather, toasted vanilla bean, and olive tapenade flavors gain momentum as the wine takes each breath. Vibrant acid and firm tannin from 100% whole cluster fermentation proclaim this wine’s youth. Drink now if you must, but patience will reward those who can resist the temptation of early enjoyment.”

You can read more about this wine on its tech sheet here.

My Review: I am disappointed to discover that I did not take tasting notes for this wine. I recall it being very smooth, sophisticated and delicious.  I am not usually a fan of SLH Syrah but this one proved me wrong. The San Francisco Chronicle calls their Syrah “California’s Syrah at its best.” April 2025

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

A Cellar-Worthy Massa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon by Outward Wines!

THE STORY

My partner is always on the lookout for Central Coast bargains on the K&L Wine Merchants, where he found this 2023 Outward Massa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon on sale for $30.  We picked up a couple to try now and later. It’s pretty young for trying now, but we did.  Today’s post is about Outward and this single wine. You can read my previous posts about the Durney legacy of the Massa Vineyard here.

THE WINERY

About Outward Wines: “Outward Wines is a partnership between Ryan Pace and Natalie Siddique. We produce small-lot, site-specific wines from California’s Central Coast. We currently farm about 6 acres of vines ourselves and also source grapes from vineyards along the coast. All of these vineyards are organically farmed at minimum.

“In the winery, we strive to minimize our impact in order to allow for a clear picture of what the site can provide naturally, and to give our wines a true sense of time and place.”

THE WINE

Today I am presenting 1 Outward wine. As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2023 Outward Cabernet Sauvignon, Massa Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.3% ABV, $42 (#1544)

Winery Notes (2018 Vintage): “With no new oak influence, our Massa Cabernet is our ode to the old-school Cabs of California. Our 2023 Cab from this site carries a robust bouquet of aromatics with well-integrated tannins to provide body and structure. Brambly red and black fruits, notes of leather, cedar, and herbaceousness bounce from the glass, while integrated acidity and soft tannins complete the palate. This is a ready-to-drink Cabernet for any occasion—with or without food.” You can read more about this wine and the Massa Vineyard’s legacy here which also has a link to its tech sheet.

My Review: Garnet in color. Fruity nose with scents of dark plum, crushed berries, and cherry. Raspberry jam with blackberry notes, chocolate and leather on the medium- weight palate, leaving you wanting more. The palate wraps with grippy tannins and lingering vanilla notes, wondering how this wine would taste if you could cellar it for a few more years. We’ll try. February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Private tastings, by appointment

“We currently offer private, by-appointment tastings at our humble winery production space located in Grover Beach. Visits are approximately 75 minutes in duration and include a tasting of 5-7 wines. Tasting fees are $40 per person.” Please visit their website here for more information.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Shale Canyon’s New Release: 2019 Cabernet Franc

THE STORY

I popped into the Shale Canyon Tasting Room in Carmel-by-the-Sea in February and was informed their 2019 Cabernet Franc had just been released.  Their Cabernet Franc wines are their flagship, award winning wines. I presented an earlier vintage in one of my DC wine classes and was excited to try this one.

THE WINERY

About Shale Canyon from their website: “Shale Canyon Wines started vinting small lots of hand crafted varietals in 2008…Currently Shale Canyon Wines is comprised of Keith Prader, the winemaker, and Tim Prader tasting room and vineyard manager.

“Current production is about 1000+ cases per year with our main focus on producing wines that have outstanding nose, mouth feel and finish.  For the Estate wines we   are currently growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre.  We source fruit from larger, well established vineyards whose farming practices are exemplary in the industry and whose fruit is second to none.  The varietals include Syrah, Malbec, Chardonnay and Petite Sirah.  We enjoy making classic and unique blends as well .  Our Consortium is a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.  The Striation is 75% Zinfandel and 25% Mourvèdre, a wonderful floral wine.  And Amalgamation, a very interesting blend of Zinfandel, Tempranillo and Petite Sirah. Quality is our main goal.  Quantity is always secondary. We hope you try and enjoy our wines!”

THE WINE

Today I am presenting 1 Shale Canyon wine. As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2019 Shale Canyon Cabernet Franc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.4% ABV, $40 (#1543) 

Winery Notes (2018 Vintage): “Our 2018 Estate Cabernet Franc starts with aromas of dark fruit, slight oak and a touch of floral.  A complex wine with flavors of dark cherry, dark berry and cassis.  A finish of vanilla with a hint of leather and medium firm tannins.

“Cabernet Franc is one of the world’s top 20 most popular grape varieties. Recent DNA testing has proven it to be an ancestor to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Malbec. It is so popular that is has its own “wine” holiday, International Cabernet Day is celebrated August 30th.”

