Happy New Year! Why not start off the New Year with a bang of a wine?
When we picked up our last allocation, Parsonage offered us a choice of library wines. We chose the oldest Rocco Syrah – the 2003 Cuvee Rocco. We learned that, when you receive a library wine, it is probably wise to drink it soon. A rainy card-game Sunday with the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod seemed just the right occasion. It did not disappoint. My bottom-line up front: If you’ve got one if these in your cellar, why wait any longer for pure enjoyment? Admire, open, pour, and enjoy!
I have a post about the Parsonage fall release coming out later this week, but did not want to bury this spectacular wine in that longer post. (p.s. Some of you may have received that post earlier in December thanks to operator/WordPress error – you will see it again this week!)
THE WINE
Today, I am presenting just this one 20-year old Parsonage library wine. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
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.
2003 Parsonage Cuvee Rocco Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $135 (#1233)
Many thanks to Parsonage’s Summer Emmons for conjuring up this review by Kerry Winslow:
Review from grapelive.com: “A three barrel selection held back from the reserve Syrah, the “Cuvee Rocco“ is just a touch boulder and creamier than the reserve bottling and may be a little more oak driven at this stage, but it will just get better and better with a little time. Super limited and this is the first vintage it has been offered! This cuvee has sweeter fruit and is more shiraz-like with a hint of cassis and coffee with liqueur notes that are lingering. Rocco is a big wine that needs some time to settle down in your seller. 94-96 Points”
My Review: Dark garnet in the glass. Nose is very rich with notes of leather, cedar, dark fruit and wet leaves. Dark intense flavors on the palate – some cassis notes, This 20-year old “Rocco” has stood the test of time and is drinking beautifully. If you’ve got one, why wait any longer for pure enjoyment? December 2023
THE TASTING ROOM
Parsonage is open for tastings every day – clickhere for the details and to make a reservation. Hours: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm. Last seating for wine tasting: 4:15pm. 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.
In late July, Parsonage’s winemaker Frank Melicia educated their members on a private vineyard walk – followed by a barrel tasting of the 2021 reserve wines! It was the most thorough vineyard walk I have ever experienced and it was great to do it with a few friends! Plus, there is nothing like getting a preview of the upcoming release of some of my most favorite wines on the planet earth. I know, I am not supposed to have favorites, but the Rocco Reserve Syrah…sigh. And these 2021 reserves were scheduled to be bottled in late August. All exciting news to me.
Frank gave us an update on what is happening at the winery and in the vineyard. He was very patient answering the members’ questions. A few things I think I heard (I may have this all wrong):
Tanner Cabernet SauvignonFrank explains the Merlot situation
When the wells dried up during the drought, they began to source some grapes from other vineyards, such as those in Arroyo Seco AVA.
With last winter’s heavy rainfall, they’ve had to tamp down the mildew in the vineyard.
He does not filter their wines unless he must, with Chardonnay being the prime example.
They really have to trim back the Merlot this year.
The Petit Verdot on the property had the misfortune of being over-watered and fertilized, but some are coming back!
Rocco SyrahRocco SyrahCarmelstone Syrah
Parsonage uses the Bien Nacido Syrah clone, which was music to my ears and explains why I am drawn to other Syrahs made with grapes from the Bien Nacido Vineyard.
The Rocco Syrah vines are the short rows – this juice is spicy!
The Carmelstone Syrah vines did not survive, but it is making a comeback after all that rain! We might see a Carmelstone Syrah once again! This makes me very happy. You can search Carmelstone in my search bar to see why.
How did Frank come up with the idea to make the Aussie? Overloaded bins and stuck fermentations. So he cofermented 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah a la Penfolds.
The Xandro is co-fermented Tanner and Rocco.
THE WINES
Today, I am presenting the 2013 Estate Syrah (a pre-wine to the barrel tasting, 4 barrel samples, and 5 wines from our home supply – one I have not reviewed before and 4 with updated tasting notes. Hint: You can tell by the numbering system if it is a wine I have previously presented – it will have a lower number. I’ll keep those reviews short and sweet. Winery notes may come from its tasting sheet or website, or from the winery direct to me, as usual. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
Not going to lie, but my favorites of the barrel tasting were the Dario Reserve Merlot and, of course, the Rocco Reserve Syrah.
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.
2013 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV (#1080)
We started off the July tasting with this 2013 Estate Syrah to whet our palates. I have not presented this wine before!
