Tagged: Monterey County

I Brand & Family Release Party: Great People, Diverse Wines, Tasty Food, & Eclectic Music – a Fun Time for All!

I was tipped off by our Wine Pod partners that I Brand was having a release party in late June – the first one since COVID made its unwelcome arrival in Monterey County.  We made a quick plan to carpool there.

We have been to several past release parties where members and fans get to sample newly-released good wine, paired appetizers, and great music.  In short, really fun.  There were a lot of wines to try on this Sunday – some on the release menu – plus a number of library wines hidden in between.  It was kind of overwhelming – in a good way!  I felt rushed at first – and then just slowed down and got in the groove. We enjoyed the sliders, the pizzas, and the gourmet popsicles!  And more wine.  I truly appreciated the library wines, as a great counterbalance to the new releases.  These wines demonstrated the staying power of Ian’s wines – and made the case for holding onto more of his wines – which are so tempting to consume right away. Thank you so much, Ian, Heather, and the rest of the I Brand Family, for making this event possible once again.

I have 14 wines to present to you today from across all 3 labels of I Brand & Family, La Marea and Le P’tit Paysan – most tasted at the release party. I have presented the 2 Grenache wines before. And I added in a Syrah from our private collection. There was a lot going on at this event and we were moving a bit quickly, so I didn’t get the detailed tasting notes I might usually capture. I did go back to the tasting room in July to polish up a few of my notes – where I also got to taste the 2016 52-month Chardonnay – a bonus review for us at the very bottom of this post! Unless otherwise specified, winemaker’s notes come from the winery tech sheets or notes online.

2021 Piquette Nat, Arroyo Seco AVA, 7.4% AVA, $18 (#780)

Winemaker’s Notes: “A perfect summer sipper. Our Piquette Nat from California is Col Fondo process, an easy drinking blend of organic Zabala Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and hibiscus flowers.”

My Review: Made from Sauvignon Blanc and hibiscus flower, this looks like a Brut rose, smells like licorice, and, to me, tastes yeasty like a fruity beer. Very popular and different. June 2022

2021 I Brand & Family Pinot Gris, San Benito County, $30 (#781)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Ranier cherries and lemon-thyme on the nose. Pink grapefruit and cara-cara orange lead the attack on the palate. Lingering tannin structure balanced with medium acidity and distinctive minerality contribute to a bright and festive Summer glass, perfectly suited for a wide array of food pairings.”

My Review:  An orange wine – the wax on the bottle is a huge hint!  Year over year, this is an excellent wine, light on the palate, crisp and tasty. We like this wine. June 2022

2021 La Marea Alternate Cut Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey County, $30 (#782)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Green pears, lanolin, almond blossom and brioche on the nose. Tart mango and honeysuckle lead the attack on the palate. Mild tannins balanced with mellow acidity contribute to a well-rounded white with a complex bouquet.”

My Review: Honeysuckle and citrus rind on the nose. Slightly funky palate of buttermilk and citrus rind, with a lingering creamy finish. The alternate cut makes for a heavier mouthfeel to this ever so slightly sweet Albariño.  June 2022

2014 Le P’tit Paysan L’Apiculteur Cedar Lane Vineyard Viognier, Arroyo Seco AVA, $42 (#783)

Winemaker’s Notes from wine.com: “Late ripening Viognier from the alluvial benches above the Arroyo Seco River fermented in a combination of stainless steel, neutral barrels and twice used barrels. Soaring honeysuckle aromas, flavors of pear and crushed stones, partial malolactic fermentation for focus and composition.”

My Review: This “library” Viognier was a bonus wine – this is an excellent representation of Central Coast Viognier – honeysuckle yet lean. The age on this bottle made it more complex and interesting. June 2022

2021 I Brand & Family Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, Paicines, San Benito County, $30 (#784)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Jasmine flower and lilac on the nose. Dried apricot and quince lead the attack on the palate. Medium to full body finishes with notes of bergamot.” 133 cases produced

My Review:  Another atypical varietal that Ian likes to work with.  This is the second vintage of this wine that I have tried. This one is really special – a funky, earthy nose, followed by a light and tasty palate, especially after tasting the library Viognier. June 2022

2021 Le P’tit Paysan Sauvignon Blanc, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco, 13.7% ABV, $24 (#785)

About LPP Sauvignon Blanc : “Paysan Sauvignon Blanc comes from Zabala Vineyard – located on a large holding on the Arroyo Seco floodplains that was part of land granted to the Zabala family before California’s statehood. It was first planted in the 1970s and has grown to encompass over 1000 acres. Zabala Vineyard is one of the rockiest vineyard I Brand works with, full of what is locally known as ‘Greenfield Potatoes’, which are the rather inedible round river stones that dominate the soil and have been collected into piles and walls at every property in the basin. This vineyard is located directly in the path of the daily Salinas Valley winds, which control sugar development and retain natural acidity. Certified organic grapes.”

Winemaker’s Notes: “The bouquet is an explosion of white peaches, gooseberries and perfumy passionfruit. This translates over to the palate with more gorgeous and concentrated white peach bursting to the front and evolving into hints of trailside strawberry. Bright acidity. Crisp, tart and refreshing. Lingering finish that has a subtle creaminess returning to tropical passionfruit.” 145 cases produced

My Review: The LPP Sauvignon Blanc comes from one of my favorite vineyards in Arroyo Seco. Very pale in the glass. Yummy butterscotch and tropical notes on the nose. A flavorful palate dominated by lime cloaked in honeysuckle, with a citrusy, buttery finish. Very balanced and tasty. June 2022

2019 Le P’tit Paysan Jacks Hill Chardonnay, Monterey County, 13.2% ABV, $20 (#786)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Bright, with orchard fruit giving way to an intense minerality. The wine is produced predominantly from a few vineyards at the base of Jack’s Hill, planted on the distinct iron oxide granite that dominates the east side of the Salinas Valley, directly east of Sleepy Hollow North.”

My Review: From our home collection. Pale golden in color. Tropical bouquet of pineapple and honeydew. Palate brimming with soft pineapple, with citrus notes. This is one of my favorite central coast everyday Chardonnays – def not buttery, oaky. June 2022

2020 I Brand & Family Pinot Noir, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley, San Benito County, 13.67% ABV, $36 (#787)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Smoked chestnuts leading into dark cherry-cola on the nose. Ripe red fruits abound in the form of Bing cherries and Santa Rosa plum. Light body with very mellow tannin structure and soft glycerin finish which lingers and fades into petrichor.” 62 cases produced

My Review: Translucent, dark ruby in the glass.  Dark cherry on the nose and very smooth and tasty dark cherry on the palate. I prefer this to the previous vintage! June 2022

2014 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, San Antonio Valley, 13.8% ABV, $42 (#788)

89 points – Wine Enthusiast : “Dried herbs, elderberries, peppercorns and a strong streak of gamy meat show on the nose of this bottling, which is less dense and more nuanced in style than many other Petite Sirahs. The gamy element extends to the palate, giving complexity to the black fruits and sticky tannins.” Matt Kettmann 6/2018

My Review: The grapes for this library wine come from Pierce Ranch – and this is a delicious wine.  Another reason to hold your I Brand wines. I would rate this higher than Wine Enthusiast did back in 2018. One of the wines I took home with me from this tasting! June 2022

2020 I Brand & Family Mourvèdre, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, 12.4% ABV, $45 (#789)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Saddle leather, and ripe huckleberries on the nose. Wild blueberries lead the attack on the palate transitioning into gorgeous and concentrated red ddelicious apple notes contributing to a bright and lingering finish. Medium to light body with pronounced yet balanced tannins finishes with redwood duff.” 34 cases produced

My Review: OK, this was another favorite from the release party.  Light cherry and pepper notes on the nose, following through on the palate. Grapey, smooth and delicious.  One of the finest Mourvèdres I have ever had.  Took one home. June 2022

2019 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast, 14% ABV, $30 (#635)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Aromas of red fruit about in this ripe and silky grenache with flinty undertones. Bright acidity leads the way on the palate allowing the lovely, light red fruit shine in the form of overripe strawberries and loganberries. California anise, white pepper, and mild tannins finish neatly.” 440 cases produced

