Tagged: Monterey County

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

Chesebro Releases Its 2017 Classics!

THE STORY

Usually, I catch the announcement when a new Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage is released, but the release of their latest vintage of this wine caught me by surprise. La Montagne Sauvage is one of the Monterey County wines I presented in my very first class many moons ago – it holds a special place in this aficionado’s portfolio.  I discovered the release of this wine and 2 other new releases when I stopped in to pick up a couple of bottles of their Sparkling rosé. I came back with one of my Decanting Monterey Wine Pod expert tasters to make sure I got these classics right. We were fortunate to be hosted that day by Alex Lallos, their Tasting Room Manager.

I commend Chesebro for continuing to produce exceptional wines at affordable prices – something they should be extremely proud of.

THE WINES

Today, I am presenting 3 Chesebro Wines.  I last presented their wines to you in January 2025 here: Kicking Off the New Year with a Chesebro Favorite! 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.

2017 Chesebro Piedras Blancas, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#1415)

Winery Notes: “A Rhone style white (85% Roussanne, 10% Vermentino, 5% Sauvignon Blanc) Our richest and most complex / ageworthy white. Don’t be afraid to put this Rhone syled white from our estate vineyard in Carmel Valley deep in your cellar. A blend of mainly Roussanne, it is modeled after the most famous white wines in Chateauneuf du Pape, France. Rich and viscous with aromas of stone fruit and flavors of baked apples and oak. A full bodied and very srious white for the true connoiseur in mind. Pair this heady white whith cream sauces, roasted fowl and sweetbreads.”

My Review: Pale, dusty gold in the glass. Light mouthfeel. Peach and melon on the nose. Mellow palate with gardenia, white peach flavors, a lot of minerality, and balanced acidity. Turns out this wine was released in Summer 2024 – but I have better tasting notes this time! February 2025

2017 Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage, CM Ranch, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $35 (#1524)

Winery Notes: “Our proprietary Rhone belnd of Syrah (80%), Grenache (15%) and Mourvedre (5%) modeled after the legendary wines of the Southern Rhone Valley in France. Grown at 1800′ elevation, this is our flagship wine and our most popular blend from a small 2.5 acre vineyard in the mountains of Carmel Valley. Rich and broading with aromas of dark blackberries, chaparral, sage and all-spice. An ageworthy and deeply profound example of what these Rhone varietals can do on the granite soils of Upper Carmel Valley. ONLY 80 Cases Produced.”

My Review: Dusty garnet in color. Jammy nose with dark cherry and spicy notes. Medium palate with dark cherry flavors and a dry finish. Tasty. This is one of my favorite wines to present in a class. We took some home. February 2025

2017 Chesebro Syrah, CM Ranch, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $38 (#1525)

Winery Notes: “Single barrel series. Only 25 cases produced. 100% single vineyard Syrah from our estate vineyard in Carmel Valley. Aromas of dark blueberry and currants, spice, sandal wood and cedar. Some deep earthy forest notes as well. Wonderfully balanced with chalky tannins, fine acidity and brambly fruit. Medium-full bodied.”

My Review: Big bright flavors on the exploding palate. A range of cherry flavors. Really delicious. Probably my favorite wine of the day. Took some home! February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

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

From the Chesebro Facebook Page, used with permission

“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….”

SOME SPECIALS AT WINE.COM TO SHARE WITH YOU

New Customer March Promotion

  • Promotion: $20 off $150 on your First Order at Wine.com 
  • Code: MARCH20
  • Dates Live: NOW-3/31/25
  • Link ID: 10004860

Top Themes this Week

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Rombi’s 2018 Petite Sirah Expresses Its Napa Pedigree!

THE STORY

One of the first places I went when my Dry January ended was to see Sal Rombi @rombiwine in his Carmel Valley tasting room.  He said he had something for me. Yes, folks, February 1 and I was there! He told me he was going to be releasing his 2018 Petite Sirah this spring and he wanted me to try it. I gladly took it home. Impatient as we are, on February 2, we double decanted it (the best way to enjoy a Rombi wine!) and enjoyed it with our Sunday night dinner.

As my avid readers know, I fund this blog out of pocket.  The industry recognition for waived tasting fees and discounts on wines is greatly appreciated; and the occasional gifting of a bottle of wine (or more), even more so.  It doesn’t happen often, so I am so grateful when it does.

Grazie mille, Sal!

