This is another Monday Catch-Up post about another Paso discovery: DENO Wine Paso Rouge! The Decanting Monterey Wine Pod enjoyed this wine at the home of our partners, who are big Paso Robles fans.
“Alto Pomar Vineyard (DENO’s estate vines) was initially planted in 1993, as the dream of Dennis Sharpe, a native Southern Californian. As an agriculture student in both High School and College, Dennis made frequent trips to Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo for agricultural events. There were few wineries at that time on the Central Coast but grape growing had been part of the local farming scene for decades. Dennis noticed the limestone and fossilized sea shells in many areas of the county. After developing a taste for fine wine in the early 1970’s the thoughts of those white rock soils brought an appreciation for what these soils could achieve in growing premium grapes.
“In 1992 Dennis began a search for country home in San Luis Obispo County. After a few months an 8 acre parcel in the hills east of Templeton was found. This land was part of the Bowers Orchard Tract which included 600 acres of Almond trees planted in 1916. The land had been divided into parcels many years before. This property would become Alto Pomar Vineyard.
“Over the years Alto Pomar grew little-by-little. What started as a “hobby” vineyard grew to about 3 acres of primarily rhone type grapes. Another 11 acres of land was purchased in the middle 90’s. The the decision to make wine from the estate fruit was made in 2008. Dennis has managed the vineyard and worked with Eric Ogorsolka, owner of Zenaida Cellars, to make DENO Wines through 2017. Since 2018 DENO wines have been made at ONX Winery with the Custom Crush Team.
VINEYARDS
“DENO wines are made from fruit from our estate, Alto Pomar Vineyard, and other local vineyards in the Paso Robles area. The objective is to turn the best fruit into exceptional wines.
“Alto Pomar is located in the eastside Templeton Hills at almost 1400 feet in elevation and takes advantage of the winds and temperature swings of the Templeton Gap. The varying soils are primarily calcareous marls and shales with mixed clays and gravel. Farming the steep ridges of Alto Pomar is a challenge. Water is limited and the vines naturally produce extremely low yields (2 tons/acre) of intense and well-balanced fruit.
“The grapes from Alto Pomar have a common thread of spice, brightness and balanced maturity. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and a few scattered other varieties make up the small (3 acre) vineyard.
“The vineyard is farmed in both trellis and head-trained fashion. The oldest vines are now over 25 years of age…”
WINEMAKING
“Harvest timing is always a challenge and the window of harvest for ideal balance is very short. Grapes are harvested when the acid and maturity appear to be in the best harmony. This results in wines of balance and ripe flavors.
“Fruit is harvested as early in the morning as possible to maintain a cool initial soak before fermentation. Grapes are delivered to the winery and destemmed leaving whole berries in the fermentation bins. Dry ice is added when the cold soak is desired for a longer period. Typically, fermentation starts within three days and the wines are pressed after approximately two to four weeks, depending on the fruit and the vintage.
“Minimal manipulation of the wine is performed with constant monitoring to bring the wine to a finely finished product. Bottling is usually done unfiltered.
“DENO wine typically benefits from decanting in its early years. The wine is balanced with natural acidity and the grapes’ own fruitful maturity.”
THE WINE
I have just one wine to present to you today from DENO Wine. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
2018 DENO Wine Paso Rouge, Alto Pomar Vineyard, El Pomar District, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 14.4% ABV, $40 (#1214) 65% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre
Winery Notes: “Floral aromas with perfume of bright red berries. Red berry/Raspberry flavors with a nice elegant feel. Balanced and softly structured. Opens nicely in the decanter.”
My Review: Translucent ruby in the glass. Raspberry jam and leather on the nose. Juicy palate of raspberry jam – 💯 raspberry. Went well with espresso chocolate. October 2023
TASTING ROOM
According to its Facebook page, DENO Wine might have a shared tasting room with Clavo Cellars at 315 S. Main Street in Templeton.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I really feel like Decanting Monterey is getting some recognition when I start getting invited to events that are “wine trade only.” This is part 2 of my experience at the Monterey Wines Trade and Media Tasting organized by the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association in Carmel in early August. Check my blog for Part 1 from earlier this week and I will have one more next week!
It’s been a while since I have tasted Silvestri wines. I have long been a fan of their Barbera and Syrah, so it was a real treat to try these at this event.