My Review: Dark garnet in color. The spicy nose is complemented by blackberry plum and alcohol notes. Lots of dark fruit on the front, rich mid-palate, and a complex finish. July 2023
Now, onward to the main attraction!
2021 BARREL TASTING
2021 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV (#1081)
My Review: Dark ruby in color. Jammy blackberry on the nose. Very intense dark fruit on the rich palate with a dry finish with cocoa notes. Age this wine – a lot of tannin and a burst of acidity on the finish. July 2023
2021 Parsonage Xandro Reserve, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV (#1082) 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah with splash of Merlot
My Review: Inky ruby in the glass. Yummy blackberry/black raspberry on the nose. Very full flavored palate. The Cabernet Sauvignon shines through on the palate. This is my favorite so far. Lots of richness and a little hot. July 2023
2021 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV (#1083)
Winemaker’s Notes: The Rocco has a specific barrel every time. It’s called the “golden barrel.”
My Review: Purple/dark garnet in the glass. Jammy berries on the nose – backberry and red raspberry. Has a specific barrel every time. Golden barrel. Nice juicy palate of berries – still my favorite. July 2023
2021 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV (#1084)
My Review: Very dark ruby in color. Dark fruit on the nose. Lean yet rich, woody Cabernet Sauvignon flavors on the lingering palate. This will be a big wine and needs lots of time. July 2023.
FROM OUR CELLAR
Most have these have been presented before, but I am sharing my current tasting notes.
2013 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV (#1085)
My Review: Pretty juicy garnet appearance in the glass. Dark berries, cassis, chocolate and plum on the nose. Mouth filling rich berries with a touch of youthful tartness on this almost 10-year old bottle. This is a juicy, delicious wine. June 2023
2018 Parsonage The BDL Red Blend, 15% ABV, $44 (#534)
My Review: Hugely different from my last tasting in October 2021. Dark ruby in the glass. Dark berries and a touch of licorice on the nose. Rich on the palate with intense dark fruit – blackberry, plum and cassis with alcohol dancing on the palate. Much more brooding than tasted in 2021. I like this wine. August 2023
2017 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#219)
My Review: Deep garnet in color. Rich cassis on the nose, with plum and blackberry flavors on the chalky palate. Delicious. August 2023
2015 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $80 (#346)
We played “Mystery Wine” with this one – it was decanted and we had to guess what it was. We struggled. We all agreed it was a New World wine. At one point, I guessed “Petite Sirah,” and the response was, “There is nothing petite about this wine!”
My Review: Dark and purple. Delicious. Super jammy with high alcohol and the smell of fresh leather (in a fine shop) on the nose. Herbaceous, perhaps eucalyptus. Intense cassis and blackberries on the palate with black pepper and leather on finish. Bold. Unbelievably intense and good. Alcohol is well integrated. August 2023
2016 Parsonage Xandro, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $60 (#221) 50% Cab, 45% Syrah, 5% Merlot
My Review: Inky garnet in color. Dark berries and campfire on the nose. Rich, tongue coating, jammy dark berries on the palate, wrapped in a touch of smoke. Delicious and smooth for a smoke-tainted wine. Best wine this week! May 2023
THE TASTING ROOM
Parsonage is open for tastings every day – click herefor the details and to make a reservation. Hours: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm. Last seating for wine tasting: 4:15pm. 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.
Today marks the third anniversary of Decanting Monterey, A Central Coast Wine Blog! And what a year it has been! With 291 wines presented and reaching over 10,000 views, we have a lot to celebrate. Please read to the end for today’s small ask.
OUR HISTORY
Deep in the unvaccinated period of the pandemic in July 2020, Decanting Monterey was founded on wines from our own collection sampled at home, with or without our neighboring friends and our daughters, who quickly became known as the COVID Wine Pod. It was 2 posts per week and, mostly, one wine at a time. Back then, some wineries had just reopened with their COVID procedures and we still weren’t venturing out much. I also established the @decantingmonterey Facebook page.
During Year 2, as we became fully vaccinated and boosted – and double boosted, we were able to get out to more local wineries at a more deliberate pace. And the COVID Wine Pod was renamed the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod! I also moved to a single post per week and presented a single wine class to my old DC wine group. Most of the posts were based on event-driven or winery tastings and fewer individual, cellar-driven posts. And I started the @decanting_monterey Instagram feed.
During Year 3, I began to get recognition as an entity with some stature behind it:
I have some high-level stats to share with you about Year Three of Decanting Monterey!
www.decantingmonterey.com hit the 10,000 “views” mark! This statistic is very important to me. If you are seeing my blog on social media or via email, please be sure to click the link and open it!