As I looked through my files, I realized we had tried this wine in August 2024 – but without the luxury of double decanting and at the end of a Decanting Monterey Wine Pod evening of tasting – not the best way, for sure. So today, I am happy to present both tastings together here in one place.

ABOUT ROMBI WINES

“Since 2006, hands-on winemaking that reflects a unique sense of place”

“Wine is a gift from nature, and every bottle produced at Rombi Wines tells a story of the land, the geography, the climate, and the hands-on philosophy of one man. Salvatore Rombi takes winemaking personally, obsessing over every detail — from harvest to barrel aging — to produce a unique range of elegant yet bold and complex red wines from the Carmel Valley Appellation. Rombi’s small vineyard and intimate tasting room provide the perfect setting for an unforgettable wine journey. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a strict allegiance to sustainable farming practices, Rombi creates award-winning, limited-production vintages. As an ode to terroir — the rock and soil, but also the land and legacy, culture and commitment, time and tradition — the wines from Rombi are always bottled poetry.”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting 1 wine, the 2018 Rombi Petite Sirah expected to be released soon, and my two sets of tasting notes, as explained above. 

2018 Rombi Petite Sirah, Napa Valley AVA, 14.6% ABV, $75 (#1128) (pre-release)

My New Review: This wine was gifted to me. Big jammy nose, including plum, violet, blackberry, licorice and Chinese five spice. A huge palate of jammy blue and black fruits, wrapped in Chinese five spice with a licorice and cassis finish. Definitely has the Napa pedigree. February 2025

My Previous Review: This was the evening’s bonus wine, so it was not decanted. Always a mistake. Rombi wines must be decanted.  Late in the evening, our notes were not as extensive: Very dark purple in color. Dried fig, cigarettes and a touch of barnyard on the nose. Super rich, big palate. This wine comes off a little hot, yet is an extremely tasty wine. Next time I get my hands on one of these, we are decanting it! August 2024

And so I did!

THE TASTING ROOM

Taste Award-Winning Vintages at Rombi Wines:

“At Rombi Wines, our unique tasting room provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable experience. Salvatore Rombi is most often on hand to guide you through the winemaking process and your tasting experience. Step off the beaten path and discover Rombi, where every bottle tells a story.

“Rombi Wines Tasting Room is at 1 Center St., in the charming Carmel Valley Village. We are open Saturdays and Sundays from noon–5 p.m., although appointments can be made for weekday visits.”

(831) 659-7200

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

And the 2021s Keep Rolling Out at Parsonage

THE STORY

Today’s story seems simple on the surface: a Parsonage wine pickup and more 2021 releases to taste. We enjoy our wine pickups – a chance to chat up the staff, hear what’s new, taste new releases, retry some favorites, and hand select our final allocation.  But the deeper story reflects what I am tasting and hearing at our local wineries: the impact of the missing vintage.

The 2020 wildfires ravaged much of Monterey County’s vineyards – both the Salinas Valley and Carmel Valleys were hit hard, meaning most vintners had to completely scrap their red wines. And, since many of our wineries are quite small, this means the 2021 and 2022 red wines are being released sooner than expected. It’s something to consider when you taste these wines that probably need more time in the bottle.  I’m not referring to any of the wines in today’s post.  But it is something to keep in mind.

My last post about Parsonage was here: Parsonage: From the 2008 “Snosrap” to the Latest Rocco! Let’s just jump into these wines!

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you just 2 new releases from Parsonage’s 2021 vintage.  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.

2021 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Central Coast AVA, 15% ABV, $32 (#1522)

Winery Notes: “The Cyrano, a blend of Merlot and Syrah, is one of our best sellers. Quite the dazzling bouquet of black, blue, and red fruit (in that order) wrapped in allspice and vanilla. Remarkably complex and delicious palate of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, currant, and exotic spices. The mouthfeel is elegantly structured with perfect acid-tannin balance.  What a beautiful finish!” 

My Review: Pretty garnet in the glass. Orange, violet, dark red plums, cranberry, red cherry, with a hint of bubblegum on the nose. Medium palate of bright cherries balanced with dried cherries, with the Syrah giving it a spicy finish. February 2025

2021 Parsonage Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#1523)

Winery Notes: “SCRUMPTIOUS!! What a crazy word to describe Pinot Noir. I also could have said yummy or delicious.  But those descriptors are so inadequate. This Hawk is a true outlier, reminiscent of the epic 2012 version, for those who remember that vintage. The 2021 is barely recognizable as Pinot Noir. The bouquet hints at Pinot with its cherry and floral essences. But there’s a mysterious opulence to this Hawk that is mystifying and compellingly addictive. In a word, scrumptious!”

