Tagged: Monterey County

Sun, Wind & Wine: Great Wine and Food in the Prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands AVA!

Wine Blog/Reviews
June 29, 2023

Part 1: Luli Wines and Mansfield-Dunne

Last year, I was offered a media ticket by Chef’s Palette Spice Rubs to go to the Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival, but I was unable to go. This year, I decided to ask the festival directly! I was generously offered early access tickets to this year’s event on May 13^th. Thank you so much!

As my avid readers know, Decanting Monterey is a self-funded labor of love to help educate others about our local vintners and their wines. The only “compensation” I receive is free tastings (most places), discounted purchases, an occasional comped bottle, and, most importantly, the appreciation of our vintners. I was grateful for this opportunity.

We were surprised to find that the event was indoors – inside the large barrel room of Mer Soleil. We ditched our hats and sunglasses and went inside. The event reminded us a bit of the California red barrel tastings that Addy Bassin’s MacArthur Beverages in DC used to hold. I miss those events and am sad they are no longer happening.

The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! Here’s the list from the event website:

We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest. We stuck to that approach – but stopped for a bite to eat before we started tasting wine. There were so many delicious food options – and the portions were not exactly “finger food” but more of a mini meal! Here’s who was there (from the event website):

The pork sandwich provided by Chef’s Palette Spice Rubs, a delicious schnitzel, Schoch Dairy cheeses (which makes the only Monterey Jack cheese produced in Monterey), and Lula’s Chocolates were a few delicious. Yes, Lula’s Chocolates…yum.

If you like good food – and love Pinot Noir – this is the event for you!

Our strategy worked pretty well. For the most part, we did not have to stand in line and tried many wines from wineries we had not experienced before, as well as catching up with a few well-known-to-us wineries. I tried to take notes and pictures, but the whole thing was a bit overwhelming. We did have some good conversations with the new-to-us wineries.

One of my biggest takeaways was how many out of area wineries were present, banking on the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA name on their bottles. After all, according to the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association (my go-to resource on Monterey wine), Monterey County is the largest producer of Chardonnay in the United States and the largest producer of Pinot Noir in California and roughly 50% of Monterey County grapes are purchased outside the county.

I’ve broken the coverage of this event into several posts, beginning with our true Monterey County wineries. To make it even more special, I am starting today with 2 local wineries we had not heard of before this event. They deserve it! Any winery notes are from their websites or from the pourers at this event. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Instead of detailed tasting notes, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met through this event and impressions of the wines we tasted.

I will present the rest of the Monterey wineries the following week, then the other Central Coast wineries, wrapping with the out of area wineries. And, consistent with our tasting strategy, I have only included wineries we have not presented before.

As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would gladly attend this event again – and take even more pictures!

Let’s go!

LULI WINES

We had never heard of Luli Wines. This was our very last stop on this day and was a great discovery. Yes, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – but also a very nice Syrah, a varietal I seek out wherever we taste. We had no idea in the moment that this was a very special Sara Floyd-Pisoni Family project!

About Luli Wines:

“Wine offers expression of people-in-relation rather than selves apart. Luli, the result of a partnership between a master sommelier, a distinguished vineyard manager and an expert winemaker, provides a particularly happy example of the way in which wine creates community, because Luli is itself a collective enterprise. Sommelier, grape-grower, and winemaker, we three approach wine from different angles, but work synergistically to craft exceptional hand-crafted vintages at comfortable prices. We thrive together—and have fun doing so. And why not? The pleasure of wine supplies us with a way to enjoy life. So open a bottle, pour the swirling liquid into a glass, and celebrate, as we do, the bonds between family and friends.

“Sara Floyd, our sommelier, owns Swirl Wine Brokers and has a long history finding and distributing delectable wines for restaurants. Mark Pisoni, our grape grower, coaxes the vines to produce top-notch fruit with which Jeff, his brother, crafts outstanding vintages. With Luli, we set out as a team to create a new line of wines from high-quality fruit that is both affordable and top-notch.

“Luli wines are sourced from vineyards in or near the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Pisoni family’s home base. Together with Sara, the goal of Jeff and Mark is to illustrate the very best this beautiful wine region has to offer. Accordingly, we purchase grapes from old friends in the area and in this way stay close to the process of farming.

“We live wine. We are a master sommelier, grapegrowers and winemakers. Our partnership—Sara Floyd and the Pisoni Family—came together from different aspects of the wine business. Sara is a Master Sommelier, the owner of Swirl Wine Brokers and has a long history in wine and restaurants. The Pisoni Family is known for its eponymous vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands and for Pisoni Estate and Lucia wines. Deciding that we would make a great team and noting the shortage of handcrafted wines at reasonable prices, we set out to create a new line of wines that you would love, at prices you can afford. We seek high quality fruit and craft exceptional wines.”

2022 Luli Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $22 (#993)

Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet: “…The 2022 Luli Chardonnay presents itself with a bold lemon-hued core that stretches to the edge of glass, where tinges of youthful green brilliance become perceptible. Ripe notes of red apple, fresh pear, and subtle hints of stone fruit act as a veritable aromatic orchard, while undertones of flint and baking spice add complexity. Seamlessly traveling from nose to palate, this Chardonnay continues with flavors of crisp apple, toasted vanilla bean, and a hint of lemon oil. Aging in 100% neutral oak and without any malolactic fermentation allows the truest expression of this variety to shine. Chalky texture from sur lie aging and fresh acidity from the influences of the Pacific Ocean create a dazzling and lengthy finish.” 1,129 cases produced

2021 Luli Lemoravo Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $40 (#994)

Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet:

THE VINEYARD: “The Lemoravo Vineyard is set 400 feet in elevation in the southern hills of the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vineyard is planted among the decomposed granite alluvial fans that make up a series of isolated islands among the bench lands. This site places the vineyard in rugged soils and heavy fog. As a tribute to this land’s history, the name is a three-word portmanteau as a tribute to the region’s former crops: Lemons, Oranges, and Avocados…”

TASTING NOTES: “The 2021 Luli Lemoravo Vineyard Pinot Noir is a refreshing example of the dynamic terroir and climate within the Santa Lucia Highlands. Deep ruby to its core, this wine slowlyunfolds with layered aromas of strawberry crème, fresh-cut sage, red cherry, and sandalwood. Staying true to its aromatic profile, flavors of candied Bing cherry, kirsch, black tea, and fresh earth immerse the palate completely. This is a deliciously complex Pinot Noir that finishes with noticeable texture, youthful acidity, and soft, silky tannin.” 142 cases produced

2021 Luli Monte Linda Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $40 (#995)

Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet:

THE VINEYARD: “Residing high above the Salinas Valley at almost 715 feet in elevation, Monte Linda Vineyard is in the southern portion of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. This vineyard sits above the morning fog line, allowing for greater sun exposure, while at the same time seeing cooler nighttime temperatures, allowing the vines to rest and achieve a longer growing season. These conditions, along with the vineyard’s rocky soils, create deeply textured wines with notable structure…”

TASTING NOTES: “Sporting a youthful, purple-tinged hue, this Pinot Noir packs a bouquet of vibrant aromas of black cherry, plum, and a spicy undertone of vanilla, clove, and cinnamon. On the palate,

soft tannin envelops juicy flavors of dark berry compote, while savory notes of baking spice and earthy hints of forest floor create added complexity. The coastal influences of the Santa Lucia Highlands permit long hang-time for each pristine cluster, resulting in optimum berry development and ripeness as well as preservation of age-worthy acidity.” 94 cases produced.

2021 Luli Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $23 (#996)

Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet:

THE VINEYARD: “The 2021 Syrah was sourced entirely from various sustainably farmed vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vines are well-trained, carry low yields and are planted to a variety of different clones. Soils are well-drained and primarily granite in composition. These factors, combined with the fog and cool winds of the Santa Lucia Highlands provide wonderful growing conditions for Pinot Noir.”

TASTING NOTES: “Sporting richly hued shades of dark ruby and near purple, the 2021 Luli Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah is a hidden gem crafted from a notoriously difficult vintage in this prestigious Californiaappellation. Each swirl in the glass brings new life to this savory and spicy offering, with notes of freshly ground coffee, dark chocolate, new leather, and spiced plum filling setting the stage. As this deliciously pure Syrah coats the palate, waves of blackberry crumble, red cherry, and black pepper pair with hints of dried herbs de Provence and subtle meaty undertones to create a complex mélange of flavors. Approachable to its core, this wine still possesses structured tannin and remarkable acidity which suggests it will continue to age for years to come.” 475 cases produced

My Review: This Syrah was inky in the glass with rich, smooth dark fruit flavors. It is a lovely Syrah – and without what I call the Central Coast Syrah funk! I would like to try this wine again and again. May 2023

MANSFIELD-DUNNE

We had never heard of Mansfield-Dunne before and were very excited to learn about this winery. There wines were impressive. Its vineyards are here in the Santa Lucia Highlands, while its winery and tasting room, interestingly, are in San Francisco!

