Tagged: Grenache

Pierce Ranch: “Eclectic” Varietals from the San Antonio AVA

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to the San Antonio AVA and Pierce Ranch. The San Antonio Valley AVA is not one you can easily drive to – it is tucked away toward the southwestern end of Monterey County, past Arroyo Seco and nestled between the Big Sur coastline and Salinas Valley, with climate more like that of Paso Robles than the rest of the Monterey AVAs.

The San Antonio AVA Map from the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association.

Appelation America has an excellent description of this AVA: “Had the Monterey grape growers and wineries of the 1970s looked at the history of grape growing in the county a little closer, they may well have planted their Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the newly approved (July, 2006) San Antonio Valley AVA, located in the southern extreme of the county. This growing area was one of the first places in the United States to be planted with grapes, as early missionaries recognized that the region’s climate was ideally suited for producing wine. The original mission, San Antonio de Padua, established here in 1771, remains standing to this day, as a symbol of this region’s rich heritage and its significance in the history of California viticulture.”

According to the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association, (my go-to resource for all things Monterey Wines – on Facebook at Monterey Wines), “As one of Monterey County’s warmer AVA’s, San Antonio Valley experiences a large daily degree differential. Warmer weather allows fruit to fully mature while colder night temperatures preserve balanced acids and sugar ratios. This climate lends itself well to many Bordeaux and Rhone Varietals as well as Zinfandel.”

The charming Pierce Ranch Tasting Room in Cannery Row is open for curbside pickup.

Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation.  From Pierce Vineyards web page: “Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation centered in southern Monterey County’s San Antonio Valley appellation. We produce limited-run, estate-grown wines with an emphasis on Spanish and Portuguese varieties.” I spoke with their tasting room manager in late September, who informed me that Pierce Ranch received many awards in the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition, including Gold Medal and Best Tempranillo for their 2017 Tempranillo (will be reviewed in a future post), and Silver for the 2017 Touriga, Petite Sirah, and Malbec!

2017 Pierce Ranch Touriga, San Antonio Valley AVA, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#31*)

The 2017 Pierce Ranch Touriga was awarded a Silver Medal at the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition!

From the bottle: “Perched in a highland valley at the southern tip of Monterey County, our vineyards, with their wide variation in diurnal temperate and rocky soils, provide an excellent setting for the classic grape varieties of Spain and Portugal. Among these, Touriga – a native of Portugal’s Douro Valley – is undoubtedly one of the most promising. Estate grown in a hilltop block of our Y Ranch Vineyard, the 2017 vintage offers up a lovely, sumptuous wine with solid tannins and truly intriguing aromatics. A limited-run bottling, it was fermented in a single, small lot and aged in French oak for 18 months. Rich black currant and black plum are accompanied by traces of spice and floral notes.” 

My Review:  Plum in color, with a nose of raspberry jam with the sweetness offset by acidity, like a sweet tart with cinnamon on the finish.  The nose carries over to the palate – raspberry and sour cherry with bubble gum, mint and cedar notes; tannins and clove on the lingering finish.  It becomes a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon-like the longer it is open.  This smooth wine is very young – cellar it for a while. 

Pierce Ranch 2017 GSP, San Antonio AVA, 14.9% ABV, $22 (#56*)  62% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 2% Petite Sirah

Instead of a “GSM,” this is a “GSP” – with Petite Sirah instead of Mourvèdre!

From Pierce Vineyards:  “Originating in our vineyards in southern Monterey County’s San Antonio Valley appellation, our GSP is an estate-grown blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. Benefiting from the abundant sunlight, rocky calcerous soils, and wide diurnal temperature variation of our region, the 2017 vintage is a versatile, medium-bodied wine full of bright fruit and with a lively, buoyant, character. Handcrafted on a limited scale, its components were fermented in small lots and aged in French oak for 15 months. Notes of wild strawberry, cherry, and raspberry are accompanied by traces of florality.”

My Review:  Light in color, this wine has a sweet, bright berry nose, Bing cherry and berry on the palate and a little leather on the finish.  I was hoping for a bigger wine, so I would have preferred less “G” and more “S” and “P.”  For those of you who like a lighter red, this may be the wine for you! May 2020

2015 Pierce Ranch Petite Sirah, San Antonio AVA, 15.8% ABV, $25 (#95*)

I liked this so much, I went back and bought another! The 2017 took Silver at the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition!

From Pierce Vineyards, “…Located in the southernmost tip of Monterey County, the newly declared San Antonio Valley appellation is already showing itself to be an ideal region for producing nuanced, complex Petite Sirah. Consisting entirely of fruit sourced from our Y Ranch Vineyard’s rocky, hillside Block 1, this, our 2015 bottling, provides and elegant expression of the variety with excellent depth and solid tannic structure. Produced on a very limited scale, it was fermented in small lots and then aged, unracked, in French oak for 18 months. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, black currant, and black plum combined with a savory component and traces of spice.”