291 wines were presented on Decanting Monterey for the first time.
207 red wines were presented, as well as 62 whites, 20 rosés, and a couple of oranges – including 6 sparkling and 2 fortified wines.
Over 39 distinct varietals were presented with Pinot Noir topping the list thanks to the SLH festival I attended, followed closeky by Red Blends, and Syrah – no surprise if you know me!
Wines from 12 California counties are represented, with 181 from Monterey, 30 from Santa Barbara, 20 from San Benito, 15 from Santa Cruz, 11 from San Luis Obispo, 9 from San Benito – and more! Plus 12 wines from Italy!
Wines from 6 of the 9 Monterey American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) were covered, capturing 39 varietals!
I Brand was the most represented family of wines, followed by Parsonage. I attribute that to the steady and wonderful release events offered by I Brand & Family wines. Parsonage was one of the first local wineries to put Monterey wines squarely on our consumption radar way back when. Their wines match my palate perfectly – what else can I say?
While I have some posts already queued up for Year 3, let me ask my mighty readers: Where should I visit next? Please leave me a comment on this post and let me know what some of your favorite, local places are to wine taste that I should not miss in Year 3! I have a list of not-yet-covered wine tasting rooms and other wine venues to check out – happy to add to it. I don’t know what I don’t know.
SUBSCRIBE
And, if you have not signed up for my free, weekly blog email, I encourage you to do so – the subscription button is on the right-hand side of each page of the Decanting Monterey website. I judge how well I am doing by how many views, subscribers, and comments I receive. Please help me spread the word and please feel free to comment on my posts! And follow my Facebook (@decantingmonterey) and Instagram (@decanting_monterey) sites.
OUR SUPPORTERS
I am grateful to Chesebro, Bernardus, Bunter Spring, Idle Hour, Pierce Ranch and Rombi for their generosity this year in donated wines or discounts. Grateful to Kim Stemler and the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association for their support – what a great resource! And to Erin O’Reilly of tèr·ra·ve·nosfor her partnership and advice as we navigate this world of wine. I remain grateful to those vintners who have comped me wine tastings, given me discounts, and especially those who have comped me bottles of wine! And, of course, the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod!
DONATE
Now, to my ask:
As my avid readers know, Decanting Montereyis 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. While I do this, I protect your data from being sold or used by anyone other than for my own website statistics. Here is my Privacy Policy.
As I come up on my 3-year renewal of my website, I am asking my readers to consider making a small donation to keep this effort going. I donate my time, energy, knowledge, and to date personally have funded this website and my wine education travel expenses.
Here is what it takes to make Decanting Monterey run:
$1200-2400/year in travel expenses (airfare, car rental only)
While this blog is open and free, donations to this not-for-profit effort are always welcomein any amount! You can donate here: Donate to Decanting Monterey. All donations go toward the operation of this website and to offset travel expenses for out of area wine classes. Even the smallest amount would be greatly appreciated.
So, here we go – Year 4! This should be an even better one! Thanks for your support to me on this crazy journey.
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
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
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
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!
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.
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.”
Parsonage Estate Syrah Vines
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:
We learned the hard way that, when your winery allocation includes a library wine, then you really should drink it. With that in mind, we have been combing our stock for must-drink wines and found a bunch of Parsonage that needed to be opened. My last post about Parsonage wines was in August here: https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-showcases-its-powerful-wines-to-the-monterey-aws/. Since then, we have been to their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village to taste new releases and also sampled quite a few library wines from our own collection.
Years ago, Parsonage bottles a Syrah from the Carmelstone section of their vineyard. I believe they told me that they no longer get enough fruit from the Carmelstone lot to bottle it separately. It was some of the finest Syrah I had ever tasted. We found 2 bottles of the 2014 vintage in our private collection – they were enjoyed greatly and are sadly gone. That might be the end of Carmelstone for us. I do notice on their website that they have a couple of vintages of this wine in 5 liter bottles – a bit out of my size and price range, but it is tempting…
Today, I am presenting 9 Parsonage wines – a few new releases and a lot of Library wines. Only two are a repeat – the 2019 Parsonage Cyrano and the 2016 Rocco Reserve Syrah. I walked into the tasting room in September and found Bill Parsons and the staff engaged in an interesting exercise: how does aeration affect the Cyrano. I got to play! So I am sharing that with you. And the smoke-tainted Rocco is still an intriguing bottling – one I recognized immediately when playing mystery wine – worthy of an update.