About Mansfield-Dunne:

“Mansfield-Dunne is a grower-producer of Santa Lucia Highlands wines. Only by owning our vineyards and meticulous organic farming, are we able to represent the true essence of the Santa Lucia Highlands — for us it truly starts in the vineyard…

“Our two estate vineyards show the breadth of possibilities in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

“Since 2011, we have been producing estate Pinot Noir from Peterson Vineyard and have added additional wines from Peterson and Cortada Alta as nature and vineyard development have allowed. Our Single Vineyard wines provide age-worthy expressions of what the Santa Lucia Highlands are capable of, while our Appellation wines show how our two single vineyards compliment each other. The full range of wines is driven by a desire to showcase what grows best in the Santa Lucia Highlands and the range of the appellation.”

VISIT Mansfield-Dunne: “Mansfield-Dunne is a grower-producer of Santa Lucia Highlands wines. Only by owning our vineyards and meticulous organic farming, are we able to represent the true essence of the Santa Lucia Highlands — for us it truly starts in the vineyard.

“Mansfield-Dunne Wines sources fruit only from our estate vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands and produces wine at our winery located in San Francisco. Winery visits are available to our members by appointment. Reach out to us and we will respond as soon as possible.”

All winery notes come from this link: https://www.mansfield-dunne.com/Wines

2022 Mansfield-Dunne Peterson Vineyard Rosé, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14% ABV, $29 (#997)

Winery Notes: “This complex, ruby pink Rosé of Pinot Noir is a perfect year-round refreshment. The nose greets you with notes of candied strawberry, fresh cut roses, and grapefruit zest. Juicy acid is framed by notes of strawberry shortcake, maraschino cherry, rose water and a subtle minerality. This wine finishes soft and creamy with pleasant bursts of toasty spice.”

2020 Mansfield-Dunne Peterson Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.2% ABV, $45 (#998)

Winery Notes: “Tropical and rich to its core, this vintage of Peterson Chardonnay expresses intense fruit, beautiful spice, and complex minerality. The nose opens with notes of guava, toasted coconut, and savory pineapple balanced by perfumed vanilla bean. On the palate, soft acidity frames notes of fresh melon and lemon zest. Rich baking spice, subtle pepper, and smooth vanilla peak on a long textured and creamy finish that goes on and on. Enjoy now through 2026.”

2019 Mansfield-Dunne Cortada Alta Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $58 (#999)

Winery Notes: “This dark purple, elegant Pinot Noir is a true expression of the long, cool growing season at Cortada Alta. Its intriguing nose of wild sage, black cherries, raspberry, applewood, ground coffee, and toasty oak draws you into the glass. Vibrant acidity enlivens notes of Bing cherry and raspberry pepper jelly on the fruity palate. Hints of cocoa and baking spices accent the bright, structured mid palate and transcend to a long, seamless finish.”

My Notes: We found this wine to be an excellent expression of Pinot Noir – very tasty.

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Spur of the Moment Wine Experience at A Taste of Monterey

Wine Blog/Reviews
June 8, 2023

Out for a long walk with an out-of-town neighbor, we decided to stop into briefly at A Taste of Monterey, where my neighbor is a member. I’ve written previously about A Taste of Monterey here: https://decantingmonterey.com/a-taste-of-monterey-the-official-regional-wine-visitors-center/.

As I said in that post, A Taste of Monterey is a great place to start if you don’t know much about our local wines. It calls itself ““The Official” Regional Wine Visitors’ Center.” They have an extensive wine shop in the front, plenty of tasting flights to choose from, and food pairings to accompany your tasting. You will find wines from our established wineries, such as Pierce Ranch, Scheid, and Silvestri; as well as Kori Wines and Cru, all of which have their own local tasting rooms. In addition, you will find some micro producers who don’t have tasting rooms of their own. Plus they have huge picture windows with bayfront views – perfect for sighting otters or watching a sunset.

About Muirwood: “WINES CRAFTED WITH CARE FROM MONTEREY COUNTY’S RENOWNED ARROYO SECO VINEYARDS”

“The Zaninovich family has deep farming roots, spanning nearly a century. In the early 1970s, we were captivated by the raw beauty and exceptional potential of the undiscovered Arroyo Seco wine region in Monterey County. Today this area has emerged as one of California’s most celebrated wine-growing regions, and among the most breathtaking.

“We are inspired by the legacy of John Muir, who sought to preserve the wilderness for future generations. With four generations of California farming in harmony with nature, we have great respect for this land we call home. Like John Muir, we take a long-term perspective. We believe in nurturing the land so that it may bear fruit for generations to come.

“The Arroyo Seco is located southeast of the Monterey Bay in the valley adjacent to the Arroyo Seco Creek, we’re lucky to enjoy a unique combination of growing conditions and soils which create grapes with character and ﬂavor. We get a richness and quality of grapes that you don’t ﬁnd anywhere else.”

About Pareto Estate Wines: “The Pareto Principle, also called the 80/20 rule, states that 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort. This is true in the world of wine, where 80% of wine is consumed by 20% of the people. With Pareto’s Estate, we raise our glasses to those of us that take up the slack of others. Cheers to the 20%!

“The vineyards of Pareto’s Estate are located in Monterey County on California’s central coast. This area is known for having the longest growing season in California, lasting on average about two weeks longer than other regions. We thank the early morning fogs and gusty afternoon winds for this fortunate phenomenon – it wreaks havoc on women’s hairdos but the grapes love it.

“We also pay homage to the awesome influence of the Monterey Bay, for without its plummeting depth of over 10,000 feet, the fog, chilly air and reliable breezes wouldn’t exist. And without them, Monterey doesn’t win the prize for longest hang time. And without longest hang time, the impeccable fruit that bursts with vibrant aromas and complex flavors would be….let’s not even go there.

“A few other facts you should know. At Pareto’s Estate, our wines are 100% estate grown. Estate grown means that the grapes are grown on our vineyards and are crushed each vintage at our winery. Nobody else gets to touch them. Nobody. Yes, we’re control freaks. Another tidbit is that our winery is a thing of beauty. Built in 2005, it is state-of-the-art and absolutely gorgeous if you’re into that sort of thing, which we are. One last factoid – our vineyards are 100% sustainably certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. We love our vines and take care of them…”

About Comanche Cellars: “My name is Michael Simons, and what started as a love affair with wine has turned into a passion for producing small lots of very handcrafted wines from neighboring vineyards. Our tiny (1,800 cases) winery is named after Comanche, my horse when I was ten years old. He was an important part of a young life, and I use his name as a loving tribute to this old friend. These days, I ride a bicycle, and since this love affair with wine turned into a full-blown obsession, finding time for riding anything can be tough. But I still think of Comanche often, and am proud that his name and shoes are on every bottle of my wine. Maybe those horseshoes will bring you some good luck!

“Comanche Cellars is on California’s Monterey Peninsula, where we take advantage of the incredible wealth of vineyards that can be found in almost every direction. All throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, San Antonio Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains AVA’s, there are winegrowers and winemakers producing incredibly beautiful wines that, we think, can and will rival the best the world has to offer. We’re happy to be in the sweet spot right now, as Wine Enthusiast recently named Monterey as one of the Top 5 winegrowing regions worldwide!

“Saddle up, come along for the ride, and see for yourself what all the buzz is about. Just give us a call or drop us an email.”

Today I am presenting the 3 wines we tasted in March. We each selected a different flight – I chose the Rockin’ Reds Flight. The winery has since moved on with a different set of 3 reds for this flight. Winery notes come from the winery, unless otherwise stated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2019 Muirwood Merlot, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.5% ABV, $15 (#988)

Winery Notes: Winemaking: French & American oak aging, careful barrel selection & blending process. Vineyards/Fruit: Wiley Ranch “Twin Oaks” Block: Elegant, balanced; Wiley Ranch “Vaquero” Block: Ripe, rich. Flavor Profile: Dark plum and ripe berries, soft & smooth finish. Food Pairings: Pizza Margherita, Classic Meatloaf.

Wine Enthusiast – 88 points: Dark cherry and cedar aromas make for a familiar start to this bottling. Hearty dark fruits show on the palate as well, with splash of wood oil and a fairly fierce acidity. Matt Kettmann, October 2021

My Review: Almost purple in the glass. Plum on the dusty, mellow, pleasant nose. Perfume and grapes notes. Juicy palate of blackberry, blueberry. So smooth. Best of today’s wines. March 2023

2018 Pareto Estate Wines Eighty20 Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $17 (#989)

Winery Notes: “NOSE blackberries, blueberries, plum, with notes of vanilla and mocha. PALATE medium-bodied, soft tannins, rich lingering fruit finish. VARIETAL Cabernet Sauvignon. WINE Cabernet Sauvignon from the southern Monterey region, just north of Paso Robles, benefits from long, warm days and cool nights as well as modest rainfall. The result is big, bright, fruit-driven wine with rich tannins and a long finish.”