My Review:  With grapes from Monterey and Santa Clara, this one gets the Central Coast label.  A pretty, translucent ruby in the glass.  Cherry, cranberry on the nose.  Dances on the palate with smooth cherry and red currant, with a lingering intensity on the finish. December 2021, June 2022

2014 La Marea Brosseau Vineyard Grenache, Chalone AVA, $68 (#636)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Bing cherry, roasting lamb, clay. smoldering dry leaves, sea shells. Soaring aromatics. Palate opens with savory elements: garrigue, cigar tobacco, spearmint, overlaying the unmistakable elegant texture of vineyards planted on calcium-rich soils. Chaparral, menthol, red cherry and cranberry on the finish.” 124 cases produced

My Review:  Ruby in the glass.  Fresh cherry and raspberry on the nose.  This was quite yummy with fresh red fruits on the palate and darker flavors of currant and leather on the finish. These library wines show the staying power of Ian Brand’s wines – we loved them all. A hint to hold them a bit longer. December 2021, June 2022

2021 I Brand & Family Escolle Vineyard Gamay Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 12.2% ABV, $42 (#790)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Telicherry peppercorn and carraway seed lead the bouquet, evolving into spiced black plum notes. The peppery and spice plum carries over to the palate attack and the finish is short, but exquisitely spicy for a light to medium bodied and chillable red. Pronounced yet balanced tannins. Finishes with notes of California garrigue; think sagebrush, manzanita and mugwort.” 95 cases produced

My Review:  Oh, the Gamay Noir!  What a way to top off the afternoon! Ruby, almost purple in the glass. Very grapey nose. Grapey, smooth, jammy, good!  I took one of these wines home, too! The challenge will be to hold it and not just open it and drink it. June 2022

2018 I Brand & Family Syrah, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, $42 (#791)

Winemaker’s Notes: The Graff Family Vineyard “…is a small 3 acre vineyard planted in 1989 to Syrah, Mourvedre and Melon de Bourgogne. The site has depleted, granitic soils and, combined with the elevation and exposure, it’s a perfect situation for producing deep, funky, expressive American Syrah.” 39 cases produced

My Review:  From our private collection. Dark ruby in the glass. Light cherry on the nose. Red fruits on the palate. This isn’t a huge Syrah – a bit lighter and more elegant, refreshing and tasty. Very nice on day 2.  May 2022

2016 I Brand & Family 52-month Chardonnay, Monterey, 15% ABV (#792)

Winemaker’s Notes: 52-months in a steel tank. Aged in the bottle one year before release. “Delicate & oxidative aromas similar to a beautiful Fino sherry. Palate confirms aromatics.  Nutty entry, candied pineapple & ripe tangerines on initial & mid-palate. Finishes with warm marzipan, toasted cinnamon, anie & cloves. Searing acidity throughout.” 41 cases produced

My Review:  I am not sure I would have guessed this was a Chardonnay. Toasted pineapple notes on the nose and palate, but an almost fortified or Sauternes-like quality on the finish – butterscotch and pineapple.  July 2022

The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 6 pm.  Reservations are recommended – more information here.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Taste Carmel Valley: A “Sweet Spot” for Wine Pairings!

In December 2020, we were hanging out with Sal Rombi when Gary from the Wine Trolley joined us.  He shared with us his new business concept for offering wine tastings from smaller or out of business wineries, as well as offering bakery items which he makes himself.  This became Taste Carmel Valley, also known as “The Sweet Spot” (http://www.carmelvalleysweetspot.com/).

Their sign outside boasts Boëté and Chock Rock wines.  We have been huge fans of both – long-time members at Boëté – and have missed Chock Rock since they closed their tasting room some years back. This is a great venue to taste the fabulous Boëté wines, since they closed their tasting room.

Taste Carmel Valley (aka The Sweet Shop) is a cute place.  It offers delicious family-made baked goods, unique wines, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and clothing.  First, you are welcomed by their “Golden Daschund” and then the friendly staff inside.  They let us know when Gary would be there to do a wine tasting for us and we came back.

On our big wine tasting weekend in June, the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod stopped in to taste the Chock Rock Syrah. We found the tasting menu to be extensive.  The concept is to choose 5 wines for $14. The list includes Chateau Sinnet, Karlsen (Chock Rock), Carmel Hills, Rancho Carmelo, Boëté, and Mesa del Sol. These are smaller wineries which do not currently have their own tasting room or have stopped making wine.  As we pondered what to try besides the Chock Rock Syrah, Gary started pouring us wines.  About 10 wines later, we finally got the Syrah!

A bit about the wineries included in today’s post from his website and elsewhere:   https://tastecarmelvalleycalifonrnia.square.site/

Château Sinnet is no longer making wine and its Carmel Valley tasting room is closed (despite what you might find on Yelp, etc.).  The location is still there, used now as a storeroom.  Its unusual wines included a White Merlot, the Red Eyed Monkey and a Late Harvest Zinfandel.  We liked to stop in there from time to time and were fans of the Red Eyed Monkey – this red blend even had its own Facebook fan club page!

Carmelo Vineyards are adjacent to Parsonage and is where Frank Melicia resides – he is the winemaker for Parsonage, Silvestri and Carmelo, among other pursuits. 

“Karlsen Family Wines and Chock Rock Vineyard was established in 2006 by veteran winemaker, Dan Karlsen and his wife Kathleen. Chock Rock Vineyard produces wine from their estate vineyard and other unique vineyard sites in Monterey County, California. The wines of Chock Rock are absolutely handcrafted at their estate micro-winery secluded high in the Santa Lucia Mountains at the farthest reaches of the Carmel Valley. Great fruit from unique sites coupled with 30 years of winemaking experience ensure world class quality wines. Karlsen offers Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Rosé and Syrah.” There is a lot more to the story – check out Karlsen here: https://www.karlsenwines.com/ and Chock Rock here: https://www.chockrock.com/.

“Deep in the heart of Steinbeck country, nestled between the Arroyo Seco Gorge and the Ventana wilderness, lies Mesa del Sol. The historic stagecoach stop and organic winery showcases the best of Monterey County’s rugged landscape and elegant wines. Mesa del Sol produces Old Vine Zinfandel, Grenache, Syrah, and Sangiovese. We love the “Prima Rosso” blend of all four wines.”

For a lot of these wines, I will not be able to find winery notes. And, to be frank, this was our third stop for in-depth tasting, so note-taking was not so great by this point. And Gary was very entertaining. I’d like to go back in the future and do individual winery tastings here – lots to work with. OK, here we go…

2008 Château Sinnet Manatee White Merlot, $18 (#769)

Winery Notes: A Gold Medal winner from the Florida Grape Growers Association.  Named for the vintner’s beloved manatees from his Florida home. Has its own Facebook fan page.

My Review: We actually really liked this wine and would consider buying it or serving it.  It was very tasty. Not too sweet, as pleasant wine. June 2022

2020 Karlsen Rose of Pinot Noir, Monterey County, $28 (#770)

My Review: Caramel popcorn on the nose.  Light on the palate with mild apple, pear and concrete notes. June 2022

2020 Carmelo Vineyards Rose of Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, $28 (#771)

My Review: Butterscotch on the nose. Smokey on the palate (this was the year of the Carmel Fire). June 2022

Karlsen Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey County, $36 (#772)

My Review: We liked this Sauvignon Blanc – crisp. Regret we didn’t get better notes on this one. June 2022

2015 Mesa del Sol Zinfandel, Arroyo Seco, $32 (#773)

2014 Review by Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “A more mineral-driven style of Zinfandel, this bottling starts with aroma of gravel and baked earth along with exotic strawberry, red plum and sandalwood. The palate offers dried red fruits, hibiscus and carnation-like flavors, framed by a rocky sandstone-flecked minerality, proving mellow and elegant.” Matt Kettmann

2019 Carmelo Vineyards Estate Grown Reserve Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, $44 (#774)

2018 Review by International Wine Report – 90 points: “This 2018 Pinot Noir from Carmelo Vineyards, shows a bright aromatic profile with aromas of fresh strawberries, cherry, dried spice, dark chocolate, cured meat, vanilla blossom and earthy nuances that jump from the glass. On the palate there are lovely flavors of red berries, plum, currant and sour cherry throughout. The finish is long with live acidity. This is very enjoyable today and will age for the next 5-7 years.”