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 come from their tasting sheet or website, or from the winery direct to me, as usual. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
2019 Parsonage Cyrano Red Blend, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $28 (#796) 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: Stumbled into a side by side tasting of aerated and un-aerated Cyrano. Un: Plum and spice on the finish. Aerated: Slightly more ruby color (call me crazy), much richer palate and smoother finish, less spice. Aeration amplified the flavors! September 2022
2019 Parsonage BDL, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $44 (#877)
Winery Notes: “The BDL (originally named the Bordelais) is our Bordeaux-style blend with a rapturous bouquet of wildflowers, exotic spice, and a broad spectrum of ripe red, blue and dark berries. A lot of complexity and beauty here. The round, vibrant palate shows off the rich berry fruit of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot blend. The fruit and the spice join together at the finish to force me to cry out, DELICIOUS!!!.”
My Review: Pretty ruby in color. Coca cola on the nose. This is a very tasty vintage of the BDL, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. October 2022
Winery Notes: “The nose is marked dramatically by the scent of violets and spice wrapped in black cherry compote. The palate flavors are blackberry, black cherry, black currant, and dark plum with just a hint of cassis. This medium-plus-body beauty is harmoniously balanced with ripe and supple tannins showing off on the delightfully lengthy finish.”
My Review: This wine was a very pleasant surprise. It comes from Russell Joyce’s vineyard in Paicines. Very smooth, juicy and tasty. We took a couple of bottles home! October 2022
Winery Notes: “Our biggest cab has a broad nose of huckleberry, horehound licorice, black cherry, cassis and a hint of pepper. The palate is fully structured (but not stridently so like a big tannicky Napa cab) with fully ripened tannins that lead to a smooth, rounded finish.”
My Review: Rich dark ruby in the glass. Blackberry, dark cherry and chocolate on the nose. Smooth dark berries and cedar on the palate. Super delicious. Excellent! August 2022
My Review: Inky in the glass. Bouquet of rich, dark jammy fruit, sharp licorice, alternating with sulfur. The fruit and sulfur continue to alternate onto the heavy palate with a tart cherry and tobacco finish. We had a long discussion about this wine and think we should have decanted it and opened it way earlier! August 2022
My Review: Dark in the glass. Beautiful nose of dark fruit – like cassis. Palate has notes of plum, prune, and cassis with a hint of sulphur. November 2022
Winery Notes: “This is our flagship wine and what we’re known for. It’s what our dinner guests ask for when they come to visit. The Rocco is a big red wine to pair with steak or anything grilled or barbecued. We get brambleberry, grilled game, mocha, umami and spice. This wine is delicious now but could be aged for years and years.” 150 cases were produced. All neutral oak was used to mitigate smokiness – brilliant.
My Review: Inky. Big nose of dark fruit, alcohol, sweet tobacco and licorice (a bit of barnyard). Tons of rich, jammy, dark fruit cloaked in smoke on the finish. I recognized it right away as a Rocco. Still delicious despite the smoke taint. Probably one of the best 2016 Monterey smoke-tainted wines out there. September 2022
My Review: Cinnamon and berry on the nose. Juicy, smooth, rich palate of intense berries and cinnamon spice. I am so sad we opened both bottles and it is gone. November 2022
2015 Parsonage Xandro Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#883) Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon blend
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Dark berries on the nose. Very delicious warm fruit. Scrumptious! May 2022
Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click herefor 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.
The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society (AWS) asked if I had any ideas or connections for one of their First Friday WinedUP. I recommended Parsonage and reached out to Summer. After some consultation (due to the potential size of our group and the after-hours time we wanted to visit), they agreed to have us. And I think everyone is glad they did!
Parsonage’s exceptional tasting room staff, Summer and Linda, welcomed the Monterey AWS with their big smiles and expertise!
While we planned to use their outside seating, the wind had kicked up – and they accommodated us indoors instead. It was perfect. We got to choose between the regular tasting and the reserve tasting. We, of course, did both since we are wine club members. And Parsonage showcased some “extra” wines, as well – their rarely-made Chardonnay and reserve Petit Verdot. Lucky us!
But before we get to those, I have another story. In December 2019, I was in the Parsonage tasting room when they informed me that they were having a big sale on their large format wines, specifically a 3-litre bottle of the 2005 Carmelstone Syrah from their estate. This is one of my all time favorite wines (please don’t tell Rocco). Normally $500, this large bottle was on sale for $265. We had a family reunion slated for Easter of 2020 and, after many texts back and forth with my husband, we decided to buy it for that event. And then COVID happened, meaning no reunion.