My Review: Dark ruby. Barnyard on the nose, with rose petal and light cherry notes. Palate of smooth fruits. Hints of barnyard, yet quite tasty. It opened up over the course of the tasting. March 2023

2020 Comanche Tempranillo, Pierce Ranch Vineyard, San Antonio Valley AVA, $34 (#989)

Winery Notes: This special Spanish grape creates a wine that is bold and spicy. Aged in 50% new American oak barrels, it brings aromas of dark cherry, smoked meats and a long satisfying finish.

My Review: Almost garnet/ruby in color. Tart cranberry and raspberry on the nose. Spicy mouthful of berries and dark cherry. Lively palate. I enjoyed this wine. March 2023

You can visit A Taste of Monterey at 700 Cannery Row, Ste. KK, Monterey, CA – 93940. They are open Sunday-Thursday 12pm-6pm; Friday-Saturday 12pm-7pm. You can also buy the wines they carry on their website! Comanche’s tasting room is located at 412 Alvarado Street, Monterey, and is open Tues-Thurs 4-8 pm, Fri 3-9 pm, Sat 1-9 pm, Sun 1-6 pm.

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Georis Winery: Exceptional Wines from Cachagua and Beyond!

Wine Blog/Reviews
May 4, 2023

Our Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society is continuing to grow, making it challenging to find a spot for our first Friday “WinedUP” tastings. A lot of our local tasting rooms are small. I have been trying to find places with larger tasting rooms to allow more of our members to participate. It won’t always be possible, but I have found a few for this Spring. One of the first places I thought of was Georis. It has a stunning space – indoors and out.

The Georis Winery tasting room manager, Ivan Cornejo-Martinez, was great to work with. He was very kind and flexible – we worked together to keep the event as simple as possible, limiting the number of extra staff and glasses he would need to have on hand. It was nice to learn we could have done catered food or ordered in from Corkscrew Café across the street, as well. In the end, we decided to reserve those options for future events.

It had been a chilly day on the coast, so despite driving through a spot of rain to get to the valley, we were thrilled that it was sunny and even warm! When we entered their spacious tasting room, we were delighted to find 3 tasting options: Chilled (sparkling and white wines), the Grand Mix (which includes a white, a rose and 3 reds) and the Estate (all big reds). They started us with a special wine: the 2009 Deux Frères Merlot/Malbec blend – a great way to kick off the evening. The name of the wine refers to the two Georis brothers, Walter and Gaston, who sadly passed away last year. The tasting room staff Ivan, Daisy and James were extremely knowledgeable about the wines and did a terrific job taking each of us through our tastings. I hope to go back soon with the rest of the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod.

**Check with the winery, as their tasting menu and prices do change!**

It has been almost 3 years since I wrote about a Georis wine: https://decantingmonterey.com/2017-georis-merlot-getting-way-beyond-sideways/. And, so I am going to repeat some of it here. Plus, while they are known for their Merlots, they proved that they are making exceptional wines beyond Merlot!

From the Georis winery’s webpage: “Walter Georis was born of a Belgian father and a German mother who immigrated to the US from Belgium in 1956 when Walter was eleven years old. After having spent his teen years in Southern California, Walter decided to move north to Carmel where he pursued a career in fine arts. Soon after arriving in Carmel, Walter designed a family restaurant, Casanova that would become internationally renowned for its cuisine and style, and its wine cellar. Remembering his childhood and the pleasures of country life on the family farms in Europe, Walter decided to combine his love of fine wines with the challenges and rewards of growing grapes and producing first class wines. In 1981, after consulting with French experts on soil and wine making, he bought a ranch in Carmel Valley and soon planted the grapes that would produce the first crop of Georis wines…

“The vineyard is located in the mountains of the upper Carmel Valley, California, 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Our 14 acre vineyard is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir grapes. Our terroir is sandy clay loam with gravel and river rocks. Some small vineyard areas include chalky soils…

“Since 1982, Georis Winery proudly produces a variety of wines exceptional in quality. Georis wines represent authenticity, integrity and a commitment to terroir expressive wines. Our philosophy is to respect European wine-making traditions while embracing the generous California climate of our appellation. Our objective is to craft wines with complexity, elegance and finesse.”

Today I am presenting 12 Georis wines which we tasted at the AWS event. Winery notes come from their website or conversations with tasting room staff. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Sometimes I am distracted by others or feel rushed in the tasting and can’t get the notes I truly want. I’ll have to go back. After all, this is a social event!

2009 Georis Deux Frères, Carmel Valley AVA (#963)

Winemaker’s Notes: ~80% Merlot, ~20% Malbec

My Review: Ruby in the glass. Some soft sandalwood notes on the nose. Light on the palate. This well aged wine is coming into its own. April 2023

2021 Georis Riesling, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#964)

Winemaker’s Notes: From Tessiere Vineyard in Arroyo Seco. ~12 months in neutral oak.

My Review: This is one of those great, dry Rieslings from Arroyo Seco. Citrus flavors balanced by salty minerality. Sweet flavors of honeysuckle or white citrus blossom complete the finish. I described this wine as reminiscent of taking a tequila shot followed by the salt and lime – all in a very delicious package. April 2023

2021 Georis Les Abeilles Rosé, Carmel Valley AVA, $42 (#965)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Elegant and crisp Cabernet Franc based Rosè. Medium bodied and dry. Raspberry, peach candy, cantaloupe, and jasmine.”

My Review: This was a very nice wine, probably one of the best Central Coast Rosé wines I have tasted lately. Dry, delicately flavored, balanced, perfect in all ways. Very traditional. April 2023

2021 Georis Oaked Chardonnay, Monterey AVA, $42 (#966)

Winemaker’s Notes: Aged in 20% French barrels for 12 months. The fruit comes from our estate vineyard in Carmel Valley.

My Review: Light in the glass with perfume on the nose. To me, this did not come off as one of those buttery Chardonnays. Balanced. A lean, lighter weight wine than I was expecting. April 2023

2017 Georis Estate Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $42 (#967)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Full bodied and earthy. Smooth, soft tannin with a lingering finish. Blueberry, cherry, forest floor and violet. 554 Cases produced.”

My Review: A brown tinge in the color with very typical aromas and flavors of a Central Coast Pinot Noir. April 2023

2017 Georis Estate Les Amoureaux Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $65 (#968)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Full bodied and earthy. Smooth, soft tannin with a lingering finish. Blueberry, cherry, forest floor and violet. 554 Cases produced.”

My Review: This was the very last wine I tasted on the way out the door. A new participant at the AWS tasting told me that I really needed to try it. I found it to be fuller bodied and a Pinot Noir even this Pinot Noir naysayer could really enjoy. Sorry I did not capture better tasting notes! April 2023

2017 Georis Cabernet Franc, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#969)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Very soft and acid driven with notes of cherry, leather, and roasted pepper. Fantastic progression from the front to the back of the palate with a bright acidic finish.” From the Donati Family Vineyard in Paicines.

My Review Powered by Terravenos: Herbaceous, violet, and lots of mid-palate structure with mild tobacco notes on the finish. April 2023

2017 Georis Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.8% ABV, $40 (#54)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Rich and bold yet elegant with sumptuous aromas of mocha, savory chocolate, and black berry fruits. The palate is extremely generous with hints of young berry, black berry, black spices, and silky tannins.”

My Review Powered by Terravenos: OK, we are finally in my wheelhouse! This is one of the early wines I reviewed in Decanting Monterey. Ruby/purple in color with plum/blackberry and “Fig Newton” on the nose with rose petal, black cherry and overripe strawberry notes on the palate. Since I first reviewed this wine almost 3 years ago, the tannins have smoothed out. A very delicious, big wine which is drinking very well. April 2023

2017 Georis “La Chapelle” Red Blend, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $80 (#970)

Winemaker’s Notes: Our annual Bordeaux blend, the 2017 vintage is 80% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot and 10% Malbec.

My Review: A nice, dark berry bouquet with the nose carrying over to the palate. Very smooth with the fruit well integrated. I liked this wine. April 2023

2017 Georis Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $45 (#971)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Powerful ruby colored with great nose of dark fruit, plum, and blackberry. Smooth elegant middle with silky tannins and a chalky finish. A dominate palate with savory notes such as dates, fennel, tobacco leaf, and leather.”