My Review: Rust in color. Cranberry leather, dark, plum eucalyptus and cassis on the nose. Juicy palate of blackberry, cherry, a touch of prune and anise on the finish. Medium to full bodied. February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Visit Shale Canyon’s Tasting Room! You can try Shale Canyon wines ($20 and $25 tastings) at their tasting room on Paseo San Carlos Courtyard, Westside San Carlos between Ocean and 7th, Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Their Spring hours are Monday-Thursday 1–4pm; Friday 1-7; Saturday 12-7; Sunday 1 – 5 and suggest reservations for parties of 6 or more.  You can contact them at reservations@shalecanyonwines.com.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

I Brand & Family- The 2025 Spring Releases!

THE STORY

On a whim, we stopped by the I Brand & Family @ibrandwinery tasting room last month to discover their spring releases were available to try! Angie walked us through them all. I like to see what Ian Brand is making, as you never know what surprises might be revealed – a rare varietal or an unusual source.  It is wine education in a bottle! Today’s offerings were new vintages of mostly familiar (by now) sources, some still young in the bottle – ones to cellar a bit before opening.  Again, I refer to the lost vintage of 2020 reds.

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 & Family Presents a Stunning Collection of Petite Sirah! The rest you can easily find by typing I Brand in the search bar on www.decantingmonterey.com.

THE WINES – The 2025 Spring Releases

Today I am presenting 6 wines we tasted in mid-February. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet, their website, or from tasting room staff. This was our last stop of the afternoon. Any errors are mine and mine alone!

2024 La Marea Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 12.3% ABV, $25 (#1535)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of white nectarine and honeysuckle abound. Bright acidity leads on the palate framed by a redolence of underripe pineapple and stone fruit, which persist and blend with wet river rock on the finish.”

My Review:Light in the glass. Sweet floral and bubble gum (banana) nose, with a slightly sweet palate, missing some of the acidity and minerality we’ve come to expect. Worthy of a retaste, as this is usually one of our favorite wines year over year. February 2025

2024 Paysan Rosé, Central Coast AVA, 12.9% ABV, $19 (#1536) 72% Mourvèdre, 15% Cinsault, 14% Grenache

Winery Notes: “Initial aromas of watermelon and cantaloupe are inescapable, transitioning to trailside strawberry with a touch of air. Melons and strawberries persist on the palate, and bright red fruits continue into the finish transforming into a pleasing strawberry-basil herbaceous salinity.”

My Review: Pretty light pink in the glass.  Magnolia and wet hay on the nose. Good acidity on the bright palate. Young but good. February 2025

2021 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast AVA, 14.4% ABV, $30 (#1537)

Winery Notes: “Black Plum, currants and herbaceous notes like bay laurel abound on the nose framed by subtle hints of graphite.  Tree-ripened plum leads on the palate quickly revealing more subtle red fruit characteristics, including Bing cherry and strawberry with thyme.  The palate transitions into more river rock and broken stone characteristics and hint toward Tellicherry peppercorn.  Violets fill the mid palate and are wrapped neatly in dusty tannins.”

My Review: Bright, translucent ruby in the glass. Tobacco on the nose. Earth and light cherry on palate. Some sediment. February 2025

2023 I Brand & Family Mourvèdre, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 12.5% ABV, $45 (#1538)

Winery Notes: “Telicherry peppercorn and carraway seed lead the bouquet, evolving into spiced black plum notes. The peppery and spiced plum carries over to the palate attack and the exquisitely spicy finish for a light-to-medium-bodied and chillable red. Pronounced yet balanced tannins. Finishes with notes of California garrigue; think sagebrush, manzanita, and mugwort.”

My Review: Almost purple in color. Bing cherry on the nose. Some violet and light cherry notes with a dark finish. A lighter palate than a typical Mourvèdre. February 2025

2022 I Brand & Family Pinot Noir, Flint Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.2% ABV, $36 (#1539)

Winery Notes: “The Flint Vineyard is at the base of Mount Harlan, home to Calera, and because the cold air sinks off the mountain onto the property, it buds out late and picks about a month later than Enz and a couple of weeks later than the ‘cool climate’ Santa Lucia Highlands. The Flint Vineyard bears the signature of the special mixed granitic and calcareous soils of the Cienega combined with the darker red fruits and cherry compote character of a cool climate Pinot Noir…

“Berries were tiny in 2022 and the crop was light. Fermented uninocultated on 50% whole cluster with the balance whole berries for two and a half weeks. Aged in used French oak barrels on lees for 20 months. Our 2022 Flint Pinot Noir shows the tension of the vintage quelled by a long rest in barrique.”

 My Review:  Sweet fruit on the nose. Cherry and chocolate. Very smooth and drinkable. This wine makes me appreciate what Pinot Noir can be. We took some home. February 2025.