My Review: Mint and cherry on the nose. Light cherry and spice on the palate. An improvement over most Central Coast Pinot Noir wines – no metallic taste! A tasty wine. February 2025

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.

Tasting Room Photo Provided Courtesy of Parsonage!

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

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Another Flavorful Valentine’s Celebration at Twisted Roots!

THE STORY

The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society #aws #americanwinesociety once again had the chance to celebrate an early Valentines Day at the Twisted Roots Tasting Room in Carmel Valley!  They allowed us to use their beautiful club space for our members to bring appetizers to share. The wines were delicious. The surprise wine education component was comparing and contrasting a filtered and unfiltered wine – the same wine, the same vintage. Eye opening, to say the least! Many thanks to Josh, Julie, Jon and the rest of the staff who helped us that evening!

I’ve written about Twisted Roots Winery and their wines several times, with our previous AWS visit presented here: Valentine’s Celebration at Twisted Roots! You can read about their history in that post.

You can join the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society by becoming a member of the National American Wine Society and choosing Monterey as your local chapter.

THE EVENT

At this month’s tasting, we started with a new California bubbly, segued to a Lodi Albariño from one of the oldest vineyards in California.  Before moving into the Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, which they are mostly known for, Josh took us on a wine education journey.  In detail, he explained that he was presenting us with two versions of his 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon.  He tends to make his Cabernet Sauvignon in a lighter style.  For this vintage, he held back some of the juice (wine) from the filtering process and bottle it separately.  We got to taste the difference from the bigger, fruitier unfiltered wine and the lighter, more sophisticated style of the filtered wine.  I’m sure we put a dent in his last case of the unfiltered wine, so make a beeline there if you still want to grab a bottle!

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 6 wines, including the unfiltered version of the Cabernet Sauvignon.  As usual, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the winery website, or tasting room staff. Any errors are mine or mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

NV Twisted Roots California Brut, Monterey County, 12.5% ABV, $55 (#1516)

Winery Notes: “Our NEW California Brut Sparkling wine has notes of ripe green apple on the nose, followed by bright notes of lemon and citrus on the palate. We produced our new Monterey County, Sparkling Brut using the traditional of methode champenoise, which creates soft and round little bubbles that round the finish off perfectly! While completely dry, our California Brut also has nice hints of almond and brioche which pairs nicely with your favorite cheese platter. Cheers!”

My Review: A very faint nose with scents of apple. Light flavors on the palate beginning with brioche and finishing crisp. Tiny bubbles throughout. This was a favorite wine of the tasting. February 2025

2022 Twisted Roots Albariño, Bokish Vineyards – Terra Alta, Lodi AVA, $50  (#1517)

Winery Notes: “Our Albarino is a light, crisp, and fruity white wine. Perfect for a hot summer day by the pool, the BBQ, or just hanging out in the shade. This wine brings lots of tropical type fruit like mangos and pineapples, and lots of citrus type acid on the finish. Ice cold out of the cold box, its really refreshing!”

My Review: This Albariño begins with scents of wet hay, like after a spring rain, and ends with grilled pineapple.  Lots of minerality mid palate with a pronounced acidic, grapefruit finish. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots (Filtered) Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi AVA, 14% ABV, $60 (#1518)

Winery Notes: “Unlike those Napa Valley style Cabernet Sauvignon, with a ton of tannins, our Cabernet drinks more like a Pinot Noir, in terms of body and tannins, with all the fruit of a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our 2018 vintage present a soft sublte body, with dry cherry, and coco flavors on the palate. Great with a meal, or on its own!”

My Review: Light bodied with more tannin and cassis on the finish. The filtered version is lighter, yet still quite flavorful – a more sophisticated presentation than its unfiltered brother. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi AVA, 14% ABV, $60 (#1519)

Winery Notes: Josh described how this wine was made – by reserving some of the wine before filtering.  It is the exact same wine and juice as the regular 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, but without the filtering.  This leaves you with a more robust, juicy, tasty wine. There is less than a case left – so stop on over soon if you want one!