My Review: Warm, dark fruit on the nose. This is a good Cabernet Sauvignon from the premier growing area for Cabernet in Monterey County – Cachagua. This has good structure and lots of tannin – this will last for years to come. Buy some and cellar! April 2023

2017 Georis “Clos des Moutons” Red Blend, Carmel Valley AVA, 13.8% ABV, $90 (#972)

Winemaker’s Notes: Our single vineyard selection, aged 26 months in French oak barrels. Think leathery, plum, and tobacco flavors. ~80% Merlot, ~20% Petit Verdot

My Review: Nose of rosemary. Cherry and berry flavors on the palate. Complex structure. This is another great wine. April 2023

2017 Georis Estate “Malbec Du Milieux”, Carmel Valley AVA, $75 (#973)

Winemaker’s Notes: A single vineyard of 5 acres of 40-year-old Malbec vines. Aged 24 months in French barrels.”

My Review: Warm, jammy fruit on the nose. It is a surprising mix of sweet jamminess and tart fruits like raspberry and cherry. I found this wine intriguing – and a great one to end the tasting on a very high note. April 2023

Georis Tasting Room: Located at 1 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley Village. Open Wednesday – Monday from 12:00 – 6:00 pm with the exception of the weather and holidays. (831) 659-1080. “We greatly appreciate a call if will be joining us with a large group, we want your experience to be delightful while drinking some of California’s best.”

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I Brand & Family’s Spring 2023 Release: Some Very Special Surprises!

Wine Blog/Reviews
April 29, 2023

The Decanting Monterey Wine Pod looks forward to an I Brand & Family release party – a tradition for us. There is always something surprising to taste. And the most recent one in March was no exception. It is a great opportunity to taste the new releases in a festive and relaxed setting. In addition to their consistently great Albariño, standouts at this event were the Chenin Blanc from Carmel Valley and the Pinot Noir (yes, I said Pinot Noir!) from Cienega Valley, plus the most unique Cabernet Pfeffer, also from Cienega Valley. The food and entertainment were both high quality. Oysters and small bites were provided by Oystertown and the music, by El Pacado de Juana.

I have learned there is no rush to taste the wines at these events. There is plenty of time to experience a wine fully (color, nose, body, flavors, finish), compare notes with the wine pod, and dump the rest so I can get us home safely. Then comes the great part: deciding which wines we will take home!

I have 8 wines to present to you today from 3 labels: I Brand & Family, La Marea and Paysan – tasted at the release party. Winery notes come from their Spring 2023 Winemaker Letter or their website: https://www.ibrandwinery.com/. I used the full notes, as this blog is about wine education and I find them so interesting! I used the microphone in my phone to transcribe the long, descriptive paragraphs. I think I corrected the sometimes-amusing text it recorded (had a hard time with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Pfeffer, but igot Tellicherry and Cachagua right the first time), but, as always, any errors are mine and mine alone.

2022 La Marea Kristy Vineyard Albariño, Monterey County, 13.2% ABV, $24 (#955)

Winemaker’s Notes: “At this point, what’s left to say about our Kristy’s Vineyard Albariño? We began making Albariño in 2011 to test our theory that the Salinas Valley was best suited to saline, mineral-driven, high acid whites. Steve McIntyre, the gentle caporegime of Monterey County winegrowing, pointed us to several options but said he thought Kristy’s was the best quality. By 2013 we were pretty much locked in on our winemaking program. We tried varying our winemaking a couple of times since then but have always come back to the original because it just works. 2/3 direct press, 1/3 skin contact for two days. Cold fermented in stainless steel, arrested malic. We’ve been told several times this is the standard for aromatic whites in the new world. The biggest issue is, with the drought, yields have been down on the vineyard. We just don’t have enough of this wine. The 2022 vintage is full of intensity and bright acidity, combining the open fruit flavors of the 19 and the direct bite of 2020. A spectacular wine.

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

My Review: Straw in the glass. Nose of bright citrus, balanced by the sweetness of honeydew melon. A tasty palate with grapefruit zest on the finish. Super fresh. March 2023

2022 Paysan Zabala Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $24 (#956)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Maybe five years ago, I told my friend Eben Drucker that Sauvignon Blanc would soon be on the rise. Eben has helped us with national and international sales of our brands for almost ten years and had been mixed up in the wine business for twice that. Sauvignon Blanc was at its nadir, totally disregarded in the wake of Kim Crawford and grassy New Zealand mass production. I saw the quality of the vineyards in the ground, the budding renaissance of Sancerre on east coast wine lists, and whispers on the hippier edge of California winemaking oddly about a variety associated with country clubs and gala balls. We had been getting our toes wet in Sauvignon Blanc for a consulting project and I was closing in on an idea for a wine. We worked on the idea for a couple of years in small lots and, in 2021, we made the leap and took the bulk of the vineyard. It sold like hotcakes, and we expect the same with the 2022 vintage. The Zabala Vineyard is among the rockiest you’ll see, resplendent with river stones, reminiscent of the galets roulés of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Sauvignon Blanc at Zabala is the Sauvignon Musqué variation, which means the wine has more fruit notes, especially ripe melon.

“Tasting Notes – Satsuma Mandarin and herbaceous notes of fresh-cut chives, tarragon, and wet limestone shine brightly up front. The attack on the palate is bright and distinctly tropical dragonfruit and papaya, evolving into dry citrus flavors reminiscent of Buddha’s hand.”

My Review: Straw in color. Perfume on the nose. Rich flavors on the palate with notes of green pepper. One in our group thought it was a touch harsh. March 2023

2022 Paysan Rose, Central Coast AVA, 12.7% ABV, $19 (#957) 81% Mourvèdre, 12% Cinsault, 7% Grenache

Winemaker’s Notes: “Over the last few vintages, our rosé has become more Mourvèdre focused, lending the wine more depth and intensity despite its pale color. With roughly 4 hours of skin contact across the lots, the 2022 has a pale, almost vin gris hue, but don’t be fooled. Hiding beneath that hint of pink is deep, textured wine. Both the Arroyo Seco Canyon Vineyard and the Siletto Vineyard are rocky and the minerality shows through. Extremely pleasurable to drink, we expect this to be peaking just as the summer heat hits. I’m in love with the new package. If you have a porch or patio, you need some of this rosé.

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

My Review: Very pale pink in the glass. A nice, rich rose nose out-promises the delicate palate of white peach with a watermelon finish. Based on the writeup above, this wine deserves a revisit! March 2023

2021 I Brand & Family Massa Vineyard Chenin Blanc, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $36 (#958)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This is our first year working with the Chenin Blanc off Massa, (née Durney) in the Cachagua region of the upper Carmel River Basin. Planted on its own roots fifty years previous, these vines can now be called old vines, (per the Historic Vineyard Society). They produced a stunning Chenin Blanc: racy and intense. We held ours back an additional six months in bottle to allow it to flesh out. The Massa Vineyard is a special place. Still very much a rough diamond, I have seen the most stunning wines emerge from the vineyard – on par with vineyards known internationally. We made a mere 44 cases of this wine and more than half will go out to the initial club release. If you would like multiple bottles, please contact us promptly.

“Tasting Notes – Aromas of flint, toasted brioche and lemon verbena are immediately present. These flavors follow onto the palate, incorporating drier, flavors of green walnuts and more brioche; beautiful floral notes reminiscent of lavender and lilac grace the dry finish.”

My Review: Pretty, light yellow in the glass. Clean nose. Lovely, full bodied palate of fresh fruit, with peach and citrus flavors, balanced by brioche and salty notes. Our favorite of the tasting. March 2023

2020 I Brand & Family Besson Vineyard – Old Vine Grenache, Santa Clara Valley AVA, 13.5% ABV, $42 (#959)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This is our ninth iteration coming from the centenarian Grenache vines cared for by the Besson family since the 1940s. We’ve settled into a nice place with the winemaking and the wines grow into deep, thoughtful ruminations on time and place as they settle into the bottle. For those who have a chance to drive by the classic vineyard (it’s right across from Gilroy Gardens on Hecker Pass Highway heading west from Gilroy) the third generation of the Besson Family has started a small brand and you can taste their wine amid the old soldiers. We share these blocks with our good friends, winery mates and longtime fellow travelers, John and Alex from Birichino. Over the years they’ve sold small amounts to old-vine lions of California wine like Ridge, Sandlands, and A Tribute to Grace. We keep our allocation from the rockiest section next to Uvas Creek and produce it with spontaneous fermentations, 50% whole cluster, a touch of French oak influence and sixteen months on lees in barrel. It’s the same recipe we’ve used since 2014 and we keep it consistent because it really works with the site and because with consistent winemaking you can really see vintages expressed over time. The 2020 vintage was beset by high smoke covering the sun for extended periods and so the wine is less boisterous but more deep and textured at this early stage. This is always a star in our tasting room.

“Tasting Notes – Ripe red fruit, specifically red delicious apples, fresh pressed cider and savory hints of manzanita and Tellicherry peppercorn abound on the nose. The palate is similarly bright with additional herbaceous notes of fresh tarragon. This quickly evolving wine wraps up with distinct tannins and aromatic pine duff.”