The 2005 3L bottle compared to the 2006 750 ml bottle!We opened this bottle with a Durand Corkscrew – just in case the cork was tricky – but it was in perfect condition!
I wondered how this bottle would hold up – and whether we would ever get to serve it. With no reunion in sight, what we would do with it? Fortunately, we were able to have the reunion in Spring of 2022. We had this wine the first night and it was spectacular. We all agreed it was the best wine of the weekend. No offense to all those other great wines we had. And we had no problem finishing off the bottle in one night – it was a lot of people and we do love our big reds!
Today, I am presenting 12 Parsonage wines – mostly from that July 1 event, but also a few others we served at our family reunion back in April. Winery notes come from the Parsonage website, as usual.
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/.
2021 Parsonage Chardonnay, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 15% ABV, $36 (793)
Winery Notes: “A true outlier! No oak bombing. Never been a Chardonnay quite like this one. A white flower melange of jasmine and elderflower with tropical fruit hints of perfectly ripe kiwi, pineapple, and guava, followed by subtle lemon zest. The opulent mouthfeel suggest a presence of honey owing to the wine’s slow passage across the palate which creates a lengthy and dramatic finish.”
My Review: Full malolactic fermentation, all stainless steel. Very tropical nose with melon notes. Rich on the palate – a touch sweet, full of ripe tropical flavors. July 2022 (No buttery, no oak)
Winery Notes: “A perennial warm weather favorite. And a surprise to everyone who thinks they don’t like Rosé! Made with Grenache grapes. Owner Bill Parsons’ tasting notes: Another spectacular bouquet of candied violets, star anise, bubble gum, and your favorite perfume. Delicious mouthful of ripe strawberry, mulberry, red currant with a hint of orange zest in this off-dry marvel!”
My Review: Brownish tint to the pink juice. Tropical nose. A little sweet on the palate with a slight metallic taste on the finish. July 2022
Winery Notes: “A vibrant nose of strawberry, cherry, pomegranate and wildflowers. The gorgeous red fruit is full, round and rich on the palate with a hint of Darjeeling on the long, lovely finish.”
My Review: Ruby in color. Jammy nose of berries and cherries. A lot of fruit on the palate and a touch tart – like a dark cherry Jolly Rancher – in a good way. Black tea on the finish. I like this wine. July 2022
2019 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $28 (796) 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: Pretty ruby in the glass. Yummy dark fruit on the palate and a lot of oak on the dry, slightly minty finish. New release – perhaps young still.This was left extra time in the barrels thanks to COVID (2.5 years). Let this one sit a bit more in the bottle. July 2022
Winery Notes: “Exemplary of our house style of making wine from grapes at the pinnacle of perfect ripeness, this Pinot has brilliant notes of black cherry with dried rose petals, cola, and English breakfast tea. The rich, round, elegant palate adds raspberry and currant to the dominant black cherry compote with the tea tannins driving the vibrant finish.”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. Very lean and sophisticated, more like a Burgundy. This reserve wine was lighter than the 2 previous wines – I’d like to taste it again in a different order. July 2022
2018 Parsonage Wild Card Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (533)
Winery Notes: “As wild and crazy as they come, Frank’s seven varietal blend is to winemaking what a crazy quilt is to sewing. The magical blend, in no particular order, is Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It’s an intriguing mélange of perfumed raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, plum and cranberry on a medium palate with a lively finish.”
My Review: This review is a complete rewrite from the tasting I did in October 2021. Rich, dark ruby in the glass. A jammy nose. Complex tannins and layered, jammy fruit. The 7 varietals have melded very nicely together in this vintage – this is a winner! July 2022
2018 Parsonage Syrah, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $48 (535)
Winery Notes: “Big and rich, our flagship varietal. Pairs well with anything grilled or barbequed. The 18th iteration of our signature wine is deep, rich and savory with dark berries, mocha and umami that synergistically form the delicious Parsonage terroir. This vintage has a little something different that is thought-provoking and downright cerebral. There’s a fascinating component that asks you to take a moment and attempt to identify its nature. Then you can’t resist reflecting on just what is that mysterious essence? It’s quite compelling. If you figure it out, please let me know.”