My Review: Very nice bouquet and good flavors on the palate. Bright, with a little earth, brambly with a hint of raspberry. “The perfect Pinot.” June 2022

2016 Carmelo Vineyards Estate Grown Reserve Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, 14.2% ABV, $30 (#775)

2017 Review by International Wine Report – 88 points: “The 2017 Pinot Noir from Carmelo Vineyards offers aromas of dark cherries, currant, dried rose petals, dark chocolate, fig, and dried herbs. On the palate this is medium-bodied with lots of freshness and acidity that lifts the flavors of sour cherry, blood orange, strawberries, and spice box. Drink it over the next 4-6 years.”

My Review: I am not sure I would guess this was a Pinot Noir.  Could definitely pick up smoke (Soberanes Fire year). June 2022

2015 Chock Rock Syrah, Arroyo Seco AVA, 15.6% ABV, $25 (#776)

My Review: This was the wine we went there to taste. By then, we had had so many wines. Still delicious on the palate with alcohol notes and not as much fruit as I would have expected. I would like to go back and taste this again, as this was our favorite Chock Rock wine in the past. June 2022

2004 Château Sinnet Red Eyed Monkey, San Antonio Valley (#777) 45% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Zinfandel, 5% Sangiovese, 5% Syrah

Winery Notes: “The crispness and brightness of Bing Cherry followed by the earthy aromas of forest floor and the sweet and savory notes of sassafras and cola. This wine is the most Burgundian Pinot Noir I have ever made. It’s light color and silky tannins are testament to the extra year of aging on the sediment that I gave it. The wine finishes with the fine structure on your tongue of wet stones.”

My Review: This was presented as a “Mystery wine.” We found it to be very drinkable – smooth, dark fruit.  Many years ago, we had purchased this wine and we still really like it – more than our Wine Pod partners did. June 2022

2014 Chock Rock Pinot Noir, Monterey County, $28 (#778)

Winery Notes: “100% Estate grown, a balanced wine with texture and mouth feel.”

My Review: Something seemed off with this wine.  It smelled like a fortified wine, over the hill. Perhaps we needed a new bottle opened – we did not request one. I don’t think it was a proper representation of this wine. June 2022

2017 Château Sinnet Late Harvest Zinfandel, 16.2% ABV, $25 (#779)    

My Review: OK, this was our last wine. And it tasted like a very done late harvest Zinfandel.  These grapes were picked “as raisins.” June 2022

Taste Carmel Valley is located at 9 Del Fino Place, Suite 101, in Carmel Valley. The Sweet Spot is open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays.  Check with the staff or call (831) 624-1700 to inquire when wines will be poured. You can also order a variety of sandwiches and salads, even charcuterie plates!

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Bunter Spring Suddenly Closes Tasting Room – Wine Pod Jumps on Chance to Taste His Wines!

I happened to see on Facebook last week that Bunter Spring was suddenly closing its tasting room and was having a 50% off sale over the weekend.  We contacted our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners to see if they wanted to go.  It is another Senate Staffer connection which had not yet had the opportunity to taste Mark Bunter’s wines.  Affirmative! 

Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners enjoy their first Bunter Spring tasting!

Mark explained that a lease issue caused him to suddenly close while he seeks another venue.  For a small producer like Bunter Spring, it is vital he have an outlet for people to taste and learn about his wines.  While we were there, he gave us the inside scoop on each wine and a full education on yeast (which went right over my head).  He let us taste many of his wines, including an array of higher end wines from Napa. We hope he finds another venue soon.

I am presenting 8 of the wines we tasted that day – some others were presented in previous posts, such as this one: https://decantingmonterey.com/bunter-spring-how-many-former-senate-staffers-does-it-take-to-find-great-wines/. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or website.There is more information on the back labels: I’ve included photos where I can. You can find more information on their website here. 

2021 Spring Chardonnay, Coombsville, Napa Valley, 13.34% ABV, $35 (#753)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Barrel fermented. Green apple, bread dough, pineapple. Medium body, subtle butter and oak. Dry.” 50 cases produced.

My Review:  Pale yellow with a slightly musty nose.  A tasty palate of line and pineapple, with a touch of butter on the finish. June 2022

2020 Bunter Spring Rosé of Syrah, Coombsville, Napa Valley, 12.34%, $25 (#754)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The 2020 fires in Napa were catastrophic. We picked this early, for rosé, and avoided the smoke. Dry.” 33 cases produced.

My Review:  Transluscent reddish amber in the glass. A touch of sweetness on the nose, but very tasty, a bit like a cherry cola.  It is different from most rosés. We bought this wine and have now enjoyed it at home. June 2022

2017 Spring Pinot Noir, Monterey County (#755)             

Winemaker’s Notes (verbal): The juice for this wine comes ½ from Chalone and 1/2 from the Palisades in Carmel Valley. Earthy, French Roast coffee.

My Review:  Dark ruby in color with coffee on the nose and dark fruit on the palate.  Very tasty, different. June 2022

2018 Bunter Spring Hippie Syrah, Napa 14.25% (#756)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Napa organic grapes, feral ferment. Red fruit, meaty, earthy, with a big hit of spicy American oak from new barrels. Very low (40 ppm) sulfite.” 60 cases produced.

My Review:  Very dark ruby in color.  A dark cherry nose.  Black cherry on the rich, tasty palate, with a touch of yeastiness on the finish. This is my favorite to date of the Hippie Syrahs! June 2022

2018 Spring “Pizza Wine”, Highlands Vineyard, Monterey, 14.96% ABV, $24 (#757) 65% Zinfandel, 35% Syrah

Winemaker’s Notes: “Fruit punchy jammy everyday red. It’s great with red-sauced pasta, too.” 75 cases produced.

My Review:  Very dark in color. Sweet dark fruit on the nose. Jammy dark berries and a touch of alcohol on the palate.  I like this wine and selected it for one of my wine classes. June 2022

2017 Spring Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 13.38% ABV, $45 (#758)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Organic grapes. A very good example of the unique local Cabernet Sauvignon character.” 24 cases produced.

My Review:  What he didn’t say is these grapes come from the Massa Estate (formerly Durney/Heller), one of the most well known, local, long time producers of high end Cabernet Sauvignon in the Carmel Valley AVA. He has masterfully made this wine, which at other wineries would sell for double the price.  This was my favorite wine of the day and I wish I had bought more of it. But we didn’t want to be greedy. June 2022

2016 Spring Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga, Napa Valley, 13.76% ABV, $60 (#759)

Winemaker’s Notes: “100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Expensive fruit, but worth it.  The real deal.” 24 cases produced.

My Review:  Dark, heavy ruby in the glass. Plum and dark jammy fruits on the nose and palate. Wer took some of that wine home.  June 2022

2012 Spring Red Wine, Napa Valley, 13.8% ABV, $90 (#760) 86% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot

Winemaker’s Notes: “Classic Napa style, big, tannic, structured, best with food.” 37 cases produced.

My Review:  Dark ruby in the glass.  Lively nose of violets and red fruits. A delicious palate of raspberry and cherry flavors. A bit lighter than the heavy Cabernets we had just tasted. Exceptional. June 2022

Want to buy or taste their wines?  Things are in a bit of a flux at the moment.  The best bet is to call Mark at (202) 744-1343. You can see some of the current releases here and contact Mark by phone or email to order.  Directions are here.  They ship within California and to Washington DC and Florida. 

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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A New Face in the I Brand Tasting Room!

Stop the presses!

I was on the road this spring quite a bit and did not make the tasting room rounds – until late in June, when we went on a tasting streak in a single long weekend!  While I was busy traveling, I sometimes sought the easy post to fulfill the weekly blog. And I have neglected some of the bigger tastings I did in the winter.  As I look back, I recall I did not post my February 2022 I Brand tasting because I had another catchup post in the works. I recently attended their first release party in a couple of years – and realized there were quite a few other wines I needed to write about first. So, I am halting the presses on my more recent flurry of tastings for this catch-up post!

I distinctly remember this tasting – when we met Will for the first time in the tasting room.  It was so nice to put a face with the new name and he warmly welcomed us. We tried to move quickly through the wines, as we were just in the neighborhood and had not planned a full tasting – we got one anyway!