My Review: 112-year-old vines! Garnet in color. Perfume, plum and cherry on the nose. A good, mid-weight, bright wine with cherry notes and a little leather on the finish. March 2023

2021 I Brand & Family Flint Vineyard Pinot Noir, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.4% ABV, $36 (#960)

Winemaker’s Notes: “We’ve gained a reputation locally as Pinot Noir naysayers, which isn’t fair. We love Pinot Noir and I made my fair share of it when I worked in the Santa Cruz Mountains (and I still make a great deal for special projects). Because of that experience, we’re very particular about where we get our Pinot Noir from, which makes sense as Pinot Noir is very particular about where it grows well. We re-entered the Pinot Noir fray to prove a point. So much discussion in Pinot Noir winemaker circles focuses on how cold the vineyard is and what clones are used. When we worked with the Enz Vineyard, the Pinot Noir felt like a red-headed step child because the vineyard was warm, without consideration for how wonderful the site is. I am of the opinion that a great site always speaks most strongly, so we took the fruit. I was elated by the response. After the relationship with the Enz family imploded, we moved around the corner to Scott Flint‘s place. Scott is a really kind and super interesting guy. He used to make his own wine but now spends his days restoring old tractors. We used a 1946 Ford forklift to load the bins. If the bin is a little heavy, it gets difficult because the front tires don’t want to stay on the ground and that makes it tough to steer. Scott’s vineyard is at the base of Mount Harlan, home to Calera, and because the cold air sinks off the mountain onto his property it buds out late and picks about a month later than Enz and a couple of weeks later than the ‘cool climate’ Santa Lucia Highlands. All things in wine and viticulture are relative, there are no hard truths. The Flint bears the signature of the special mixed granitic and calcareous soils of the Cienega combined with the darker red fruits and cherry compote character of a cool climate pinot noir. 2021 was just a special vintage and willowy Pinot Noir often shows vintage variation more readily than other grapes. Lovely.”

“Tasting Notes – Notes of cedar and dried porcini mushrooms are present on the nose, subtly melding with undertones of cherry preserves. The palate is well-integrated but complex. The preserved cherries come back into play, evolving into the warm cherry pie flavors typical of pinot noir. Bright acidity wraps things up and leaves you with baking spices and vanilla bean.”

My Review: Rich ruby in the glass. Light cherry on the nose. Rich palate, balanced and delicious, with tobacco on the finish. Not a Pinot Noir drinker, but I like this wine. Promises to be an exceptional wine. We bought this to cellar, as we have with other reserve Pinot Noirs from this region, with excellent results. March 2023

2021 I Brand & Family Gimelli Vineyard Cabernet Pfeffer, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 12.8% ABV, $36 (#961)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Only about 10 acres of Cabernet Pfeffer exist in the world, and most all of it is in San Benito County. The Gimelli Vineyard encompasses the remnants of the El Gabilan Vineyard, first planted in the 1890s in Grass Valley, a side canyon off the Cienega Valley on the east side of the Gabilan cordillera. Cabernet Pfeffer was rumored to be a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Trousseau made by San Jose nurseryman, William Pfeffer in the 19th century, but that story is apocryphal. Ken Ryan Kobza, our winery tsar, has been making Cabernet Pfeffer for the better part of a decade. We sent petiole samples to UC Davis five years ago and they matched most closely with a long-forgotten grape variety from the southwest of France called Mourtaou. Either way, Cabernet Pfeffer is a rare beast. Not fruity in the way California wine is alleged to always be, Cabernet Pfeffer is dominated by savory, umami flavors, like a cigar box and teriyaki. Special and super interesting, this is the only year we will make a single-varietal Cabernet Pfeffer. We’re proud to share this little slice of local history.

“Tasting notes – Our Cabernet Pfeffer smells like a humidor, with bold notes of cedar and sweet tobacco. This sweet and savory notes translate as unctuous teriyaki on the palate, quickly incorporating notes of spicy ancho chili on the mid-palate and closing with a hint of tart raspberry. Well-integrated tannins wrap up the experience.”

My Review: Garnet in color. Bouquet of enticing sweetness, balanced by cinnamon spice. A bright palate with cranberry notes. It is lean, medium bodied and unique, rare. We took one home. I hope we will cellar it for a bit. March 2023

2020 I Brand & Family Graff Family Vineyard Syrah, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 14.8% ABV, $36 (#962)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The 2020 Graff Syrah came early in the heat of 2020, which was fortuitous because it avoided the worst of the smoke. These vines are now more than 30 years old, farmed immaculately since their planting by the ace duo of Hector and Jose Bravo. This one, to me, shows with Chalone can be – it’s among the most compelling places to grow wine in America. Granitic brightness meets suave limestone texture, stems, and the blood iron that always emerges in great Syrahs. 80% whole cluster, 18 months on lees, another 8 months in bottle before release.

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

My Review: Rich, dark garnet. Spice and earth on the nose. Dark berries and earth on the palate. March 2023

The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.

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Battle of the Carmel Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons!

Wine Blog/Reviews
April 13, 2023

As we were driving out to Carmel Valley to select wines for the Carmel Rotary event in February, we hatched this idea: Wouldn’t it be fun to host a blind tasting of Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignons? We ran the idea by one of our tasting room favorites, Summer Emmons, at Parsonage. She thought that sounded wonderful and started rattling off wineries which should be included – they were the same ones we had discussed in the car!

When we got home, Mr. H searched our collection to see if he could find wines from a single vintage. The oldest vintage we could find for all those wineries was 2015. And we did call around to try to add some other Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignons to the mix – but couldn’t get our hands on them.

This was a particularly good, albeit low yield vintage for Carmel Valley wines. As Sal Rombi of Rombi Wines explained to me long ago: Everything was going great, until flowering, when there was a lot of wind and rain. This resulted in about 55% fruit yield for the season. Because there were fewer berries creating less weight on the vines, the fruit was much more intense, resulting in this delicious vintage.

The hard part of arranging this event was finding a date that would work for everyone we wanted in the room. In the end, we pushed it out to March – and even then, lost a couple of participants. But it was the right group for the experience. In the room was the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod, Summer Emmons of Parsonage, and Erin O’Reilly of tèr·ra·ve·nos.

There was much anticipation and preparation for this event. The hardest part was the wine glasses: first, finding 7 sets of glasses in which all 4 glasses were the same, and then getting all the spots off the glasses. The amount of glassware reminded me of the time we tested Parsonage’s COVID wine tasting procedures – it was a lot of glassware, prompting them to change their plan.

The wines were all decanted at the same time. Not all our decanters were the same shape, but it was the closest we could come. And the wines were carefully pre-poured by Mr. H, a 2-ounce our of each of the 4 wines for each participant. Only he knew which wine was which and the order was mostly random. And only he and I knew exactly which wines were included in the mix, including the fact that one was a red blend. We also carefully planned the food pairings, with salami, cheeses, and a bit of dark chocolate to match the Cabernet Sauvignons.

Then the fun began. We used the tèr·ra·ve·nos tasting sheet to rate the wines. In general, we looked at and smelled each wine before we tasted them. We analyzed the flavors of each wine one-by-one. Since we didn’t know which was which, we could be bluntly honest about each one. With such a range of palates, we heard many descriptors…memorable ones…and we agreed that one of the wines – what we learned later was the red blend – tasted vastly different from the others. We did do an informal ordering of our preferences, with Wine #4 slightly edging out these other fine wines. This was a super fun format and we will do this again. Why not try this with your friends?

We started our evening with antipasto and 2 local whites: 2020 I Brand & Family Old Vines White and 2019 Corral Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc. Here are winery notes on these two wines and links to my prior postings about these wines:

2020 I Brand & Family Old Vines White (#742): “Old Vine White field blend is a blend of 3 unusual varietals. Orange Muscat, Mission and Palamino.” This was a very light white with interesting flavors, which evoked a conversation amongst us about the varietals we don’t know.

2019 Corral Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc (#604): “The Musque clone of Sauvignon Blanc showcases bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit. Guava and grapefruit compliment hints of freshly cut hay and wet stone. Finishes with a racing acidity.” This is one of our collective favorite local Sauvignon Blanc wines.

Today I am presenting the 4 Carmel Valley wines in the order we tasted. 3 have been presented here before, and 1 is new (you can tell by their numbers). As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner. My tasting notes this time are an amalgamation of what I heard during the tasting. Are you ready for the big reveal?

2015 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#57)

Our Review: Deep garnet in color. Spice, tobacco, black licorice and leather on the nose. Cinnamon, dark fruit, black cherry, black licorice, tobacco and a touch of smoke and leather on the tongue-coating, smooth palate with a woody, dry finish. Chewy tannins. March 2023

Previously reviewed on Decanting Monterey here.