My Review: Very deep purple, dark in color.  Nose of cinnamon rolls.  Blueberry and blackberry on the palate – very smooth with a touch of sweetness – at 15.8% alcohol, it is creeping up on port-like qualities with dark plum and currant flavors.  A very easy drinking Petite Sirah.  A bargain at $25 – I bought this wine again, along with other vintages. July 2020

2016 Pierce Ranch Claret, San Antonio AVA. 13.8%, $28** (#142*) 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Petit Verdot, 13% Malbec,  1% Grenache

I enjoyed this Claret over several days – the flavors remained consistent – not overly complex, yet very delicious.

Pierce Ranch Claret Notes: “…Benefiting from the region’s high elevation, rocky soils, and wide variation in diurnal temperature, the 2016 vintage is a nuanced, well-balanced wine with an elegant texture, restrained fruit, and a solid tannic structure. Produced on a very limited scale, its components were fermented in small lots and aged in French oak for 18 months. Flavors and aromas of red cherry, black currant, and plum combine with hints of cedar and tobacco leaf.”

My Review: Raspberry and blackberry on the nose.  Raspberry, tart cherry and plum on the palate, with a smooth, licorice finish.  This is a very tasty, everyday Claret.

Check out their Facebook page at Piece Ranch Vineyards for their weekly specials. This might be the chance to get some of their wines before they sell out (such small production means the favorites are gone before we even know they are there).  You can order their wines via Pierce Vineyard Tasting Room  or at (831) 372-8900, and they’ll arrange for curbside pickup or shipping (which is just $5 anywhere in California.) Also, they recently started shipping to DC and Virginia, my friends!

*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.

**This wine was given to me by Pierce Ranch to review. 

© Decanting Monterey 2020

The Endless Summer: From Iconic Surfing Movie to Beach-Worthy Wines

Did you know that the third Friday of every September is International Grenache Day?  Neither did we.  Our wine class picked Grenache for our September 17th class for that very reason.  Embracing that “One World” spirit, we presented wines from France, Spain, Washington State, Napa and Monterey.  That was kind of cool! I’m deviating from my planned order in honor of International Grenache Day!

We have a story for every wine in our wine room – this one is no exception.  Last Fall, Pacific Grove closed a block of the town for Salud Pacific Grove:  An Evening of Food and Wine.  One long table extended down the street.  Food and wines from our local restaurants and vintners were served family style.  Some of the stores were open and other wines were available for purchase.  That’s where we tried and purchased The Endless Summer red wine.  We didn’t learn its full story until much later. 

Salud Pacific Grove’s dining table stretched down Grand Avenue, with an awesome bay view.

Edible Monterey published this fascinating article that tells the whole story about how The Endless Summer wines came about.  In it, you will read about the making of this iconic surfing movie, learn that the Georis brothers were in the band (The Sandals) that provided the music for the movie, and how Walter Georis has long wanted to open a line of wines embracing the beach culture.  Some quotes from the article:  “We wanted to try something you could have on the beach,” enjoying a free lifestyle, Sanvido says. “It’s a little bit of a lighter style wine, fun and nice and vibrant.”

“Georis notes that the new wines are food friendly, reflective of the local terroir and veer from the ordinary when it comes to varietals—the white is made mostly from Chenin Blanc, the Rose, Syrah, and the red, 100% Grenache. Each varietal is made in small batches of 200-300 cases…Price-wise, at $30 per bottle, the new label falls between the wines made for the acclaimed flagship Georis Winery and Georis’s more casual Cowgirl Winery.”

The Endless Summer Tasting Room will open in the former Georis Tasting Room spaces right behind Corkscrew Cafe at 4 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley Village.

“…Meantime, Georis is especially excited about the beautiful Endless Summer bottles, each engraved with the iconic movie album art, and each made in a different gorgeous color, sealed with synthetic corks in even more hues. In short, a bottle you may not want to toss after enjoying its contents.”  This is so true!  A collector’s item bottle with a bright blue cork, in the case of the Grenache!

The distinctive bottle, flat on one side, is definitely a piece of art – from its beautiful surfing scene etching – right down to its bright blue cork!

2016 The Endless Summer Red Wine, Monterey County 13% ABV, $30 (#137*)

Winemaker’s Notes 2016 Vintage: 100% Grenache. The grapes are from a blend of vineyards across Monterey County. The 2016 was a wine that was affected by the Soberanes Fire. This results in a wine that is subtly and pleasantly smoky, accompanied by blackberry and plum. The tannins are smooth and well-integrated and the finish has lingering smoke. 