I have 12 wines (zounds!) to present to you today from across all 3 labels of I Brand & Family, La Marea and Le P’tit Paysan and spanning 2016-2020. Most of these come from my February tasting, but others were from our private collection. Unless otherwise specified, winemaker’s notes come from the winery tech sheets or notes online.

While the wines speak for themselves, I’d like to include this quote from Ian’s Spring 2022 Winemaker Letter, which hit home why I remain a fan of Ian and his wines.  He talks about his “…fascination with old vineyards and more obscure varieties.” He goes on to say, “To appropriately shepherd the local winemaking industry into its best iteration, there needs to be a semi-cohesive idea of what a region is – there should be an expected balance and flavor profile shared in the wines from the region…As we are able to realize and share our ideas of our terroir, wines from the region will become more valuable, which leads to more value in our community.” You can red more about Ian and Heather Brand and their wines here: https://www.ibrandwinery.com/.

2020 I Brand & Family Pinot Gris, Eden Rift Vineyard, Cienega Valley, San Benito County, 12.2% ABV, $30 (#741)

Winemaker’s Notes: “A fresh and delicious ‘orange wine’ from mature, terraced Pinot Gris grapes on the oldest, continually producing commercial vineyard in California.”

My Review: Pale pink in the glass – balanced acidity on the palate. February 2022

2020 I Brand & Family Old Vines White, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley, San Benito County, 13% ABV, $36 (#742)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Old Vine White field blend is a blend of 3 unusual varietals. Orange Muscat, Mission and Palamino.”

My Review:  Straw in the glass and sweet muscat and honeysuckle on the nose.  The palate was not as sweet as the nose predicted, with decent tartness with a light, slightly sweet finish.  Quite refreshing – I kind of liked it! February 2022

2017 Le P’tit Paysan Jacks Hill Chardonnay, Monterey, 12.5% ABV, $22 (#743)

Winemaker’s Notes: “A pure, fresh, minerality driven, Chablis like Chardonnay blend from Jacks Hill on the Central Coast…Blended from a collection of five small vineyards at the base of “Jack’s Hill”, in Chualar, CA…planted on the distinct iron oxide granite that dominates the east side of Salinas Valley, directly east of Sleepy Hollow North. Bright, crisp and clean with orchard fruit giving way to an intense minerality.”

92 points – Wine Enthusiast: “This bottling by Ian Brand always packs bang for the buck, but he really nailed it in the 2017 vintage. Clean and delicate aromas of Asian pear, lemon rind and edgy chalk lead into a racy, crisp and tightly wound palate. Flavors of grapefruit, nectarine, blanched almond and sea salt are delicious.” *Editors’ Choice* Matt Kettmann (2/2019)

My Review: Pale yellow in color.  Honeydew melon on the nose.  Honey and gardenia on the palate, with lime notes on the finish.  April 2022.

2018 Le P’tit Paysan Jacks Hill Chardonnay, Monterey, 13% ABV, $22 (#744)

90 points – Wine Enthusiast: “Tight and brisk aromas of lemon peel and sandstone come through on the nose of this always fairly priced bottling. It’s soft on the palate in texture, but a wet stone minerality and lemon juice acidity provide tension, with dried pear and orange peel flavors showing as well.” Matt Kettmann

My Review: A touch leaner than previous vintages with a little acidity on the finish. February 2022

2019 La Marea and 2017 Besson Old Vines Grenache – Side by Side!

2019 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast, 14% ABV, $30 (#745)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Fresh, medium bodied Grenache from three rocky vineyards averaging over 50 years of age.”

My Review:  A muddy ruby, richer in color than othis other Grenaches – almost purple.  Good cherry fruits on the palate. February 2022

2017 I Brand & Family Besson Vineyard Old Vines Grenache, Santa Clara County, $42 (#746)

94 points – Wine Enthusiast: “Sage-oil, tea-leaf and geranium notes meet with dried strawberry and rose petal on the spicy, earthy nose of this bottling. The palate is a mix of dried flowers and rocky minerality, with flavors of gravel, dried currant and more tea leaf making for a fascinating sip of century- old vines.” Matt Kettmann

My Review: Light, translucent ruby in color, but richer, more tannic flavors.February 2022

2016 I Brand & Family Besson Vineyard Old Vines Grenache, Santa Clara County, 14% ABV, $42 (#747)

Winemaker’s Notes: “A delightful and balanced expression of the Piedmontese white from the calcium laced gravels of the Vista Verde Vineyard in San Benito County.”

My Review: Dark, translucent ruby in color. Dark berries and smooth tannins on the palate.  IMHO, one of his best Grenache wines. March 2022

2018 I Brand & Family Grenache/Syrah, Chalone AVA, 13.8% ABV, $42 (#748) 72% Grenache, 28% Syrah

My Review: Ruby in the glass.  Mandarin orange and cherry notes on the nose.  Palate had more heft, complexity than usual.  Hands down one of our favorite of his Grenache-Syrah blends.  May 2022

2019 I Brand & Family Bates Ranch Cabernet Franc, Santa Cruz Mountains, 12.2% ABV, $42 (#749)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Bates Ranch Vineyard is a secret gem of the trinity of Bordeaux varietal sites nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Our Cabernet Franc fruit is from a small block planted atop rich red Franciscan volcanic influenced rocks in 1978. A classic example of Cabernet Franc…Medium to Full-bodied. Lush, dark red berries, with purple lavender and hidden dried herb components, envelope the nose. On the palate, bright acidity, plays against tannic structure. Followed by a burst of dark red fruits, balsamic reduction, and the expected herbal, bay leaf, oregano, dried basil, with touches of a peppery edge on the finish.” 109 cases produced.

My Review: Lean, a bit austere with musty flavors. February 2022 February 2022

2019 I Brand & Family Bayly Ranch Cabernet Franc, Paicines, San Benito County, 12.4% ABV, $30 (#750)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Reminiscent of old world wine making Bayly Ranch is an etherial expression of Cabernet Franc. Notes of bright berries and mild spices…”

My Review:  Richer, rounder, chewier that the Bates, with cherry and dark berry flavors. Black pepper on the finish. I prefer this wine; my partner prefers the Bates. February 2022

2019 I Brand & Family Fellom Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, 14.6% ABV, $75 (#751)

Winemaker’s Notes: “First planted in the 40s and abutting the classic Ridge Santa Cruz Mountain property, Fellom Ranch produces among the most sought after grapes in California…Deep dark purple. Aromas of black current, cherries, clove spice, toasted oak, and cocoa. On the palate, lush & ripe, bramble fruit, enters med-full bodied, supple tannin and acid tension structure. Lovely wine, with pleasure to fill the palate, today, and years to come.”

My Review:  Ruby, purple in the glass. Some chocolate notes on the nose with smooth, rich berries on the palate.  I will do my best to hold this for an appropriate drinking time frame. February 2022

2018 Le P’tit Paysan P’tit Pape Red Rhone Blend, $22 (752)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Our classic Grenache based blend. Old world balance with a California patina. A favorite.”

93 points – Wine Enthusiast: “This blend of 52% Grenache, 36% Syrah and 12% Mourvèdre speaks so strongly to the terroir of the Central Coast as it is loaded from nose to finish with dewy sagebrush, crisp freshness and peppery spice. It begins with aromas of raspberry, pomegranate and herb, then settles comfortably into a firmly textured palate of oregano, pepper, sandalwood and more red fruit.” Matt Kettmann

My Review:  We tasted this wine out of order. Lovely, light, lean yet good. Always a favorite. February 2022

The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 6 pm.  Reservations are recommended – more information here.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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“Shopping” at Home Yields Interesting I Brand Varietals and Vintages!

I’ve been saving up these reviews for a single I Brand post. One of the things I really like about Ian’s wines is his boldness to expose us to varietals which we might not even have heard of – and to do them very well. The Arneis in this post is one of those – the Melon de Bourgogne was another we really enjoyed. And we tend to enjoy the Grenache wines – a varietal lighter than our normal fare, but one I Brand also does very well. His Cabernet Francs fascinate me – different in style from each other and always just a tad leaner than some of the big Cab Francs we tend to get around here. We’ve also been digging deep into our wine room and found some hidden treasures, like the 2012 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah. 