2015 Bernardus Marinus Signature Red Wine, Marinus Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.1% ABV, $125 (#889) 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Petit Verdot, 23% Merlot, 15% Petite Sirah

Winery Tasting Notes: “This 2015 vintage of our highly regarded Signature Marinus exhibits a beautiful, deep robe. The aromas are redolent with dark red fruits and dried spices. On the palate we find bright ripe-red fruit flavors and notes of cedar on a long, rich finish, promising a long life to come! A wonderful example from our estate vineyard!

Our Review: Lighter garnet than the previous wine, perhaps a touch cloudy. Aromas of intense dark raspberry (that delicious aroma of Cachagua fruit!) and prune; a spice like sandalwood, eucalyptus, or cigar box; and white pepper. Fruitier, packed with dark fruit and chocolate notes with a long finish. Smooth and tasty, less tannic than the previous wine. March 2023

Previously reviewed on Decanting Monterey here.

2015 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, 14% ABV, $80 (#239*)

Wine Enthusiast rated the 2015 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points. “Roasted red-cherry aromas meet with charcoal, smoke, oregano and marjoram on the rustic nose. Stiffer tannins uphold both bright and dark-red fruit flavors on the palate.” Matt Kettmann, August 2020

Our Review: Dark garnet with hints of brown in the glass. A pretty nose of brambleberry, cassis, slightly floral, bakery yeast and “a fat crème de violet.” Fruity flavors of blueberry, intense cassis, and sour cherry, checked by earth and green notes. Slightly acidic and alcoholic attributes. March 2023

Previously reviewed on Decanting Monterey here.

2015 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $90 (#953)

Winery Tasting Notes: “A beast of a cab, truly a bada$$. Think Jack Reacher from the books, not Tom Cruise in the movies. This brute has a deep, dark core of sophistication that reveals its identity with time. Black currants, huckleberry, and horehound licorice with great density on the palate and fully ripened tannins. My recommendation is to lay it down for a few years while it evolves into a peaceful warrior.”

Our Review: Garnet in color. Dark berries on the nose with floral and herbal hints combined with notes of smoke, wood and plastic. The palate says “Cabernet Sauvignon,” with beautiful, chalky, and smooth flavors of dark fruit, coffee, and smoke. The finish goes on forever. Perhaps our favorite amongst favorites. March 2023

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please give me feedback by leaving a comment!

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Monterey AWS “Squeezes in” a Tasting at Shale Canyon!

Wine Blog/Reviews
April 6, 2023

I was trying to come up with a place for the March monthly wine tasting for the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society when my neighbor dropped by a Shale Canyon tasting menu. She had been working there for a while and we thought this might be fun to do together! I am a fan of Shale Canyon wines and have written about them a couple of times – just search “Shale Canyon” in the search bar. Their space seems small, so we went back and forth with the owners to determine a maximum capacity – and put it on the calendar. In early March, the Monterey AWS members turned out in force (right up to the limit!) and everyone had a great time.

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

**Many thanks to Keith Prader, co-owner and winemaker, plus his knowledgeable, hardworking and fun staff, Janice and Alicia!**

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

Today I am presenting 10 Shale Canyon wines. Some of these wines have been presented here before, but this was an opportunity to revisit a few of them, with a little input from our AWS members. As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner.

2019 Shale Canyon Chardonnay, Vigna Monte Nero, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $25 (#498)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of toasted marshmallow, subtle green apple, pear, peach and a hint of lemon peel. A long finish of vanilla bean and butterscotch. This wine was not cold stabilized or filtered and has noticeable tartrates in the bottle. We recommend pouring this wine through a cheesecloth or a screen to remove them. Aged in 100% French oak.” Naturally fermented. 165 cases produced.

My Review: Golden in color. Butter and yeasty notes on the nose. Tropical palate of pineapple, peach, and a touch of caramel. Nicely balanced and delicious. A great price for an SLH Chardonnay! March 2023

2017 Shale Canyon Striation, Shale Canyon Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $40 (#500) 75% Zinfandel, 25% Mourvèdre

Winery Tasting Notes: “Rose petals and cinnamon on the bouquet with cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry gracing the middle. A very long finish with vanilla bean and hint of licorice. Medium plus tannins to make this an excellent wine for food pairings.”

My Review: Dark ruby in color. Aromas of strawberry. Smooth and rich on the palate. Dark, intense tobacco and Mourvèdre enveloping the dark cherry flavors. March 2023

2017 Shale Canyon Cabernet Franc, Shale Canyon Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $30 (#948)

Winery Tasting Notes: “Our award-winning varietal starts with aromas of dark fruit, slight oak and a touch of floral. Distinguished flavors of dark cherry, blueberry, and cassis envelope the middle. The finish of leather, vanilla and medium firm tannins complete the experience of our flagship wine.” Best of Show, Best of Class.

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Sweet blackberry on the nose. Smooth and yummy palate of dark, lean fruit. Very balanced. My favorite of the day. I have selected this wine for an upcoming DC wine class! March 2023

2017 Shale Canyon Amalgamation, Shale Canyon Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $50 (#504) 48% Zinfandel, 36% Tempranillo, 16% Petite Sirah – all estate grown!

Winery Tasting Notes: “This unique blend is like no other!…All Estate Grown! The color of this wine is beautiful. Take a glass out in the sun and let the rays reflect through the wine onto a simple piece of white paper and you will see what I mean. A lovely floral bouquet starts the experience. Deep fruit with cherry, dark berry and a hint of color. Long finish with tobacco and firm tannins. This wine will also compliment rich foods so fire up the barbeque and pull out the rib eyes!”

My Review: Inky in the glass. Vegetal notes on the nose, like caramelized onions with a touch of Creme de Cassis. A jamminess follows through on the palate, but, tonight, this tasted a bit sharp. This wine is usually a household favorite, so I definitely want to revisit it as a stand-alone. March 2023

2017 Shale Canyon Tempranillo, Shale Canyon Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $30 (#503)

Winery Tasting Notes: “Subtle berry & cherry bouquet. Flavors of black cherry, plum and cranberry grace the middle. A touch of spice and leather with firm structures tannins on the finish.” 100% Tempranillo.

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. SweetTart on the nose. Dark, lean fruit on the palate. A very nice wine. March 2023.

2019 Shale Canyon ZSM, Arroyo Seco AVA, $55 (683*) 48% Zinfandel, 32% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre

Winery Notes: “ZSM is a complex blend of varietals. On the nose you will get bright berry fruit with a touch of violet. The middle is full of dark fruit, predominantly blueberry, followed by raspberry and huckleberry. On the very long finish you will get a whisp of smokiness from the newer oak barrels, firm tannins and notes of vanilla.” (“Let’s see what we got”)

My Notes: Yummy nose, rich palate, fruity and very balanced. This was a top favorite of the evening’s participants – everyone seemed to like this wine.

2018 Shale Canyon Petite Sirah, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, $35 (#949)

Winery Tasting Notes: “The nose on this is fruit, dark fruit, and lots of it. Blueberries, plums, blackberry, black tea and chocolate on the palate. Medium to firm tannins. 100% Petite Sirah.”

My Review: By now, it was very late in the tasting. Very smooth and rich with blue and black berry fruits. In one word: yummy. March 2023

2015 Shale Canyon Merlot, Arroyo Seco AVA, $25 (#950)

Winery Notes: “A very nice bouquet of berries and cherry. The flavors that really stand out are dark berry, current, raspberry with a touch of plum and tart cherry. A smooth finish of licorice with mild tannins and a hint of chocolate.”

My Review: It was extremely late in the evening, but I wanted to taste this anyway. Cooked, dark fruit dominated the palate. Definitely need to retaste this wine. March 2023

2015 Shale Canyon Mourvèdre, Shale Canyon Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $30 (#499)

Winery Notes: “A bouquet of dark berry, violet and earthy aromas of black pepper, thyme and a hint of citrus. Bright fruit characteristics, with fresh strawberry, raspberry and subtle cherry. Smooth tannins with hints of cedar and a drawn-out finish with late fruit. 100% Mourvèdre.”

My Review: Aromas of Scotch (!). (OK, like I said above, it is late in the tasting…) The palate was delicious – intense berries and balanced. We liked it. March 2023

2016 Shale Canyon Partner’s Consortium, Shale Canyon Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $50 (#951) 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot

Winery Tasting Notes: “A classic blend of Bordeaux varietals. There is a distinctive cherry note on the nose. It is very elegant, yet a complex wine with black berry, dark cherry and raspberry on the palate. It has a long finish with wisps of cedar, vanilla and silky tannins.”

My Review: Beautiful ruby color. Smooth, dark berries and mild baking spice on the nose. Nice. March 2023

2014 Shale Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Arroyo Seco AVA, $35 (#952)

Winery Notes: “Strong aromas of dark berries, black currant and a little cedar. This wine has flavors of blackberry, blue berry and cranberry. A long finish with a hint of smoke, toast and silky tannins completes the tasting experience. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.”