Winemaker’s Notes for the 2017 Vintage:  Aromas such as black cherry, strawberry, tobacco and subtle hints of mocha can be found on the nose.  A smooth palate with very subtle tannins leaves wine easy to drink accompanied by great spicy notes such as cinnamon and white pepper.  A medium bodied wine with great texture and complexity.  100% Grenache.  331 cases produced.

My Review: This wine is translucent garnet in appearance. I definitely detected smoked ham on the nose (my better half did not).  The palate was quite juicy and pleasant, but overwhelmed by the lingering smoky finish.  Would love to taste the 2017 and will hang onto this bottle!  September 2020

You can buy The Endless Summer wines on the Georis website or at the Georis Tasting Room. Not sure if The Endless Summer’s Tasting Room is open yet.

*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

Parsonage: Creative Sourcing Makes an Intriguing Portfolio

Many wineries source grapes from other vineyards and regions.  Some don’t even have their own vineyards and produce amazing wines through innovative sourcing.  Parsonage grows Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot on its 7-acre estate vineyard.  So where does this Carmel Valley winery get its other varietals – or grapes to supplement in the 2016 Soberanes Fire vintage?  From Chesebro’s Cedar Lane Vineyard in Arroyo Seco – a great alternative! 

From Parsonage Wine: “Parsonage is a boutique, family-run vineyard and winery located in the heart of Carmel Valley. We produce big, bold, red wines at a small scale. We named our wine Parsonage because the Parsonage is where the Parson and his family live. We’d love to meet you on your next Carmel Valley wine tasting and are open Thursdays through Mondays by appointment.”

Inside and Outside the Parsonage Winery, April 2019

I’m presenting three wines which Parsonage sources from the Arroyo Seco AVA: the 2018 Grenache Rosé, the 2016 Grenache-Syrah, and their 2016 Cyrano Red Wine.    We tasted these wines with friends as we helped Parsonage test out their reopening operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parsonage says they learned a lot from our trial run.  😊

2018 Parsonage Grenache Rosé, Arroyo Seco AVA, 15% ABV, $29

2018 Parsonage Grenache Rosé – Light and Refreshing

From Parsonage Wine: “A perennial warm weather favorite. And a surprise to everyone who thinks they don’t like Rosé! Made with Grenache grapes. Refreshing and dry. We get raspberry and strawberry with back notes of spice and stone fruit. These elements play out on the palate with a delightful fullness and a crisp finish.”

My Review: The grapes for this wine comes from Mark Chesebro’s Cedar Lane vineyard in Arroyo Seco.  Very light in color, almost golden.  Peach and apricot – a very light and refreshing Rosé.  June 2020

2016 Grenache-Syrah, Arroyo Seco AVA, 15% ABV, $34.  70% Grenache, 30% Syrah

The 2016 Grenache-Syrah is a delicious blend.

The Parsonage Grenache-Syrah has frequently been a favorite.  The Parsonage Village Vineyard is quite small yet powerful.  They grow no Grenache and, with the Soberanes fire in the summer of 2016, their Syrah also needed to be sourced from another AVA.  Fortunately for us, their long-standing relationship with Mark Chesebro’s Cedar Lane Vineyard in Arroyo Seco provided them the capability to produce this vintage from a year that was extremely hard for Carmel Valley wineries.  This wine is on their Premium Tasting list – a big wine to start with right off the bat.

This is a classic Southern Rhone wine from Parsonage Wines: “This easy drinker pairs nicely with cheese & crackers. We joke that we should re-name it the “universal donor” even though that isn’t the perfect analogy. But you get the gist of it – this wine seems to be universally loved, no matter what your favorite varietal is. 70 percent Grenache and 30 percent Syrah. Fully dry. Medium-bodied but rich. Notes of black, red and blue fruit with a hint of spice on the finish..” 

My Review:  Dark fruit and a bit of alcohol on the nose.  Black tea, chai, white pepper and cinnamon on the palate.  A bit brash, but we liked it.  For a medium-bodied wine, it is a big one.  Must be that 15% alcohol on top of the fruit.  I re-tasted this wine in August and detected no brashness right out of the bottle – it was just a yummy wine. I need to get more of this vintage, if possible!! June 2020 and August 2020

2016 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Arroyo Seco, 15% ABV, $26. 70% Merlot, 30% Syrah

The 2016 Cyrano is sourced from Arroyo Seco AVA.

Another Parsonage – this time an everyday wine and a favorite.  For a long time, this wine was called “Snosrap” (Parsons spelled backwards).  The label was a beautiful Mary Ellen Parsons quilt of Cyrano smelling a glass of wine.  A marketing expert suggested they simply call this red blend “Cyrano.”  Thus, the current naming of this wine. 