I have 6 wines to present to you today from across all 3 labels of I Brand & Family, La Marea and Le P’tit Paysan and spanning 2012-2020 and covering Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. Unless otherwise specified, winemaker’s notes come from the winery tech sheets or notes online.

2020 I Brand & Family Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito County, 12.7% ABV, $30 (#633*)

We invited our neighbor over to our sunny patio on this January day and decided to try this Arneis, a varietal I did not know! 

Winemaker’s Notes: “A delightful and balanced expression of the Piedmontese white from the calcium laced gravels of the Vista Verde Vineyard in San Benito County.”

My Review: Pale golden yellow in the glass. Bosch pear with orange blossom and lime notes on the nose. Fresh and flinty, it opened up to be a lovely wine with round, flavors of grilled pineapple with a touch of olive juice and lime on the finish. An excellent summer patio wine. January 2022

2019 I. Brand & Family Pinot Gris, Eden Rift Vineyard, Cienega Valley, San Benito County, 11.5% ABV, $30 (#634*)

I needed an orange wine for a Halloween wine class and chose this one from my wine room!  Ian Brand’s orange wax was a great tip that this would be the right wine for our purpose!  I reviewed the 2018 vintage in this blog in December 2020 here: https://decantingmonterey.com/i-brand-family-inching-our-way-to-central-coast-wines/. 

K&L Wine Merchants has a good writeup of this wine, including a Wine Enthusiast review of 92 points here: https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1488589

My Review: Light orange like a lollipop in the glass.  Very smooth on the palate with a pleasant tartness on the finish.  We liked this wine. October 2021

2017 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast, 13% ABV, $30 (#635*)

Winemaker’s Notes from the Wine Crush: “This Grenache is mostly sourced from Monterey; it is de-stemmed and stainless steel fermented. The color is extremely pale ruby with, clean ripe aromas of both black and red cherry. Notes of sarsaparilla and a delicate restrained earthy quality.”

Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Light in the glass and almost rusty in color, this bottling begins with aromas of dried cherry juice, chaparral spice and toasted sage. Lightly bodied on the palate, it’s an herbal display, showing thyme, sagebrush and toasted nuts, with touches of rosewater and red currant.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020

My Review: A pretty, translucent ruby in the glass.  Cherry, cranberry on the nose.  Dances on the palate with light cherry and red currant, with a lingering intensity on the finish. December 2021

2014 La Marea Grenache, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone AVA, 14.1% ABV, $38 (#636*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Bing cherry, roasting lamb, clay. smoldering dry leaves, sea shells. Soaring aromatics. Palate opens with savory elements: garrigue, cigar tobacco, spearmint, overlaying the unmistakable elegant texture of vineyards planted on calcium-rich soils. Chaparral, menthol, red cherry and cranberry on the finish.”

My Review: Ruby in the glass.  Fresh cherry and raspberry on the nose.  This was quite yummy with fresh red fruits on the palate and darker flavors of currant and leather on the finish.  September 2021

2018 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains, 12.3% ABV, $42 (#637*)

About Bates Ranch: “Bates Ranch, the least known of the holy trinity of Bordeaux varietal sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains…located in the extreme southeastern end of the appellation, on Redwood Retreat Road… We are honored to receive the fruit from half of a small block of Cabernet Franc planted in 1978 for this bottling. Soils in this section of the vineyard are the red Franciscan series of volcanic influenced sedimentary rocks that runs along the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains.”

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Medium to Full-bodied. Lush, dark red berries, with purple lavender and hidden dried herb components on the nose. On palate, bright acidity, plays against tannic structure.  Followed by a burst of dark red fruits, balsamic reduction, and the expected herbal, bay leaf, oregano, dried basil, with touches of a peppery edge on the finish.”

K&L Wine Merchants has a good writeup of this wine, including a Wine Enthusiast review of 92 points here: https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1488589

My Review: Dark ruby in color.  Red fruits on the nose.  Smooth and fresh, with a medium palate of raspberry, cherry and plum. This is a lighter, more delicate Cab Franc – a great food wine.  January 2022

2012 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $22 (#638*)

Wine Enthusiast – 87 points: “Ian Brand’s stab at this grape shows a lot of black rock minerality and bloody meats on the nose, layered across blueberry syrup and sour cherry elements. The palate is much lighter than other takes on this varietal, showing menthol-laced flavors of blackberries and tobacco.” Matt Kettmann, June 2015

My Review: Inky ruby in the glass.  Dark plum and blueberry on the nose.  Soft blueberry and blackberry fruit on the palate, enveloped by a licorice finish.  October 2021

The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 6 pm.  Reservations are recommended – more information here.

*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 2023

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Bunter Spring: How Many Former Senate Staffers Does It Take to Find Great Wines?

Another DC friend came to town – one who also happens to be an old colleague of Margaret Spring, the Spring of Bunter Spring Winery.  With three former Senate staffers in the mix, wouldn’t it be fun to taste there? With their grapes sourced from multiple counties and winery and vineyards in the Coombsville section of Napa, we were delighted to learn they are open again for tasting on the weekends (Friday-Monday). I’d say our tasting far exceeded my expectations, which were already high!  By that I mean high quality wines for reasonable prices. Winery notes come from their website. Check them out here. 

2019 Spring Sauvignon Blanc “Oyster Wine” Santa Cruz County, 12.16% ABV, $20 (#518*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Our 2019 continues the series of standout wines from this vineyard, which we began using in 2014.  Barrel fermented and aged six months in older “neutral” French barrels.  Totally dry, light-bodied, tart, with subtle aromas of citrus, nectarine, and dried grass.  This wine was literally made for oysters on the half-shell.  It’s also great with goat cheese, or alone as an aperitif or refreshing thirst-quencher.  Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast, sulfite.  Filtered, not fined. At bottling: total sulfite 39 ppm, residual sugar <0.1 g/l (totally dry).” 48 cases produced.

My Review:  Made to go well with oysters!  VIneyard is near Corralitos and Watsonville.  Pale in color, a very light yellow.  Honeysuckle on the nose.  Lean on the palate with bright acidity. October 2021

2018 Spring Reserve Chardonnay, Monterey AVA, 14.43% ABV, $35 (#519*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This wine is fuller bodied and has a more powerful flavor and mouthfeel than our “regular” Chard, but since that’s sold out, you have to take our word for it.  Pear, yellow apple, edamami, with an unctuous texture.  Ingredients: grapes, yeast, sulfur dioxide.  Not fined, not filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 90 ppm, residual sugar 0.5 g/l (not totally dry).” 25 cases produced.

My Review:  From Chula Lina VIneyard outside of Chualar.  Very yellow with a lovely bouquet and delicious on the palate with butter, caramel, plenty of fruit and a touch of lemon zest on the finish. We thought this was an exceptional Chardonnay! October 2021

2019 Spring “Orange Wine” Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Cruz County, 12.08% ABV, $20 (#520*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Orange wine is a potentially misleading name for wine made from white grapes fermented on their skins in the manner of red wine.  Depending on the variety, and how long the maceration, the color can range from pale straw to deep pink, almost red.  This one’s relatively light as it was only on the skins for five days.  It has interesting aroma and flavors reminiscent of stone fruit and herbs, dried grass, savory spice.  Slightly tannic, with more texture than white wine.  Good with many foods, especially Asian, and shrimp. Ingredients: grapes, yeast, 40 ppm total sulfite. Dry.” 48 cases produced.

My Review:  I tasted this wine later for a special virtual wine class on “orange” wines. Pale orange, bold gold in color.  At first, scents of yeast, with emerging floral notes on the nose.  Strong flavors on the palate, including ripe peach – like a very bold rose – the oak comes through.  After opening up, very round and flavorful on the finish.  This would be a great food wine. October 2021

2019 Spring Rosé “Snow Globe”, Monterey AVA, 12.34% ABV, $20 (#521*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Made from Grenache and Syrah, grown on a rocky sunbaked hillside in far southern Monterey county, picked expressly for rosé.  Beautiful pale color, high-toned aroma.  It has an excess of totally harmless cream of tartar that precipitates in white flakes when refrigerated.  For fun, chill it, turn it upside down, and watch it snow!  Ingredients: grapes, yeast, tartaric acid.  Fined with milk and silica dioxide, then filtered.  At bottling: 58 ppm total sulfite, 0.4 g/L residual sugar (dry).” 50 cases produced.