My Review: Pretty ruby in color. The nose was a mix of vegetal and berry jam notes. Rich and delicious on the palate. March 2023

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

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Presenting Monterey Wines to the Carmel Rotary!

Wine Blog/Reviews
March 23, 2023

Several weeks ago, I got a text from the Vice Chair of the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society, Phil Arnold. He also happened to be one of the presidents of the Carmel by the Sea Rotary Club. It went something like this: “Would you have any desire to do a presentation to our club on Monterey County wines?” It was short notice, but I have a presentation at the ready and, after some back and forth, Phil and I scoped it to 2 wines. I was given a generous budget to work with, making it easy to find wines within the price point. My husband and I took a quick trip to Carmel Valley Village for a very targeted tasting – on a mission. We selected two wines I have not presented before, making it a bit exciting under the time crunch.

Every winery visit, wine tasting and wine class has a story. And, boy, is this a doozie.

I had not previously done a Monterey County wine class for a local group – just East Coast wine education non-profit organizations. I was concerned that I would be preaching to the choir, that audience members might question some facts and figures. I spent a lot of time on the historical timeline slide. With lots of data provided by the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, I tried to pick the most noteworthy points. I would wake up in the middle of the night with a blinding insight on the relevance of some of the information and keep changing this slide.

I wanted to be ready for this presentation. To be sure I didn’t forget anything, I put a Post-it note on the inside of my front door: laptop, charger, mouse, tasting room brochures. As I left the house that morning, it was check, check, check, check, check. I was ready! I arrived at the Carmel Mission Inn and confidently strode across the parking lot – when I realized I had forgotten perhaps the most important thing – the wines! 😊 Luckily, my partner in crime was home and I gave him an excuse to get his car out of the garage and on the road. We all had a good laugh about it.

In my presentation, I highlighted the rich local winemaking history, dating back to the Spanish missionaries who first plant grapes at the San Antonio Mission in 1770. In the 1960s, commercial production really took off. One of the most interesting data points I have is that in 1995, there were only 5 tasting rooms open in Monterey County. That seems hard to believe. Today’s number is about 65! We’ve been wine tasting here for a long time, but even we can’t piece together exactly which 5 wineries they were. If you know, please share in a comment below!

When I present a class on Monterey County wines, I also like to talk about the affordability of going wine tasting here. Tasting fees tend to average about $20-$25 for a flight of 5 wines. And it is very easy to get to most of our wineries.

From the Corral Wine Co website: “Corral Wine Company is a production of Bell Family Vineyards. 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.” This is the first time I have presented a Corral wine in a wine education class! Finally!!

About Parsonage: Bill and Mary Parsons planted the seven-acre Parsonage Village Vineyard in June 1998, with their first harvest in 2000. The vineyard is planted to 3 ½ acres of Syrah, 2 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 acre of Merlot and 1/2 acre of Petit Verdot. Starting at a meager 200 cases back in 2000, annual production today is in the 1500-2000 case range. The Parsons were the first to plant Syrah in Carmel Valley and their wines are the reason I am now a big Syrah fan. Their wines are mostly big and bold reds.

Today I am presenting just the 2 wines. As usual, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the winery website, or tasting room staff. Any errors are mine or mine alone.

2020 Corral Sauvignon Blanc, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.4% ABV, $28 (#943)

Winery Notes: “Vibrant aromas of guava and grapefruit dominate with fresh cut hay, lemon blossom and wet stone. Racing acidity with a pleasant minerality.”

My Review: Golden and viscous in the glass. Grilled pineapple, citrus blossom and guava on the fragrant nose. Rich palate of tropical flavors, a touch of sweetness, with minerality on the finish – very nice. February 2023

Parsonage 2019 Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $48 (#944)

Winery Notes: “Our specialty varietal, full of dark fruit & white pepper with a robust palate…2-week fermentation, 30 months (longer than usual due to supply chain issues) in 9 medium plus toast French oak barrels, 2 new. 2 barrels of the final blend were from “Carmelstone” and the rest, lower Syrah plantings, including 1 barrel with lots of Rocco (reserve) fruit. Pretty exquisite.”

My Review: Inky red, almost purple in color. Spice on the nose with white pepper and Concord grape notes. Super rich palate of dark fruit, delicious, jammy fruit, with some eucalyptus on the finish. February 2023

You can taste and purchase these wines at their respective tasting rooms located next to each other at 19 East Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley Village. For the latest on hours and reservations, please check their websites:

Corral Wine Co Tasting Room

Parsonage Tasting Room

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Valentine’s Celebration at Twisted Roots!

Wine Blog/Reviews
March 16, 2023

The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society wanted to do something a little special for its members: food and wine! Self-catered by their wonderful Board Member Anita, we celebrated an early Valentine’s Day at Twisted Roots, on February 3, 2023.

**Monterey AWS members chat with Josh Ruiz, co-owner and winemaker, Twisted Roots.**

We’ve always been fond of Twisted Roots for its signature Zinfandels and Petite Sirahs, as well as the occasional special red blend. Winery co-owners Josh and Julie Ruiz, and Matt and Whitney Pridey bring us these wines mostly from their Lodi vineyard, established in 1918. Why have a tasting room in Carmel Valley? The Ruiz’s have relocated to Carmel Valley and his wife’s family owns the vineyard in Lodi. A great marriage! And we were fortunate to have both of them and their awesome tasting room manager Shannon present for this event.

About Twisted Roots: “Twisted Roots is the work of five generations of family, dedicated to growing wine grapes following sustainable growing practices. While our family’s vineyard was established in 1918, it wasn’t until 2005 that we began producing our own wines. Our commitment to hand crafted, Sustainable & Green, small-lot wines, allows for the utmost care and attention to detail as we strive to produce premium-quality, consistently delicious wines…

“The name Twisted Roots comes from the deep and twisted roots of Lodi old vine Zinfandel found in Julie Ruiz’s childhood vineyard, where vines date back to the early 1900’s. While excavating vines one day, her beloved uncle remarked “Those roots are really twisted, that would be a great name for a winery.” This would be a day both Julie and her husband Josh would never forget. This is the day the winery was truly born.

“Both Josh and Julie have an incredible love for agriculture, community and friendship. Josh’s mission was to cultivate community around wine, a beverage that wasn’t common in his home growing up. As an entrepreneur, Josh was determined to create a winery that was tied to the original roots of Lodi Vineyards, and share those wines with his now home in the Carmel Valley.

“As luck would have it he joined forces with a few of his very special friends to create a dynamic winery and hospitality experience with a diverse selection of wines you won’t typically find in the area; Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Hard Cider to name a few. All produced in small batches carefully selected from unique sites in an effort to maintain quality and allow for attention to detail shine. We invite you to visit our charming and newly renovated tasting room, the perfect spot for enjoying the most important things in life, the people.”

When I present a class on our local wines, I like to talk about the affordability of going wine tasting there. This winery is a case in point: great wines for a $15 tasting fee!

Today we got to taste some additions to the usual big reds – a real treat. I am presenting 5 wines, plus a bonus wine I knew to ask about. As usual, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the winery website, or tasting room staff. Any errors are mine or mine alone.

NV Brut Rosé, California, 13.5% ABV, $35 (#937)

Winery Notes: “We are excited to release our first Rose! A Pinot Noir based sparkling, with lots of bright red berries. Great for all of your summer events!” The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine come from Alexander Valley.

My Review Powered by Terravenos: Dusty salmon in the glass. Warm on the nose with nice tiny bubbles. We detected rose petal, rainier cherry, and apple cider with a slightly brioche quality on the nose. ENO: high acid, medium alcohol, medium minus body. Creamy mousse with a medium plus finish. Well integrated. Flavors of melon, under ripe strawberry, white peach, rainier cherry. February 2023

2021 Albariño, Terra Alta Estate, Lodi, $35 (#938)

Winery Notes: “A delicious Spanish varietal, Albariño is a great every day white wine. It pairs perfectly with all of your summer time activities.”

My Review: Citrus, pineapple, mango, with acidity and tropical notes on the nose, Meyer lemon and pineapple, a nice palate with good minerality, including peach and sweet, tropical notes. Balanced.

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, 14% ABV, $40 (#939)

Winery Notes: “This is not the typical “Napa Style” Cabernet. Our Cabernet is soft and subtle, with all the fruit of a Cabernet but without that harshness!”

My Review: Rich, dark Cabernet color in the bottle. A rich, dusty bouquet. Lots of oak and berries wrapped in high alcohol upfront. It’s not very Cab-like, but it has a nice spice on the finish. It’s made more in the style of a Zinfandel, more like a fruit bomb. Soft, yet chewy, tannins with a touch of harshness on the finish.

2017 Petite Sirah, Lodi, 15.5% ABV, $40 (#940)

Winery Notes: “The biggest of our red wines, with lots fruit up front, followed with some light tannins, and soft finish.”