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Sophisticated nose of berries, followed by huge palate of berries, with menthol and black pepper on the finish. Grapes sourced from their estate, Cedar Lane, and Coastview vineyards. July 2022
Winery Notes: “In a single word – MAGNIFICENT! The Rocco Estate Reserve Syrah is our flagship wine, the wine that put us on the map. All of the Rocco vintages have been big, opulent, and complex world class Syrahs. The 2018 has these attributes and more. This Rocco possesses a mysterious nature that calls out for a moment of palate reflection. It’s something about the interface of perfectly ripe fruit and savory flavor. There’s all that beautiful dark fruit colliding with grilled tenderloin and exotic spices/herbs backgrounded with mocha and hints of umami. A wine for the ages, simply MAGNIFICENT!!!”
My Review: If I were stranded on a desert island and could only take one wine, this would be it. Dark, rich ruby in the glass. Cassis and dark berries on the nose. Super huge palate of dark fruit, very smooth. Lots of oak on the finish. My all time favorite. July 2022
Winery Notes: “Our flagship wine, this vintage is opulent. The ripe black, blue, and red fruit are immense in the nose and the mouth. The palate explodes in an essence of summer savory with exotic Asian spices wrapped in umami. The fullness and concentrated richness of the finish are suggestive of a high end Amarone.”
My Review: Hot buttered rum on the nose. Dark fruit and a touch of cedar as it opened up. buttery bone marrow, leather, rosemary and figs on the palate. Asphalt, pencil shavings and caramel on the finish. April 2022
My Review: Very dark ruby in the glass. Raisin and cassis on the nose. Rich blackberry with bubblegum notes mid-palate with a touch of smoke/tobacco on the finish. Our favorite wine of the reunion weekend. April 2022
2018 Parsonage Xandro Reserve Red Wine, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (799) 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah
Winery Notes: “A nose of ripe dark berries and wild flowers that creates its own unique perfume for this remarkable marriage of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested at the peak of ripeness.
All of the beautiful dark fruit of the nose is joined by mocha and a bit of umami to create glorious hedonistic delights on the palate with uncommon continuity from beginning to end.”
My Review: Such a rich, dark ruby! Lovely nose of dark fruit and carmel. Super dark fruit on the palate. A la Penfolds Grange. We liked this wine and took some home. July 2022
2018 Parsonage Bixby Reserve Petit Verdot, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (544)
Winery Notes: “The Bixby has always had a distinctly floral nose but the 2018 sets a new record for perfumed bouquet. We’re talking Chanel No. 5 here. And, no, we didn’t add any wildflowers to the fermenter. Honest! There’s delicious dark fruit on the nose and palate, mostly currant, black cherry, and huckleberry with a hint of mulberry. This is a very complex and age worthy wine that finishes with satisfyingly bracing tannins.”
My Review: Caramel on the nose and palate, mixed with bright fruit. Very tasty – not at all vegetal (which is how I used to think of Petit Verdot). July 2022
Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – clickherefor 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.
I usually don’t do back-to-back tastings at the same winery, but I had to make an exception. Doug Beakes, the Chair of the John Marshall Chapter (Northern Virginia) of the American Wine Society (AWS) was in town to bike with friends and wanted to know where they should taste wines.
(Some history here: Back in the Fall of 2019, I presented Monterey wines to their AWS chapter at Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, VA. Doug previously had seen me present our local wines at the Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar. It was a fun venue – right among the winery’s barrels. He says I’m invited back; maybe I’ll do it again next fall!)
Back to my story: I always ask people what kind of wines they like so I can recommend the right spots – do they like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (what Monterey is widely known for) – or are they looking for something else? His answer was BIG REDS – and they only wanted to go to one spot. I decided to take them to Parsonage, even though I had just been there the week before.
Doug was accompanied by Mike Wassenberg, his AWS chapter Vice-Chair, and their biking buddy/wine drinking/nice guy friend Mark Svedlund from Sebastopol. We were unexpectedly joined by Bill Parsons, who just happened to be in the tasting room when we dropped by. It was a warm afternoon in Carmel Valley Village and my companions were a bit wilted from their bike ride. Nice guy Mark fetched cheese and bread and Bill provided colorful narrative to the wines.
Bill Parsons holding court with our Virginia visitors. Alex Lallos from Chesebro Wines joined us at the end.
Today, I am presenting 5 Parsonage wines – 3 from our tasting that day and 2 library wines from our personal collection which were tasted separately. Last week’s post included combined tasting notes for 3 wines we tasted with this group and our barrel tasting buddies – the 2018 Estate Syrah, the 2018 Rocco and the 2017 Xandro. We tasted 5 other wines which I have previously presented here – they are not included! Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet.