2022 I Brand & Family Syrah, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $48 (#1539)

Winery Notes: “Earthy, meaty notes of peppered beef jerky. Graphite and clay transition into a savory mix of fire-roasted tomato confit and guajillo chili, which evolve into dark fruit reminiscent of a spiced blueberry compote ending with cumin and cardamom on the finish.”

My Review:  This was our last wine of the day, so the notes are a little skimpy and don’t do service to the wine – will need to try this one again. Cherry flavors on a lean palate. A tad acidic. February 2025

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 2025

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

Introducing Our East Coast Friends to Corral’s High Quality Wines!

THE STORY

When six couples from our East Coast life joined us here on the Monterey Peninsula, it wasn’t hard to come up with wineries we wanted them to experience. Corral Wine Co. @corralwineco was an easy choice to make. This was the perfect opportunity to expose them to Adrien Valenzuela’s fine winemaking.  In addition, there were 4 new releases to try, which are the centerpiece of today’s post!

Many thanks to owner Larry Bell for his surprise appearance to host our group and share stories about the winery and the wines. (Our friends proclaimed “There’s a cowboy in there!” as we walked into the tasting room.) His humility and honesty about their experiences, successes and challenges to date are refreshing. As their slogan says: they’re not fancy, but they make good wine. And a very special shout out to Marissa for pouring for us and amplifying the wine descriptions along the way – she is the consummate professional! Our friends commented for days about the high quality of the Corral Wine Co. wines.

My last post about Corral Wine Co.  was here: A Rare Chance to Attend a Corral Release Party!  I’ve written about them several times – just type “Corral” in the Decanting Monterey search bar. A couple of updated reviews from that previous posting:

My Chardonnay-loving friend declared the 2022 Corral Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay as the best of the day.  My updated review: “Yellow-gold in the glass. Butter and caramel balanced by a touch of lime on the nose. Quite flavorful and classic. A nice tang on the palate and acidity on the finish saves it from being too buttery from the malolactic fermentation. November 2024 and March 2025”

And, finally, the 2021 Corral Cabernet Sauvignon has come into its own on this third (for me) tasting: “Purple in the glass. Raspberry and plum on the nose, reminiscent of a balsamic vinegar, savory and slightly sweet at the same time. Juicy, balanced palate, like a rich raspberry jam on toasted sourdough. A blue, tannic crunchiness of Concord grape skin, finishing with intensely dark plum and mint.  Very complex and delicious. March 2025”

THE WINERY

From their website: “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. new releases from this reunion experience. Winery notes come from their website or the tasting sheet. My notes are amplified by the East Coast Chapter of the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Bell Ranch, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, $36 (#1531)

Winery Notes: “Vibrant aromas of strawberry, peach ring, and red fruit. Leading way into flavors of watermelon, passion fruit, and orange citrus with hints of white peach and mandarin.” Getting the color right remains a challenge – from their previous vintage of a bright deep color to this year’s pale version.

My Review: Very pale and viscous in the glass. Floral nose, followed by a crisp palate highlighted by pink grapefruit tartness. I would drink this in the micro-climate. March 2025

2023 Corral Sauvignon Blanc, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#1532)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of stone fruits, citrus, wet stone, and hints of gooseberry. On the palate lemon, citrus, peach while finishing with its nice racing acidity and minerality.”

My Review: Pale golden in the glass. Grilled pineapple on the nose. Very tasty crisp palate with gooseberry and pineapple flavors. Perhaps the tastiest Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc currently on the market. February and March 2025

2022 Corral Pinot Noir, KW Ranch, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $58 (#1533)

Winery Notes: “Rich, full flavors of drk cherry, blackberry, bay leaf, clove, spice, and a long finish.”

My Review: Garnet in color. Violet and light cherry on the pleasant nose. Rich cherry jam countered by leather on the hot palate, with lingering menthol on the finish. A richer flavor than most SLH Pinot Noirs, slightly sweet on the front with a little lingering menthol on the finish. Consistently one of our favorite SLH Pinot Noirs. February and March 2025

2021 Corral Petite Sirah, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 14.5% ABV, $56 (#1534)

Winery Notes: “Dark and rich in color with aromas of dark fruit, and ripe red fruits leading way into hints of sage, nutmeg, spices, and leather. With flavors of blackberries, sweet baking spices finishing with nice velvety tannins and a long flavorful finish.”

My Review: Rich, thick, dark purple in color. Crushed black currant with eucalyptus and sage notes on the nose. Huge, rich palate of dark fruit, finishing with lingering intense black currant and saddle leather. This is one delicious wine. We took some home! February/March 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

VISIT US

*Please note that Corral is moving very shortly (if not already) next door in the stand-alone white house formerly occupied by Albatross Ridge!*

“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 2025

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

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