My Review:  “A real rosé'” Pale salmon in the glass.  Caramel on the nose with real red fruit flavors on the palate. Light bodied.  Balanced acidity with a nice finish.  October 2021

2018 Spring Pinot Noir, Hilltop Ranch, Carmel Valley, 13.68% ABV, $30 (#522*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “In one of the many examples of AVA nonsense, this vineyard, a mile outside Carmel Valley Village, isn’t in the Carmel Valley AVA, although vineyards ten miles away, in neighboring Cachagua valley, are.  So legally it’s not Carmel Valley wine, it’s Monterey wine. Whatever.  It is VERY easy-drinking, medium bodied, perfectly balanced, with lots of varietal fruit and a distinctive spicy character from custom-coopered French oak barrels. Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast , 60 ppm total sulfite.  Not fined, reverse osmosis filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 60 ppm, residual sugar 0.5g/L (dry).” 107 cases produced.

My Review:  Ruby in color.  Some cherry notes on the nose.  Very nice on the palate – even this non-Pinot lover liked this wine. October 2021

2017 Spring Cowboy Surfer Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, 13.74% ABV, $30 (#523*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Our second iteration of this outrageous blend of normally antithetical varieties.  The first Cowboy Surfer, 2014, was a resigned wishful last resort use for a barrel of weird Pinot.  People loved it!  When it was gone they asked for more.  Not so easy, it turned out- there’s a reason why no one blends these two.  The result almost always tastes like either a pathetically weak Cab or a nasty hot puckery Pinot.  It took three years, but we finally made two wines that worked.  FYI the Pinot, from close to the beach, is the surfer.  The Cab, from cow country high up in the hills, is the cowboy.  Black cherry, raspberry, spice, and tannin, just slightly on the aggro side right now, will mellow into a very laid-back ride.  Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast, sulfite.  Not fined or fitered.  At bottling: total sulfite 65 ppm, residual sugar 0.1 g/l (very dry).” 49 cases.

My Review:  Dark in the glass yet a bit transluscent.  Perfume on the nose with a deliciousd palate showing the best of the Carmel Valley fruits – a great Cab Sauv-Pinot Noir combo – we really liked ths wine.  October 2021

2016 Spring Cabernet Sauvignon “Burger Wine,” Contra Costa County, 13.27%, $18 (#524*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Contra Costa is a great place for Zin, Petite Sirah, and Carignane.  It’s not well known for Cab, so we got a sweet deal on this fruit, and so do you. We treated it with the same respect as all our wines, including nice once-used French oak barrels.  Medium bodied, soft tannins, juicy blackberry taste, perfect with burgers.  It’s vegan, so veggie burgers work too. Ingredients: organic grapes, water, yeast, tartaric acid, sulfite.  Filtered, not fined.  Made using reverse osmosis.  At bottling: total sulfites 88 ppm, residual sugar 0.3 g/l (dry).” 73 cases.

My Review:  We tasted this wine last – it was quite good, very drinkable, especially for an $18 bottle of wine.  I’d like to taste it again, as being last did it a great disservice!

2014 Bünter “Natur” Syrah, Coombsville, Napa Valley, 13.27% ABV, $30 (#525*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Earthy, nutty, meaty, slightly spicy, slightly floral, with medium full body, good natural acidity, and rich tannins. Goes great with very spicy (hot) food, as usual for this wine.  It actually cools and soothes your mouth after a bite of anything painfully spicy.  The texture and mouthfeel are superb. The aroma and flavor are typical of no-sulfite reds: less fruity, more earthy. Definitely different.  Ingredients: Organic grapes. Not fined, not filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 2 ppm, residual sugar <0.1 g/l (bone dry).” 100 cases produced.

My Review:  Beautful dark ruby.  Dark fruit notes of cassis and currant on the nose.  Palate consisted largely of cherry flavors and was a little lighter than I was expecting, based on the nose. October 2021

2018 Spring Red Wine “Garagitage,” Highlands Vineyard, Monterey County, 14.64% ABV, $24  (#526*) 76% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker’s Notes:

Winemaker’s Notes: “These grapes come from a small vineyard in the hills above Arroyo Seco just north of Carmel Valley Road. They were harvested, very ripe, on Sep 30, 2018. Upon release, in spring 2021, as I write, this wine is a rough and tumble California fruit bomb, with tons of grapey flavor, plenty of alcohol, and no manners.  Maybe, someday, it will grow up.  Meantime, have fun! Aged 15 months in once used French oak barrels.” 76 cases.

My Review:  OK, this was my favorite wine:  Very dark ruby in the glass. Perfume on the nose, followed by a yummy palate of dark fruit.  We keep drinking it – what an incredible wine for a bargain price! October 2021

“Schniki”
With a vast array of wines to choose from, Mark helps customers narrow it down with his daily tasting menu. Herr Doktor Schnickerdoodle was the visiting winery dog that day!

Want to taste their wines?  From their website:  Great news! Bunter Spring has resumed tasting room operations.   Our Carmel Valley tasting room is open Friday through Sunday 11-5 PM.  We are open the rest of the week by appointment.  Since we work often in Napa, at the winery and vineyard, we are not always available, so please call in advance if possible.  Your hosts are fully vaccinated.  The tasting fee is $20 per person for six wines, with crackers and cheese.  The tasting fee is waived with a two bottle purchase.  Tasting is free to wine club members as per our Wine Club policy.  Call Mark at (202) 744-1343 for an appointment.  We would love to see you!

You can see the current releases here and contact Mark by phone or email to order.  Directions are here.  They ship within California and to Washington DC and Florida. 

*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 2023

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“Monterey-South Wine Class” – What does it even mean?

When my DC virtual wine class picked the theme of “Monterey-South,” even I wasn’t sure what that meant.  They further clarified “Monterey County or south of Monterey.”  Perfect!  Right up my alley!  We hunted through our wine room and found a Pierce Ranch Graciano. I’ve presented Pierce Ranch a couple of times here – you can simply search “Pierce Ranch” to find them. The wines selected by my friends came from Monterey County and Paso Robles.

I tried to capture notes from my friends’ presentations for inclusion to show the breadth of wines randomly chosen. One member lamented that he couldn’t really find in Washington DC any of the Rhone Ranger wines.  I told him he would have to come visit here and find them at the wineries!

While this was a unique way to share these Central Coast wines, I didn’t get to taste any except the Graciano. Therefore, you might see them pop up again later in this blog!

2019 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Reserve, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $28

My friends presented this Chuck Wagner wine, now made by his son, Charlie. 

Winemaker Notes from wine.com: “A lively flaxen gold, this wine features a harmonious nose that previews the playful balance to come on the palate. Scents of brown spice, toasted almonds, custard and light oak mingle with Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and a hint of apricot. Entry is round, as the wine’s fruit and natural acidity build on each other, with echoes of brown spice, citrus and apricot enveloped in a creamy texture. A vibrant finish of lemon/lime showcases the distinctly bright acidity produced from the Monterey coast, leaving an enticing freshness that prepares the palate for another sip.” Wine.com – 91 points.

My Friend’s Review: Viscous in the glass. Nice, not overly oaky.  The oak is there and adds depth to the taste without being detracting. Pear and apple on the nose, peach and a little caramel. Nicely balanced with good acidity. Can’t say the flavor profile is bold but harmonious. August 2021

2017 Chamisal Vineyards Chardonnay, Monterey County, 15.3% ABV, $24

While the Chamisal Vineyard and winery is located in Edna Valley, the fruit for this wine comes from Monterey County! 

Winemaker’s Notes from wines.com : “Toasted oak and crème brûlée. Fruit driven with lemon cream, Fuji apple, ripe pineapple, and baked pears. Rich and creamy with lingering acidity, broad texture and finishing clean.”