2019 Silvestri Vineyards Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $48 (#1098)
Winery Notes: “Syrah fans everywhere! Our Syrah continues to please year after year. Savor the aromas of blackberry and dried plum while enjoying the mouth-watering flavors, velvety texture along with medium tannins. Complement with sausage pizza, grilled veggies or grilled meat.”
My Review: Beautiful dark ruby in glass. Dark fruits enrobed with eucalyptus. Mouthfilling. Delicious. I had forgotten how delicious their Estate Syrah could be! August 2023
2019 Silvestri Vineyards Estate Barbera, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $75 (#1099)
Winery Notes: “Barbera is a red grape varietal originating from the Piedmont region of Northwestern Italy. Our small block of Barbera, which is the first planting of this varietal in Carmel Valley, was added to the vineyard to honor the Silvestri family heritage. It’s position on a warm southern facing slope allows this varietal to mature and ripen to its fullest potential before harvest. With the influence of French oak barrel fermentation and maturation our Barbera exudes a deep richness and complexity that helps balance the grape’s high acidity.
“Black cherry, dried strawberry and plum aromas blend through to like flavors and move on to full, soft tannins with sufficient acidity. A more refined yet full-flavored Barbera.”
My Review: Hammy bacon on the nose, like BBQ ribs. Dark fruit on the palate. Yummy. August 2023
2019 Silvestri Vineyards Red Ranger Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $75 (#1100)
Winery Notes: “The 2019 Red Ranger is the 7th release of our signature Syrah that represents a part of the vineyard featuring the Bien Nacido clone, which is known for its richness and complexity. We use 75% new French oak and age it in the cellar for 16 months…
“Red Ranger rocks! That consistent depth of flavor, roundness and long finish are all here. Blackberry, black currant and a trace of fig lead to the full mouthfeel, just the right acidity and long, luscious finish. Try with a sausage stew and roasted meats, or aged hard cheeses.” 93 points, 2023 Wine Enthusiast buying guide!
My Review: Inky in glass. Rich palate of dark fruits highlighted by some woody notes. My favorite red wine of the day. August 2023
I do miss Rexford’s tasting room in Carmel Valley. It sat quietly next to Parsonage, where COraal Wine Co. is today. We’d stop in to talk to the vintner from time to time. He makes one heck of a delicious Chardonnay and Merlot. But today I decided to try their Zinfandel. We just don’t seem to have the right climate for Zinfandel, yet I continue to seek one out.
2019 Rexford Zinfandel, Gillian Enz Vineyards, Lime Kiln Valley AVA, San Benito County, 15.5% ABV, $37 (#1101)
Winery Notes: “Lime Kiln Valley is a small viticultural area located in the San Benito County south of Hollister. The area features soils of decomposed granite and limestone, with warm days and cool nights that lead to a long growing season producing balanced wines with great depth. We think that Sam’s great grandparents produced wine from grapes grown here more than a century ago so we are pleased to offer this Zinfandel. Aged in American oak and bottled without fining or filtration, the wine is full-bodied with rich berry flavors and a smooth finish. Enjoy it with barbecue, grilled meats or pasta.”
My Review: Garnet in color. While our region is not known for its Zinfandel, this Rexford wine is not bad for a lighter Zinfandel. August 2023
2019 Opaque Darkness Red Blend, El Pomar District, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 14.9% ABV, $30 (#1102)
Winery Notes: “The word “opaque” means “impenetrable to light” and refers to the dark, inky, impenetrable color of the Riboli family’s proprietary blend. Opaque Darkness brings together the impressive quality of our estate grown Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah grapes. After aging in French and American barrels for 15 months, our hand-crafted artisan blend reveals ripe flavors of raspberry and blackberry with notes of spice and vanilla. Enjoy the darkness!”
My Review: Inky in color. Dark fruit berries not overdone. Very balanced. Really quite delicious. A superb value. August 2023
At the Scheid table, we were introduced to a couple of family wine lines I had not heard of before. These two wines were lots of fun and perhaps the polar opposites, showing the range of what Monterey County can produce.
Sunny with a Chance of Flowers: “Sunny is made for mindful wine lovers – who, like us, believe less can be more. Zero sugar, fewer calories and less alcohol, yet still positively delicious! It’s everything you want in a wine and more –certified sustainable, vegan and gluten-free.”