My Review: Distinctive yummy cherry and plum on the nose.  Delicious, with sweet cherry on the rich palate, finishing with raisiny notes. A delicious fruit bomb, in a good way.  This was the second favorite wine of the night for our group. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots Petite Sirah, Lodi AVA, 15.5% ABV, $60 (#1520)

Winery Notes: “Our winemakers passion, the first wine he ever made, the one that he drinks the most. Our Petite Sirah is big, and bold, but not harsh, which makes it enjoyable. It presents lots of dark fruit, blackberry, and raspberry, both on the nose and on the finish, followed by a little black pepper as well.”

My Review: Purple in the glass. A subtle nose of grape sweet tart, oregano and raisins. The fruitiness in the rich palate is offset by a little tobacco on the finish. I liked this wine. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots “1918” Old Vine Zinfandel, Dairy Vineyard, Lodi AVA, 14% ABV, $60 (#1521)

Winery Notes: “make sure right vintage These are the grapes that started it all for Twisted Roots… Originally planted on the “Dairy” Vineyard in 1918! Three generations of our family have cared for these vines, and they are still producing to this day. This wine presents itself as big and fruity on the nose, but on the pallet it has gentle fruit and smooth tannins. We aged this wine in 100% neutral French oak barrels to showcase the depth of flavor these old vines produce.”

My Review: Ripe plum on the nose. Prune and bitter tannins with a white pepper finish. The terroir of the old vines shines through. February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Visit The Twisted Roots Tasting Room: “Wine is an experience meant to be shared with others. Stop by our beautiful tasting room and let’s share it together.” Located at 12 Del Fino Pl, Carmel Valley, CA 93924. Open 12-5pm, Thursday-Sunday. Reserve online or at 831- 594-8282. You can also buy their wines on their website!

Wrath: When the Power Goes Out, Let’s Go Wine Tasting!

THE STORY

Remember our Monterey Peninsula power outage in mid-December? Yeah, that one was not easy to forget. We decided to head to Carmel-By-The-Sea for holiday shopping and ended up at the Wrath Tasting Room in Carmel Plaza to see if there were any new Syrahs being poured.  We tasted 4 new (to us) wines and took some home! There we were hosted once again by Cynthia, whom we had last seen in their Soledad tasting room. 

My last post about Wrath was here: Wrath: A Quiet Afternoon on the Monterey Wine Trail! I’ve written about their wines a few times – just type “Wrath” in the Decanting Monterey search bar.

ABOUT WRATH

From the Wrath website:

“The wrath of Juno sent Aeneas wandering the Mediterranean in Vergil’s Aeneid. For the ancient Romans, ira or wrath, was a tool of a god, an unstoppable anger driven by forces greater than man. One can argue that we see such fury in both the might of nature and the passion of art. Wrath appears in the edgy power of Robert Plant’s voice and the raw wail of Eric Clapton’s guitar. It is frozen into Jackson Pollock’s violent splatters of paint. Wrath is in the wall of maritime fog that rolls into the Salinas Valley and the relentless afternoon winds that scream through our grape trellises. Wrath wines represent a nexus of nature and an unbridled passion for winemaking. Welcome to Wrath.”

“Wrath produces site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from our estate vineyard and respected properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Our production is small, our distribution is limited and our wines reveal attitude, passion, and an inherent respect for what a vineyard can give us.”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 4 Wrath wines from this December mini-tasting. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. You can read more about each wine on their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2021 Wrath Pinot Noir, Cortada Alta, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $55 (#1511)

Winery Notes: “Wrath’s newest Single Vineyard Pinot Noir offering; Cortada Alta offers a leaner, more European style of Pinot, that showcases structure with youthful tannins that give way to subtle flavors of red and black cherry, a touch of dried herb and a bright juiciness that keeps the wine beautifully balanced.”

“Cortada Alta is the highest planted vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.  Because of the challenges in dealing with thin, rocky soils and nearly constant exposure to strong cold winds that hit the clusters throughout the year, Swiss/German clones Mariafeld and Wadenswil were selected for this site.  These two clones grow and ripen nicely in their environment and offer a sophisticated, interesting selection not usually found in our growing area.  This bottling is a leaner, more European style of Pinot; it showcases structure with youthful tannins that give way to subtle flavors of red and black cherry, a touch of dried herb and a bright juiciness that keeps the wine beautifully balanced.”

My Review: Stems, plum and barnyard on the nose. The underlying fruit is cloaked in flavors of orange and dark cherry with a tannic finish. There is some underlying fruit hidden inside. December 2024

2021 Wrath Destruction Level, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $39 (#1512)

Winery Notes: “Concentrated and intense, this blend is upfront with mulled dark fruit, soy and earthy undertones. The palate is generous and seamless with mulberry, cola and a long lively finish.”