The Wine Advocate – 91 points: “The 2017 Chardonnay Monterey County opens with notes of gunflint and toast over baked apples, yellow pears, popcorn and a tropical tinge. The palate is medium-bodied and rounded with an über spicy, fresh fruit profile lifted by mouthwatering acidity, and it finishes long and toasty. This has an appealing yin-yang of savory and bright citrus character.” Erin Brooks, 6/2020

2019 Carol Shelton Coquille Blanc, Paso Robles, 13.5% ABV, $26  40% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 10% Marsanne

About the 2019 Coquille Blanc: “Exotic nose of spicy pears and white peaches, almond paste/marzipan, a touch of honeysuckle perfume. Multi-dimensional (many layers), a hard-to-describe range of aromatics, intriguing, almost mysterious! In the mouth it is crisply dry yet creamy and round and full-bodied, with nice almond paste on crisp-yet-juicy pear fruit.”

My Friend’s Review: Yellow in color.  More minerality on the palate than fruit and a touch acidic on the palate.  Really brings the Paso/Central Coast terroir.  Complex – but not robust. 

2016 Bernardus Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $75/$22 WTSO

About the 2016 Soberanes Pinot Noir: “Santa Lucia Highlands’ two most renowned growers, Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni, have joined forces on an exciting vineyard located just south of the celebrated Garys’ Vineyard in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is called Soberanes Vineyard. We at Bernardus are honored to be among the few wineries to receive both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from this exciting vineyard. We have chosen two Pinot clones: the celebrated Pisoni clone and Dijon clone 667. The 2016 Soberanes displays a beautiful ruby robe and vibrant red fruit aromas. The palate exhibits crisp flavors of ripe red cherry and raspberry with a long finish, promising an excellent future ahead.”

Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Elegantly earthy on the nose, this bottling starts with aromas of pomegranate, rose petals and dried herbs. The palate is quite tart with flavors of sour Montmorency cherry, and the savory dusting of herbs and baked earth balances the sip.” Matt Kettmann, 12/2018

My Friend’s Review: As Cameron Hughes might say, a “Cabernet lovers Pinot Noir” with big bold flavors and a dark garnet hue. An exceptional Pinot Noir, comparing well to a 2012 Lucienne we all tasted in person together in June.  He got the wine for $22 in a complex WTSO BOGO sale. 

2017 Pierce Ranch Graciano, San Antonio AVA, 14.8% ABV, $30 (#432*)

My friends wanted to know what a Graciano tasted like – I could think of no direct comparison.  I looked up the grape and found this information:  I found this Vinodiversity article: “A naming mess: The original variety is Spanish and is named Graciano in its homeland the Northern Spanish Ebro Valley and Navarra. It is grown in the Jerez region of southern Spain under the name Tintilla de Rota. Graciano is used in France under the name Morrastel. But the Spanish use the variety called Mourvedre (or Mataro in Australia) under the name Morrastel. To add to the confusion the Portuguese variety Tinta Miuda is now known to be to be the same variety. Not to be outdone the Californians grow Graciano under the name Xeres.”

And, if that wasn’t confusing enough, here’s a Matt Kettmann article about mislabeled Graciano vines akin to the Melon de Bourgogne story I recently shared. What a mess. And it doesn’t taste like Mourvèdre at all!

About the 2017 Pierce Graciano: “Perched in a highland valley at the southern tip of Monterey County, our vineyards, with their wide variation in diurnal temperature and rocky soils, provide an excellent setting for the classic grape varieties of Spain and Portugal. A standout among these is certainly Graciano, a native of Spain’s famed Rioja region. Estate-grown in the calcareous rock and shale-rich loam of our Home Ranch Vineyard, the 2017 vintage is a medium-bodied wine with dark, rounded fruit and a solid tannic structure. A limited-run bottling, it was fermented in small lots and aged in French oak for 15 months. Blackberry and black cherry combine with hints of shale and thyme.”

My Review: Garnet in the glass. Pomegranate and cranberry on the nose. Cherry and licorice on the palate with tobacco and vanilla notes. We enjoyed this wine for several days. August 2021

2018 J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red, Paso Robles, 14.5% ABV, $25 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Petite Sirah, 2% Syrah, 2% Malbec

Winemaker’s Notes: “Savory varietal notes of Cabernet Sauvignon are layered with the dark fruit and spice character of Petite Sirah. The bouquet of cocoa powder, caramel, and anise works in harmony with the black cherry fruit signature of this wine. Bright and focused on the palate with a firm and appetizing finish.” 93 points – Wine Enthusiast Editors’ Choice. 

*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 2023

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Parsonage: Big Reds Break Coastal Chill!

Friday before Memorial Day…let’s head out to the valley in search of warmth and wine! Parsonage is always one of our favorite places to taste wines – with plenty of the big reds, just the way we like them.  Summer gave us a sunny seat, giving us a little break from our coastal chill.   

Want sun? Want shade? It can all be arranged! Photo courtesy Parsonage.

I’ve presented Parsonage to you in several prior posts and won’t repeat about them here (just type “Parsonage” in the search bar to see them all). You can check out their website here:  https://www.parsonagewine.com/. Winery notes below are from their website, unless otherwise indicated.

Our latest haul from Parsonage – So happy to have these in my collection!

2019 Parsonage Grenache Rosé, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $29 (#385*)

Winery Notes: A perennial warm weather favorite. And a surprise to everyone who thinks they don’t like Rosé! Made with Grenache grapes. Refreshing and dry.

Owner Bill Parsons’ tasting notes: “What a nose!! If you spend some time with the nose of this lovely and sensual wine, you could discover notes of red roses, lavender, strawberry, pomegranate, raspberry, watermelon, peach and citrus zest. The bouquet comes alive on the palate with strawberry and watermelon. The finish is rich, full and lively.” 

My Review: Apple cider on the nose.  Rich and flavorful on the palate.  I’d love to drink this wine on a “hot” day at our neighbors’ micro-climate patio! May 2021

2017 Parsonage Grenache-Syrah, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $36 (#386*) 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah

Grenache-Syrah photo courtesy of Parsonage.

Winery Notes: “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…Fully dry. Medium-bodied but rich.”

Owner Bill Parsons’ tasting notes: “A bright mixed bouquet of floral notes accented by raspberry, pomegranate, blueberry, and black cherry mark the nose of this traditional blend. The palate is full, but not as massive as previous vintages. All of the fruit of the nose resonates in the mouth with a hint of umami. This iteration of our Grenache Syrah is marvelously complex and elegant.”  

My Review: Bright ruby in the glass.  Very round on the palate and delicious.  May 2021

2017 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $26 (#387*) 70% Merlot, 30% Syrah

Winery Notes: “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: This is an exciting blend – bright and energetic.  Summer says:  Good vintage, aged in neutral oak barrels, best seller year over year. May 2021

2015 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $26 (#388*) 70% Merlot, 30% Syrah 

Winery Notes: (We had this wine in our collection and opened it to compare to the 2017 we had tasted at the winery.  The two vintages seemed shockingly similar.  In fact, the winery’s tasting notes are identical to the 2017!)

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Nose of dark berries and cherry. Rich palate of dark fruits overplayed with cherry – excited, dancing on the tongue. May 2021

2017 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, 15% ABV, $48 (#389*) 

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon photo courtesy Parsonage.

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 very dark fruit marked by brambleberry compote. Plum and cassis join with the brambleberry on a muscular palate that finishes with some major league tannins.” The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a private vineyard in Cachagua (Carmel Valley) and the Cabernet Franc comes from Paicines AVA!

My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Cherry on the nose.  Rich cherry and berry on the palate.  Quite good! May 2021

2018 Parsonage Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $80 (#390*)

Photo of the 2017 Parsonage Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir

Winery Notes from the tasting sheet: Full bodied with full fruit expression and sensuous texture.

My Review: Translucent ruby in color. Raspberry on the nose.  Super juicy bright berry flavors and luscious. Supple tannins. Very nice Pinot Noir – even I like this one! The Hawk can stand up to a Burgundian red! May 2021

Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click here for the details.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at 19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village.  

*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.    

Parsonage’s Repertoire: from Serious Library Estate Wines to a “Downright weird” Blend!

Parsonage Valley Vineyard (photo taken Spring 2019)

On this Ides of March, I wanted to present two completely different (opposite?) Parsonage wines. When we first met Frank Melicia, we knew he made serious wines.  But he also is a bit of an innovator who tries new things, so he makes some fun blends, too.  I’m bringing you one of each in today’s post!