I’ve written about Parsonage to in many 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: “The nose promises richness with its ripe bing cherries and that rare, fully vine-ripe raspberry that you’d get at a farmer’s market. The bouquet carries a mysterious spice akin to baking spices with a trace of black tea. The red fruit shows up in a big way on the palate – very rich and dense on the long, full, and delicious finish.”
My Review: Beautiful deep ruby in color. Cherry on the nose. Chewy palate with a touch of acidity. Darker, richer than a typical Monterey Pinot Noir – we liked it. October 2021
2014 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $26 (#542*) Merlot, Syrah blend
My Review: From our cellar: Stunning bouquet. Very big, jammy cherry-berry nose. Rich, dark berries on the palate and anise on the finish. Still drinking well. October 2021
My Review: From our cellar: Dark ruby in the glass. Rich dark berries in the nose with prune notes (at first, sulfur, which died down to a slight cooked prunes smell.) Big mouthfeel and bursting with blackberry with cola and tobacco flavors. Still something on the finish – like cooked fruit and tobacco. This wine could go another 5 years or so. October 2021
2018 Parsonage Bixby Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15%, $80 (#544*) Petit Verdot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
My Review: Wow! Dusty on the nose. Pretty, intense dark fruit – berry and cherry on the palate and milk chocolate on the finish. I become a bigger fan of this wine each year! October 2021
2008 Parsonage “Snosrap” Cyrano Bordelaise Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#545)
My Review: This Bordeaux blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the last wine we tasted, so my notes are very weak. I think Bill said “hoisin sauce.” This wine was rather tasty and I took a bottle home! We are looking forward to tasting it again soon. October 2021
Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – clickherefor 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.
It has been a good, long while since I have presented Parsonage here. I’ll be making up for that with the next couple of posts! I had the opportunity to take our COVID Wine Pod plus some visiting friends to the Parsonage Village Vineyard for a barrel tasting, at the invitation of Bill Parsons himself. Who was I to say no? Little did we know when the date was set that they would be harvesting that day! We did our best to stay out of the way of the action.
It is always exciting to get a glimpse of the future of your favorite wines. It is also an opportunity to get inside the head of the vintners a bit, gain insights about techniques they used to make up for the lost vintage of 2020, the detrimental impact of drought conditions on fruit production, and pandemic influences. Bill and I have an agreement that I can write about anything he tells me – and so I will! Hope I got it all right!
Bill talked a bit about the changes implemented in reaction to the pandemic that had a positive impact, such as having outdoor space and a reservation system for wine tasting. They have a beautiful parklet with plenty of sun for us coastal dwellers to enjoy, as well as ample shade for those warmer days. On the negative side, he highlighted supply chain issues for critical supplies including bottles, foils, and corks. About the drought conditions impacting his fruit, he said, “I am a farmer. I am at the mercy of the elements.” The Syrah was still hanging at the time of our visit. Shortly after our visit, we had that torrential rain – I was very worried how my beloved Syrah survived the storm. Bill just told me this week: “Not only did the Syrah survive the inch and half drenching in five hours, but it thrived as a result. We just harvested this morning in fact!”
Today, I am presenting 10 Parsonage wines – 5 barrel tastings at the winery and 5 wines currently available in the tasting room. I tasted a few of these wines the following week with another group of experts. I’ve melded my notes here – the rest of those wines will appear next week!
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/.