“In antiquity, the wrath of a victorious army often left cities burnt to the ground.  Thousands of years later, these events show up as dark carbon-filled strata, or destruction levels, in the archaeological record.  The subtle smoky quality that permeates Wrath Destruction Level Rhone Blend is an ode to the smoke-filled smell of victory that greeted the victorious armies of the ancient world.  This red Rhone blend is composed of Syrah and Grenache from colder sites in Monterey County.  Inky and intense, this blend is upfront with mulled dark fruit, soy and earthy undertones. The palate is generous and seamless with mulberry, cola and a long lively finish.”

My Review: Nose finishes with bright raspberry. Grenache dominates on the palate. December 2024

2021 Wrath EX  Syrah, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $25 (#1513)

Winery Notes: “Full-flavored and savory, this wine has dark berries, black pepper and dried herbs all wrapped with velvet tannins.”

“This wine captures the savory side of our estate-grown, cool-climate syrah clusters. Black peppercorn, rosemary, cola and blueberry aromas show on the nose, while the palate has more of the same along with cracked pepper, ripe olallieberry and dried meaty flavors.  This bottling is a slightly younger, less oaky version of its bigger brother, San Saba Vineyard Syrah.” 90 points – Wine Enthusiast

My Review: Sulfur and smoke on the nose. Smooth palate – would be a good food wine. A decent entry-level Syrah which I would serve for a party or present in a class. December 2024

2019 Wrath Syrah, San Saba Vineyard, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.6% ABV, $39 (#1514)

Wine Enthusiast – 92 points: “Pleasantly funky aromas of toasted nori and iodine mix with cracked pepper and dense berry plum paste on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The cool-climate cracked pepper flavor is very powerful on the palate, spicing up what mulberry, plum and roasted fig flavors, with charred meat lingering deep into the finish.” Matt Kettmann April 2022

My Review: Dark in the glass. Big bouquet of spice with a touch of barnyard cloaking dark fruit notes. Rich feel on the palate. The dark fruit core is wrapped in cedar and spice. December 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

Wrath has 2 places to taste their wines and we think they are both lovely.  So handy to stop in at Carmel Plaza, but what a treat to drive out River Road to the bucolic setting of their winery – bring your lunch!

Winery Tasting Room: “Located at 35801 Foothill Road (at the junction of River Road) in Soledad, CA, 5 minutes west of Hwy 101.   Open Fri-Mon from 11-5pm, closed Tue-Wed-Thurs.    Direct: 831.678.2992” 

Carmel Tasting Room: “Located in Carmel Plaza, downtown Carmel at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Mission St., ground floor. Open Fri and Sat from 11-6pm.  Open Sun through Thur from 11-5pm”

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Another Chink in the Legacy of Monterey Wines

(Seeing this on Instagram? Click the link in my profile to read the whole story)

THE STORY

I was eating my lunch at the kitchen table, reading the Carmel Pine Cone, as I typically do.  I opened the January 10th edition to the real estate section and found this ad on page 42:

It’s an ad for a Bernardus Vineyard consisting of “32-acres of vines comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Petite Syrah and Merlot.The wines produced from the vineyard are consistently awarded 90+ scores for their quality and structure that will age.”

I just about fell out of my chair and immediately called out to my husband. This sounded like Bernardus’ Marinus Vineyard – from which their founder Ben Pon fulfilled his dream to make a Bordeaux-style wine right here in Carmel Valley (in Monterey County). I was devastated to read this news, as the Marinus and Marinus Signature blends made from these grapes, are my favorite Bernardus wines.  We have been long-time members of their Marinus club and have enjoyed their Marinus dinners over the past few years – my favorite event of the year.

At the most recent such dinner in 2024, which I wrote about in this post 2024 Bernardus Marinus Dinner – Nothing Short of Spectacular!, we heard for the first time the full, colorful history of the founding of this vineyard and the beginnings of the winery. It is quite a moving story. Knowing this news now and looking back on that dinner, I can see why the telling of those stories was so emotional for the winery staff as well. This must have been a difficult decision to make.