I’ve presented Parsonage to you in several prior posts and won’t repeat about them here (just type “Parsonage” in the search bar to see them all). You can check out their website here:  https://www.parsonagewine.com/.

Bill Parsons always has a story and here is the story he shared with me about our first wine, the 2008 Parsonage Estate Syrah:

“The (2008) vintage was our most celebrated and sought after in our then ten year existence. As great as the Estate version was, the Carmelstone and Rocco (Syrahs) were even greater.

“Back then Arvid Singh was the sommelier at the Sardine Factory. Ted Balesteri tasted my wines at a fundraiser at Holman Ranch and asked to set up a tasting with Arvid. I did. It was the craziest tasting I’ve ever done. I opened the Estate and the Carmelstone while he looked for his small spittoon. After he found it I poured one ounce of each. He swirled and sniffed for a long time, then took in a mouthful. He gurgled a bit, then swallowed. He asked me for another shot. I complied. He repeated the ritual two more times without spitting. I asked him what the spittoon was for. He said that all of his career he had always spit. Then he said, ‘but it would be sacrilege to expectorate the greatest Syrah he had ever tasted.’

“I laughed and said, ‘Yeah, very funny.’ It was obvious that I thought he was joking and he got quite angry at me. This was very serious stuff to him. I could probably write several hundred words describing our back and forth. The gist of it was that I challenged the idea that he had an olfactory version of eidetic memory. He said, for instance, 20 years ago he had tasted a Penfolds Grange and thought it to be the greatest he ever tasted until the Parsonage. I said, ‘The Grange isn’t here to defend its ranking.’ He said he had total olfactory recall of every great wine he had ever tasted. I called bullshit on him and he was really pissed at me.

“Finally I apologized and we kissed and made up.😎 When he tasted the Carmelstone it was more of the same, even greater than the Estate. He wanted to buy a lot more than I was willing to sell him.

“Later, I reflected on our tasting and what I had learned. I learned that Arvid and I have identical palates when it comes to Syrah because we both thought the 2008 was the best we ever tasted.

“As a footnote Arvid said, ‘The Grange is not even worthy of being on the same shelf with your Syrah.’ I thought he was a bit harsh on the famous Aussie Shiraz.”

2008 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $90 ($36 release price) (#261*)

The 2008 Parsonage Syrah is a staff favorite – perhaps one of the very best vintages.

Winemaker Notes:  “The vintage was our most celebrated and sought after in our then ten year existence. As great as the Estate version was, the Carmelstone and Rocco were even greater…What a bomb!  This is quite likely our biggest estate syrah ever.  It’s more like a reserve Carmelstone or Rocco from other vintages.  The nose comes with a blast of blueberry, blackberry, curry spices and cocoa.  The color is pure garnet ink.  The mouth feel is monumental with layers of very dark fruit, exotic spice and French oak barrel brulee. The expected signature notes of mineral and game along with hints of liquer and Amarone deliver on an exceedingly long and dramatic finish.”

My Review: Very dark in the glass with dark fruit on the nose to match. Rich dark flavors of black currant and cassis on the palate. Pretty yummy, but clearly should have been consumed some time back.  Definitely need to decant and drink these older wines! March 2021

2016 Parsonage Wild Card, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (#262*)

2016 was the year of the Soberanes Fire affecting Carmel Valley fruit; grapes for this wine were sourced from all over Monterey County.

Winemaker Notes:  “Downright weird from Frank’s twilight zone.  It really shouldn’t work but it does every time eight years running. Syrah, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Pinot Noir, oh my. It’s yummy and if you want to make the effort you can pick out the character of each varietal.”

My Review: Deep beautiful red in color. Plum, berry and caramel on the nose. Maybe toast notes, but that could be my popcorn. Intense fruit up from on the palate – bursting with red and black berry. A little touch of smoke and tobacco on the finish. Pleasant surprise!! February 2021

  • Photo courtesy of Parsonage
Parsonage’s Beautiful Tasting Room and Outdoor Parklet!

Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click here for the details.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. 

*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.    

Parsonage: Onward to Monterey County and Beyond!

I first introduced you to Parsonage and its reserve wines here: https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-reserve-wines-my-kind-of-big-reds/ and its non-reserve estate wines here: https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-back-to-the-estate-with-2017-releases/. 

Now we are going to get outside of Parsonage’s sweet spots of Carmel Valley and Arroyo Seco AVAs by presenting wines labeled “Monterey County” – and even “Central Coast”!  This post represents the beginning of our transition outside of Monterey County wines and into San Benito County, specifically to Paicines, which I will describe more in the next blog. 

I have 3 red blends for you today.  Sadly, two of them are already sold out – we will need to wait for the next vintage to be released! 

2017 Parsonage The Aussie Red Wine, 15% ABV, $38 (#15*) 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah

2017 The Aussie was so delicious, I had to go back and buy more.

From the Winemaker: “Our popular, magical blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. We like to pair it with rack of lamb or duck. This is a big red wine.”

My Review: Blueberry, blackberry and earthy, with silky-smooth yet full tannins.  An elegantly balanced extended finish.  This wine is my kind of wine – I went back and picked up more!  Now it appears to be sold out.  April 2020

2017 Parsonage Wild Card Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (#85*)

“The Wild Card is a Complexity Bomb.”

From the Winemaker: “This is the tenth iteration of Frank’s wild and crazy idea to make an experimental blend from all of the varietals in our barrels. Forgive my failure to curb my enthusiasm but this 2017 Wild Card red wine is the best one yet!

“Each and every vintage has been fascinating and delicious, but 2017 wins by a landslide. This is the biggest, richest, most fascinating of all of them. As full-bodied as it is, it is still elegantly balanced. The Wild Card is a complexity bomb. Those six components of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Grenache, and Pinot Noir have fused in synergistic harmony to create some serious magic…

“The nose opens with a burst of floral and spice notes, star anise prominent, followed by hints of the full spectrum of red, blue, and black fruit and berries. The mouthfeel is full of texture with fine, ripe, silky tannins. All of the fruit reappears on the palate including red currant, pomegranate, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, and blackberry.

“By patient, vigilant mindfulness I can identify the constituent varietals one by one. Merlot with its foundation of cherry and red currant, Cabernet Sauvignon by its cassis and tannic backbone, Syrah from its savory hint of umami, Petit Verdot with its blueberry and drier finishing tannins, Grenache for its floral and spice notes, and finally, Pinot Noir for its bing cherry, cola and subtle Earl Grey black tea notes.”

My Review:  We tasted this wine along with all of the current releases back in June. We found this mélange of both Rhône and Bordeaux varietals to be refreshing.  With so many different grapes and flavors, we, however, couldn’t align it to distinct flavors as well as Parsonage could.  I was able to re-taste this wine with a friend in October.  Ruby in color, raspberry and currant on the nose, cherry and currant on the palate with a nice, lingering finish.  My friend enjoyed it so much she took two bottles home!

2017 Parsonage The BDL, Central Coast, 15% ABV, $42 (#173*)

The BDL sold out quickly – by fans who remembered its predecessor!

Winemaker’s Notes: “BDL is shorthand for Bordelais, a wildly popular (but illegally named) wine we produced years ago. This exquisite Bordeaux blend is 52 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 24 percent Merlot, and 8 percent each Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cab Franc. It has all the bells and whistles Bordeaux lovers expect from an elegantly balanced and much more expensive bottle that crosses the Atlantic to get here.” (This wine has some juice from Paicines AVA – I’m guessing the Malbec.) This wine sold out very quickly.

My Review: Very dense dark red in color.  Bodacious dark nose – sweet dark cherry and caramel.  Rich dark fruit on the palate, with some sweeter bright cherry fruit on the finish, bordering on a port-like finish.  Slightly vegetal with a little leather.  August 2020

You can obtain the Wild Card and other Parsonage wines directly from the winery here and pick them up at the tasting room or have them shipped to you.  Join their wine club for 20% off.  You can also visit their tasting room by appointment only in Carmel Valley Village (“the village”) Monday-Friday 12-5  and weekends 11-5. Make a reservation in advance here.

The Parsonage wine tasting parklet is spacious and the staff, very attentive to CDC protocols.

*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

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