My Review: 100% Estate fruit. He will produce 100-120 cases. Aged in 100% new French oak, it will be bottled in Spring 2022. Dark ruby, purple in color. Jammy raspberry and blackberry with a touch of vanilla on the nose. Intense berry fruit on the palate with some anise on the finish. Delicious! I can’t wait to purchase this when it is released! Barrel Tasting – October 2021
2019 Parsonage Bixby Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#529*) ~65% Petit Verdot, ~35% Cabernet Sauvignon
My Review: “An outlier wine” loved by a select group of wine club members. Deep ruby in the glass. Plum and cherry on the nose. Plum, herbs. leather, tobacco yet violets on the palate – not fruit forward. Caramel notes on the finish. Certainly more tannic than the Merlot. Barrel Tasting – October 2021
2021 Parsonage Petit Verdot, San Antonio Valley AVA, 15% ABV (#530*)
My Review: This wine is sourced from the Argyle Vineyard down in the very southern part of Monterey County. Tucked between the Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Mountains, the San Antonio Valley has a long, warm growing season, enefiting from the lake effect from Lake San Antonio. We tasted this wine when it was only 3 weeks old – a first for me, for sure! Vegetal on the nose. Intense plum on the palate with green bell pepper notes. Has a great foundation and is structurally balanced – can stand on its own and will be good blended with a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Barrel Tasting – October 2021
My Review: Super dark ruby. Deep berry and plum on the nose. Rich dark fruits including black currant on the palate with lots of structure. 28-29 months n the barrel. Barrel Tasting – October 2021
My Review: Bill calls the 2019 vintage as “the greatest in winemaking history.” Inky ruby in the glass. Smokey essense on the nose. Super smooth on the palate with rich raspberry, blackberry, cherry, red currant and vanilla bean. Dry on the finish. Terrific, wonderful. Barrel Tasting – October 2021
2018 Parsonage Wild Card, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (#533*)
My Review: Ruby in the glass, alcohol on the nose. Chewy. My experience with this wine is it needs a bit of time to settle and meld. After all the barrel tastings, though, we probably needed a reset! Will taste again sometime with a well rested palate! October 2021
2018 Parsonage BDL, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $44 (#534*)
My Review: Transluscent ruby in the glass. Raspberry on the nose, rich raspberry on the palate. Tasty and drinkable now. Would be good with garlic roasted chicken or salmon with root vegetables. October 2021
2018 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $48 (#535*)
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Dark berries with some caramel and spicy smokiness on the nose – like a cinnamon hard candy. Good fruit on the palate with spice melding with meat – “cinnamon and bacon,” with lingering finish of anise and pepper. “Like a Cote-Roti.” Our friends bought a bottle of this wine and we enjoyed it at dinner the following evening. October 2021
My Review: 30% slope hang, chalk rock. This is their flagship wine and my personal favorite. Purple ruby in the glass. Allspice, caramel and earth on the nose, a bit like old leather. Intense dark berries and plum on the palate with vanilla notes. Done in a traditional, earthy Rhone style. This vintage is pretty impressive – I took a bottle home of this new release. October 2021
My Review: Bill calls the 2019 vintage as “the greatest in winemaking history.” Inky ruby in the glass. Smokey essence on the nose. Super smooth on the palate with rich raspberry, blackberry, cherry, red currant and vanilla bean. Dry on the finish. Terrific, wonderful. October 2021
Tasting Room Photo Courtesy Parsonage
Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – clickherefor 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.
I asked my significant other to open something special for the two of us to enjoy – and he selected this library wine. We learned earlier this year that, when you are allocated a library wine, you should not delay too long in opening it. We were excited to try this 2006 Parsonage Dario. Bill Parsons, the proprietor of Parsonage, always has a story about his wines – and he loves to tell a story!
My dearest DC friends enjoying some Bill Parsons storytelling back in 2019!
I try to be balanced in my selection of wineries to present. But, of course, the model I use drives me a bit more to wineries where I am a member or have a close relationship – especially during the first pandemic year of the blog when wine tastings were curtailed. So, I am a bit embarrassed to share these stats of how many wines per winery I posted during year one of Decanting Monterey. Bill Parsons likes this chart – and you can see why…we have been buying their wines since before they had a tasting room – and they were one of only a few places we visited to taste wine in year one of the pandemic. As I look at the data, I am not sure it is 100% correct, but you get the gist. And I have been able to get out and explore a bit more in recent months, so Year Two should look a bit different.
Count of wines by winery during Decanting Monterey’s first year – guess where we are members!
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 Bill Parsons.
Winery Notes: “The Dario, named for Ali and Frank’s number two son and our grandson number three, is 100% Estate merlot. We usually make 50-100 cases a year. The 2006 vintage was our first Dario. Vintage 2006 started out to be our best ever. In barrel tasting it was just sublime. We made the mistake of hiring a crossflow filtration specialist who over heated some of our wines. He sort of cooked the estate merlot before we figured out what was happening. We never filtered again after that episode. The 2006 estate cab and Tanner reserve weren’t harmed and they were beautiful. The 2006 Dario was only slightly diminished…The Dario has always been a favorite for both Summer and me. The fruit is heavy on blackberry and black plum. The nose is always floral with exotic spices. The mouthfeel is full without tannic heft of our cabs and syrahs.”
My Review: Sweet yet smoky on the nose. Intense dark fruit, plum and a little tobacco on the palate. Still drinking well, a little thinner than expected. We have learned to drink these library wines when they are issued and not to continue to hold them! So, if you have one, open it! July 2021
Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click herefor the details. You can obtain their wines directly from the wineryhere or at their tasting roomlocated at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village.
Tasting Room Photo Courtesy Parsonage
*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.
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.
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