From Parsonage Wine: “Our versatile red table wine easily pairs with a variety of different foods. We think it goes especially well with pizza and spaghetti with red sauce.  This vintage is full bodied. A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Syrah.  Rich, ripe and voluptous. The Cyrano is one of our best sellers.”

My Review: Slight brownish tint, inky and “Camembert” on the nose.  The palate is smooth with bold, intense fruit, with herbal notes. This vintage is particularly delicious.  Recommending snapping up some – great wine at a value price.   

Once we are on the other side of this fire emergency, you can obtain these wines directly from the winery:  They offer flat rate ground shipping for $14.99. Join their wine club for 20% off.  You can also visit their tasting room by appointment only in Carmel Valley Village (“the village”) Thursdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. You can make a reservation from their home page:  Parsonage Wine.

© Decanting Monterey 2020

Chesebro: “artisan wines, lovingly farmed and made by hand”

We are going to venture out of Carmel Valley AVA and into another one of my favorites, Arroyo Seco AVA.  Back in 2019, we took a family drive down 101 to Greenfield and back up through the valley just so I could see first hand the “Greenfield potatoes” – the big rocks in the vineyard soil – of the Arroyo Seco AVA.  We know how to have a good time!

The Monterey County Vintners and Growers  says this about the Arroyo Seco AVA: “First planted in 1962, this AVA extends from a steep canyon at its westernmost border, opening to encompass the benches around the Salinas River near the towns of Soledad and Greenfield. Bordeaux grape varieties prosper in the mouth of the canyon, which is protected from wind and warmed by reflective heat generated the surrounding cliffs. The valley floor is much cooler, providing ideal climactic conditions for the Burgundian varietals. Integral to this area’s soils are the “Greenfield Potatoes” – small cobblestones which store and release heat and provide excellent drainage.”

When the White Oak shopping center in Carmel Valley became a row of tasting rooms, we discovered Chesebro wines.  We were intrigued by the delicious, white varietals we weren’t so familiar with (Albariño, Vermentino), and impressed by the red blends.  Quality, artisan wines at affordable prices. 

  • From the Chesebro Wines Facebook page
The Chesebro tasting room is very charming on the exterior and offers both wine tasting and art on the inside! Sadly, currently closed.

I immediately became a fan of the Chesebro Syrah-driven Rhône blend, La Montagne Sauvage, which I presented several years ago at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar.  We became fans of the tasting room staff and visited often when in town.  Chesebro has been very helpful to me over the years in my wine education efforts. 

From www.chesebrowines.com: “Mark took a crush job at Bernardus Winery under Don Blackburn in the fall of 1994, and ended up staying until the spring of 2005. First working in the cellar, then as Enologist, he eventually became Winemaker in January of 1999. He basically held every production job available at this 50,000 case winery. Mark notes that this was truly his real winemaking education: it taught him not only about winemaking, but also about the extreme importance and impact of farming. He candidly observes that wine is very easy to botch up in the winery, but it can never be better than the raw materials. Respect for this concept became the guiding force in his approach to the production of fine wine.”

Chesebro Wine Lineup from Their Facebook Page.

“With lots of 300 cases or less, and a penchant for offbeat, as well as mainstream varietals, Chesebro’s production may be small, but the effort is prolific. We are passionate about true varietal expression, as well as preserving the unique voice of each vineyard site, from soil to glass. All of our wines are made solely from our vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Carmel Valley AVA’s.” They own Cedar Lane vineyard in Arroyo Seco, which has supplied grapes to other wineries, including Mercy and Parsonage. 

Chesebro 2012 Las Arenas, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.4% ABV, $25

According to the bottle, “Las Arenas refers to the sandy soils of Cedar Lane Vineyard.  This Rhone style blend of 67% Grenache and 33% Syrah, resulting in a wine that combines intense aromatics with smooth texture and bright acidity.”  Wine Enthusiast rated the Chesebro 2013 Las Arenas 90 points and the 2011 La Montagne Sauvage (another favorite of mine), 93 points.

The Chesebro Las Arenas is one of my favorite Arroyo Seco wines.

My Review: Blackberry on the nose, followed by plum and cherry with bright acidity on the palate.  This wine alternates for me between a smooth finish and a more tannic, woody, leather finish.  I presented the 2013 vintage at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar Spring 2019, which everyone loved.  The 2015 was well received at the October 2019 Northern Virginia AWS meeting.  Recommend decanting.  May 2020

Buying Chesebro Wines: From the Chesebro Wines Facebook page: “Although we are not currently open for tastings, Chesebro wines remains at your disposal for all your Summer sipping wine needs. Contact us directly (831) 238-2618 or email info@chesebrowines.com to place an order for curbside pickup or free local delivery.”

© Decanting Monterey 2020

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