VDR – Very Dark Red: “Very Dark Red—the name speaks for itself. Effortlessly bold, it captivates the senses with an inherent confidence that draws you in. Slightly mysterious, yet unexpectedly approachable, this robust red blend reveals new layers of depth and personality with each lingering sip.”
Sunny Positively Bubby Rosé, Monterey County, 9% ABV, $20 (#1103)
Winery Notes: “Everything is better with bubbles! Our Sunny Bubbly delights with flavors of fresh strawberry and watermelon wrapped in a package of lovely, fine bubbles and a crisp, refreshing finish. We are all born to sparkle…Aromas of fresh strawberry and watermelon. Lovely, fine bubbles. A crisp, refreshing finish.” 91 points – Wine Enthusiast and Best Buy
My Review: Pale pink. Cantaloupe flavors. Very bubbly and light. Zero sugar. Made from Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. August 2023
2020 VDR (Very Dark Red) Proprietary Red Blend, Hames Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $25 (#1104)
Winery Notes: “Very Dark Red—the name speaks for itself. VDR is a non-traditional proprietary red blend headlined by a rare combination of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot – two grape varietals known for their extraordinarily deep violet hues, concentrated flavors and full-bodied profiles. Big and bold, VDR not only turns heads, it turns the curious into evangelists with its layered complexity, lush mouthfeel, supple tannins and smooth, lingering finish.” https://www.cheersandco.com/
My Review: Inky in the glass. Dark fruit and caramel on the nose. A rich, jammy palate of dark fruit. Very tasty – a great value. August 2023
I think anyone who has met Sabrine Rodems would agree that she is a formidable talent in the Monterey winemaking world. She makes wine for Kori, Scratch, and Wrath, all in the same building at Wrath Wines. Her talent, creativity and stamina are equally impressive. I fell in love with Wrath’s San Saba Syrah many years ago and knew, when I tried the Wrath Ex Dolio Falanghina, that she was one to think outside the box and dare to be different.
I’ve had Scratch wines a few times and finally visited her cute, trendy and spacious tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. I was delighted to chat with Sabrine a bit on this day and taste some more of her wines.
2022 Scratch Rosé of Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV (#1105)
Winery Notes: N/A
My Review: Bright pink in the glass. Fuji apple and great flavors on the palate – bright and delicious. August 2023
2021 Scratch C47 Marsanne/Roussanne White Blend, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $59 (#1106)
Winery Notes: “These two Northern Rhone varietals grown in Carmel Valley from the Paloma Creek Vineyard are traditionally blended together. The slightly crisp nature of Marsanne with white nectarine, quince & lemon balance out the creamy Roussanne with fig, peach, pear and a little nuttiness.”
My Review: Melon on the nose. Creamy from the fruit with an attractive sweetness at the finish. August 2023
2019 Scratch C47 Red Blend, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 14.5% ABV, $95 (#1107) Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Winery Notes: “Classic Bordeaux blend from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cab Sauvignon and Cab Franc from the steep slopes of Janaca Vineyard. Merlot harvested from the high elevation of the Zayante Vineyard. Black berries, blueberries with hints of juniper & spices all come together in this blend, creating a sophisticated and age worthy bottle to enjoy now or in the future.”
My Review: An attractive dark garnet in color. Lots of berry flavors, yet retains a lean nature. August 2023
We had met Greg Hill at the Monterey Winemakers’ Celebration back in June, so it was great to see him here and try another of his wines. We are big fans of our newest and youngest wineries and believe Tira Nanza shows great promise. I previously reviewed his Cabernet Sauvignon here.
Winery Notes: “Back by popular demand, our 2022 Malbec Rosé may differ from its predecessor in color but it shares the same vibrant fruit and complexity that made the ‘21 so special. Lighter in color and more tropical in flavor, with notes of strawberry, cantaloupe and mango, this Rosé can be enjoyed in any setting. Fermented and aged in Stainless Steel”
My Review: We detected floral notes on the nose and palate, with anise on the finish. It was served very cold. August 2023
THE TASTING ROOMS
Most of these wineries have tasting rooms in Carmel-by-the-Sea or in Carmel Valley – please check their websites for more information.
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