The Bernardus Marinus wines are quality, age-worthy wines.  I fear this marks the end of an era, but perhaps it is simply an expression of the trends in consumption and maybe even climate.  After all, even though we might feel like these wineries are providing us a service and we may be way too attached to wines from certain vineyards, winemaking at the end of the day is a business and wineries must follow the trends and the fruit to achieve their bottom lines.

THE SIGNS WERE THERE

We knew something was up when tons of the 2017 Marinus showed up at Costco for a fraction of their retail price (we bought as much as we could).  In addition, at the Marinus dinner, there was talk about no longer making a separate Marinus Bordeaux-style blend and just making the higher end Signature.  Now I understand why. Bernardus will still make a high-quality reserve Bordeaux-style blend, just not from that vineyard. But from where?  What fruit will match the quality and historical significance of their own estate vineyard?

And, while Bernardus was a key, early player in the Carmel Valley AVA, it is widely known for its “Monterey County” wines available nation-wide and its reputation has been soaring with its high-quality vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands. I have written about all their wines many times. You can find those posts by typing “Bernardus” in the Decanting Monterey search bar.  Those varietals are what Monterey County is more broadly known for.

Bernardus’ Vineyard-designate Trio of Pinot Noirs

I want to say up front in this post that I’m telling you this story off the top of my head – any errors are mine and mine alone – and do let me know if corrections need to be made. 

THINGS THEY BE A-CHANGING

We’ve seen so much change in our Monterey wineries and vineyards.  Often it is because the original owners have aged out or passed away and their heirs don’t want to continue to produce wine.  It’s sad. Because many of these vintners were the founders of winemaking in this region. We have seen Talbott and Hahn labels and winemaking taken over by Gallo Wines.  We saw Galante, which still produces wines, sell its vineyards and winery to newcomer Tira Nanza, who shows great promise.  We saw Joullian close and be put up for sale. The Massa Estate is also for sale – the Durney legacy vineyards of some of the most prized Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in Carmel Valley/Cachagua. Pierce Ranch Vineyards down in San Antonio Valley AVA closed its tasting room in 2023 and decided to focus on selling its fruit. And the Boekenoogen family recently chose to stop wine production, with Santa Lucia Highlands locals McIntyre Vineyards taking over its tasting room and inventory. And Manzoni has kept their vineyard, while selling its tasting room and winemaking to younger players. So much change. Most recently, and last I heard, we’ve seen a merger of newer players Seabold Cellars into San Benito’s Eden Rift.

Monterey County AVA Map from the Monterey Vintners & Growers Association

Maintaining a quality vineyard is a hard job, with the threats of fire and drought around the corner.  In some of our conversations with vineyard owners, they have no interest in bottling their own juice, as it means lots of road time to market their product.  Our Monterey County grapes are much sought after by wineries outside of Monterey County.  Having the Santa Lucia Highlands designation on a bottle means something.  Carmel Valley is less widely known, but remains my favorite AVA within Monterey (oops, I’m not supposed to have favorites).

Carmel Valley AVA Map from the Monterey Vintners & Growers Association

And then there is the overall downturn in wine consumption and climate change, affecting wineries across the globe.  Some vineyards are ripping out grapes or have left their fruit to rot on the vines.  We are at a critical juncture. As one local vintner put it, it’s the “ebb and flow” of the business.

NOW WHAT?

My first reaction about the sale of the Bernardus Marinus Vineyard was pure incredulity.  I kind of took it personally. I did communicate with the winery and I know what a tough decision this was for them. I know they will do their best to continue to produce a high-quality Bourdeaux-style blend to keep their consumers like me happy. I personally hope they can find the fruit from the Carmel Valley AVA, but I might be asking for too much.

Then I started to have crazy thoughts – like how we could pull together a consortium of wine aficionados/investors and vineyard/winemaking experts to purchase this prize property.  It’s fun to think about, but that’s a long stretch. It would be WORK. And I’ve already got a good gig – I’m retired. And as my good friend and Decanting Monterey Wine Pod member says, “The best way to make a small fortune (in winemaking) is to start with a large fortune.”  Nope, I checked…I don’t have one.

So, all I am left with is hope.  Hope that someone who cares about those quality grapevines will buy the vineyard and help preserve Ben Pon’s legacy of making a quality Bordeaux-style blend from Carmel Valley. 

That’s my think piece for today. I’ve gotten over myself. Not a single wine review in today’s post. See, anything is possible.

Heather Rammel and Jim McCabe of Bernardus Wine

Let’s all raise a toast to the Marinus Vineyard and Ben Pon’s legacy!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

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

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