My Review: Inky in the glass. Big, bold flavor, Fruit-forward with big, bold blackberry and raspberry flavors. Wow. A big … red wine. Well integrated and downright yummy. I took some home and half has already disappeared!

2018 Old Vine Zinfandel, the 1918, Lodi, 14% ABV, $40 (#941)

Winery Notes: “If you’ve ever wanted to know what wine from 100 year old vines tastes like, you’re in luck!! Planted in “1918”, these are the vines that started it all for the Twisted Roots Family. After 3 generations of family farmers, we are now able to bring you this special wine!”

My Review: Dark, dark ruby in color, sweet dark berries on the palate, caramel and vanilla on the nose Very nice .

2020 Ross’s Cherry Road Red, Lodi, 14% ABV, $60 (#942)

Winery Notes: This is a special blend named after Julie’s beloved Uncle Ross, available to wine club members only. 85% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

My Review: Raisins, with lots of cherry and dark fruit. Very big, with prune flavors.

Taste Twisted Roots Wines: “Wine is an experience meant to be shared with others. Stop by our beautiful, newly renovated 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!

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Blue Fox Cellars: Blue Bottles, Great Wines

Wine Blog/Reviews
March 9, 2023

My friend and I were attending an event in Carmel Valley and decided to go early to check out a winery. We parked near our event and saw the Blue Fox tasting room. I had been wanting to go there for quite some time, so we dropped in.

Dallas Wright greeted us in the spacious and attractive tasting room. He was very friendly and walked my friend and me through the wines. Perfect.

Dallas Wright, Blue Fox Tasting Room Manager

The tasting room is quite large, a great event venue. We posed doing an event there for the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society and have subsequently booked a group tasting there!

About Blue Fox Cellars from their label: “As a small producer based in Medocino County, California, we are dedicated to producing high quality wines tailored to the discerning consumer. Working closely with experienced growers to source only the highest quality of hand selected lots allows us to offer wines of refined distinction. We combine time-tested Old World styles of winemaking with modern technology which are rewarded in an impeccably balanced wine with varietally correct profiles resulting in elegance to be appreciated at any occasion.”

While their website contains little information about the winery or its owners, I found this wonderful article by Laura Ness, a “longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge” in Edible Monterey Bay: https://www.ediblemontereybay.com/blog/blue-fox-cellars-opens-in-carmel-valley-village/. Here is some information from that article:

“…Winemaker/owner, Edward Lovaas, whose heritage is Norwegian, named the brand, which he started in 2012 after many years of winemaking consulting, figured he couldn’t put red wine in a green bottle. Especially since the label sports a perky blue watercolor rendition of a slightly bemused blue fox. So, blue bottles you will find at the newly opened tasting room in Carmel Valley Village, in the former location of Talbott…” All their wines are aged in French oak.

Today I am presenting 6 Blue Fox Cellars wines from Mendocino. As usual, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the winery website, or discussions with tasting room staff. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2017 Blue Fox Cellars Chenin Blanc, Mendocino County, 13.5% ABV, $25 (#931)

Winery Notes: “Crisp mineral acidity frame notes of lemon verbena, nectarine, and Asian pear.” No malolactic fermentation, neutral oak, champagne, yeast, two years on lees.

My Review: Straw in the glass, peach and white citrus blossom, honeysuckle, and lychee on the nose. The palate is full bodied with peach, citrus and yeasty notes. February 2023

2021 Blue Fox Cellars Vermentino, Mendocino County, 13.3% ABV, $29 (#932)

Winery Notes: “Flavors of Shin Li pear, white peach, and crushed stone with a rich mouthfeel.” This wine underwent a quick fermentation.

My review: Pale in the glass. Sweet grapefruit on the nose. A tart citrus palate with a lime finish. A bit acidic and not quite balanced. February 2023.

2019 Blue Fox Cellars Rosé of Grenache, Mendocino County, 13.5% ABV, $25 (#933)

Winery Notes: “Robust with exceptional mouthfeel. Peach and strawberry prevail.” A traditional, dry Provençal rosé with earth, oak, and complex flavors.

My Review: Pale salmon in the glass. Sweet nose with strawberry and cantaloupe notes. Balanced, flavorful palate of watermelon, strawberry, and a little licorice with a lime twist on the finish. February 2023.

2012 Blue Fox Cellars Grenache, Mendocino County, 13.3% ABV, $45 (#934)

Winery Notes: “Fruit forward notes of wild strawberry and blueberry with a finish of white pepper.” 3 years in the barrel 30% neutral oak 20%, new 80% old so figure it out what that means.

My Review: Delicious palate of red fruits. Sweetness of strawberry and raspberry on the tongue, balanced by the oak. Yummy. February 2023.

2014 Blue Fox Cellars Syrah, Mendocino County, 15.2% ABV, $47 (#935)

Winery Notes: “Flavors of plum, ripe raspberry, earth, spice and an elegant tannin structure.” 7 years in barrels sur lees.

My Review: Dark ruby in color. A spicy nose, predominantly, nutmeg, mouth, filling, rich, dark fruits. A big, well-aged wine, with dark cooked fruit, bordering on a port. I took one of these home. February 2023.

2014 Blue Fox Zinfandel, Mendocino County, 15.9% ABV, $49 (#936)

Winery Notes: “Fruity deep red berries finishing with spicy pepper and a soft tannin structure.” 30° temperature swing. 7 years in the barrel.

My Review: Translucent dark ruby. Sweet spice, black pepper, and dark fruit with vanilla – a smooth palate. A touch of rosemary on the finish. February 2023.

The Blue Fox Tasting Room is located at 25 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley: “Experience the hospitality of Blue Fox Cellars in beautiful Carmel Valley. Enjoy sweeping views of the mountains above from our outdoor tasting patio during a fun and educational tasting experience. Your tasting will be conducted by our knowledgeable tasting associates or our winemaker. Or sit and have lunch and a bottle of wine in our expansive courtyard, enjoy a game of Bocce Ball, or just time with friends and family. We look forward to seeing you!” Open Sunday-Thursday 12pm-5pm; Friday-Saturday 12pm-6pm. You can also buy their wines on their website!

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A Taste of Monterey: “The Official” Regional Wine Visitors’ Center”

Wine Blog/Reviews
March 2, 2023

I thought I had the January tasting for the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society all arranged – until it wasn’t. With very short notice, I tried to find another place in Cannery Row and, after a few panicked emails and phone calls, got connected with Jasmine Hernandez, the general manager at A Taste of Monterey. We were expecting 25 people and she agreed to host us – with the condition we purchase wines by the glass instead of their usual flights. After a little back and forth, we agreed! Crisis averted!

We were quite pleasantly surprised that a good part of the tasting room had been set aside for us – like a private event! Jasmine herself served us. And some people even ordered food. The options for wines by the glass were plentiful and everyone enjoyed the space. We got there as daylight was waning – definitely need to go back on a summer evening for the amazing bayfront views. Jasmine has invited us back for a regular tasting sometime – we will take her up on that!

A Taste of Monterey is a great place to start if you don’t know much about our local wines. It calls itself “”The Official” Regional Wine Visitors’ Center.” They have a huge wine shop in the front, plenty of tasting flights to choose from, and food pairings to accompany your tasting. You will find wines from our established wineries, such as Pierce Ranch, Scheid, and Silvestri; as well as newcomers to the region including Kori Wines and Cru, all of which have their own local tasting rooms. In addition, you will find some micro producers who don’t have tasting rooms of their own.

My strategy was to try wines I couldn’t get in another tasting room. The wines I chose, as I understand it, are made by the owner of A Taste of Monterey, sourcing grapes from local vineyards. As usual, winery notes come from their websites, the tasting sheet or discussions with tasting room staff. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

NV Pot Belly Charlotte’s Red, Monterey County, 13.8% ABV, $22 (#929)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The Petite Sirah backbone leads the way with rich dark fruit characteristics including black cherry and black plum. The Cabernet Sauvignon contributes with interesting hints of clove spice. This medium-bodied red blend is then rounded out with a touch of Syrah. 65% Petite Sirah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah.”

My Review: Inky in the glass. Alcohol and dark fruit on the nose. Jammy dark fruit palate. This was a tasty wine. Would pair well with spaghetti or pizza. January 2023

2018 Mission Trail Friar’s Reserve Meritage, Carmel Valley, $45 (#930)

Winemaker’s Notes: “73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot. Brilliant, very dark cherry garnet

color with a ruby rim. It is perfumed with deep spicy black cherry, cassis, anise, white truffle and cedar nose. Rich cherry, black currant and blackberry fruit is complemented with nuances of spicy anise, dark coffee and cocoa that finish with refreshing acidity and ample round, fine tannins.”

My Review: Blackberry and plum on the nose. Rich dark palate of black fruit and cedar. Delicious. January 2023

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