It’s been a while since I have posted about a Turley Wine Cellars wine. While Turley still makes up a good percentage of my wine room, only a handful are from the Central Coast. I posted sometime back about how I became a Turley girl, but let me refresh the story for you today.
I first fell in love with Turley when its Old Vines Zinfandel started showing up on DC restaurant menus for about $100/bottle. It was something delicious and elusive, to be enjoyed for a special occasion like Valentines Day, a birthday, or an anniversary. And you couldn’t just get on their mailing list at the time – you had to wait. So, it was a Huge Big Deal when I made it onto their list. We’ve been buying their wines ever since.
Way back when, when we used to get down to the Paso Robles AVA for wine tasting, we “discovered” Pesenti winery as having some fabulous reds for reasonable prices. When my favorite Zin producer Larry Turley took them over in 2000, it gave us some acknowledgement that we were not the only ones who thought Pesenti Vineyard produced great fruit!
Today I am presenting a single Turley Petite Syrah from the Pesenti Vineyard. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
AboutPesenti Vineyard Petite Syrah: “This estate-owned and certified organic vineyard was planted by the Turley team using cuttings from the Hayne vineyard. Head-trained, dry-farmed and planted in limestone, the wines are dark, smooth, dense and classic Petite Syrah. As the vines age the wines are increasingly expressive of the Pesenti Vineyard with minerality, savory spices and high tone pepper.”
Winemaker Notes (captured previously from their website): “Dark purple fruits, black pepper, bitter chocolate, and a touch of wild game—reminiscent of a modern northern Rhône wine. Silky, well-resolved tannins and thoroughly well-rounded, the Pesenti Petite Syrah has come into its own. Ready to drink now at cellar temperature (about 55-65ºF) and will continue to over-deliver for many years to come thanks to the copious antioxidants.” 93-95 points Vinous, 92 points Wine Advocate.
My Review: Inky purple in the glass. Brambleberry, blueberry, and alcohol on the nose. Rich palate of juicy, dark, berries, including blackberry, black, raspberry, and blueberries. Very grapey. All the fruit flavors are wrapped in alcohol, with grippy tannins and a licorice and chalky finish. After opening up, it smooths out, reinforcing my opinion that this wine needed to be decanted and has a long life ahead. April 2023
*$38 is what we paid via their mailing list. Current retail price is $65.
Amador County: “Nestled in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, our Amador county tasting room in Plymouth is the home of the Gold Rush and the nation’s oldest vineyards.” Open by appointment for tastings: Thursday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm, Monday 11 am – 4 pm.
Paso Robles: “A few miles inland of California’s storied Central Coast, Paso Robles is a pioneer’s paradise, where surfers, cowboys, vintners, farmers, and ranchers commingle amidst ancient vines, towering oak trees, and rolling hills.” Open by appointment for tastings: Thursday – Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.
We are so greatly fortunate that our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners like big Paso Robles wines. As such, they share with us from time to time some incredible reds. Today I am presenting 3 reds we have tasted with them over the past few months. Two are from Justin and the third is from L’Aventure. This was the first L’Aventure wine I have experienced. I have expressed to my life partner that, now that we are (sadly) dog-free, it is time to get down to Paso to taste wines when we have a pickup from one of our beloved wineries.
The Decanting Monterey Wine Pod men in deep discussion!
About Justin Winery: “…We planted our first vineyard back in 1981 with a mission to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Since then, we’ve expanded both our knowledge of viticulture in this unique region as well as our acreage…Rich in fossilized limestone from eons of marine deposits, JUSTIN’s soil is ideally suited to creating big, Bordeaux-style reds. The limestone “stresses” the vines, producing grapes that fully express their varietal character…Paso Robles’ distinctive microclimate offers the widest day-night temperature swings of any grape-growing region in California. The hot days allow the grapes to develop intense flavor, while the cool nights create great structure and balance.” I have written about Justin before – just type Justin in the search bar.
About L’Aventure: “Stephan Asseo, owner and winemaker at L’Aventure Winery, began making wine in 1982, following his education at L’Ecole Oenologique de Macon, Burgundy, France. In that same year, Stephan established Domaine de Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinal and Chateau Robin in the Cotes de Castillion, Bordeaux. Over the next 15 years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship and gained a reputation as a maverick vigneron. However, his true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law would allow. In 1996, this led him, his wife, Beatrice and his three children, including his daughter Chloé on a quest for a great terroir, where he could pursue his ideal as a winemaker. After searching for over a year among the world’s great wine fields, ranging from South Africa to Lebanon, Argentina to Napa, they found Paso Robles. Stephan and Beatrice immediately “fell in love” with the unique terroir of west side Paso Robles. The rolling topography of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, the deep calcareous soils, and the maritime influences of the renowned Templeton Gap all combine to produce a world class wine country, with the potential to craft some of the world’s greatest blends. It is here, in Paso Robles, that Stephan and his family began their adventure, “L’Aventure” in 1998.
“The spirit of L’Aventure is most evident in Stephan’s “Paso Blends”, such as Optimus and Estate Cuvée. Both wines are Syrah/ Cabernet Sauvignon/ Petit Verdot blends. In these wines, as well as in our Rhône blend Côte à Côte, the blending of premium varietals increases the authenticity, complexity, and balance of the wines. In this adventurous spirit, we find the future of Paso Robles wines… great, balanced red blends.”
Winery Notes from wine.com: “Dark ruby/purple core, lighter in color toward the rim. Moderate plus viscosity with slow forming, slightly stained tears. Highly aromatic with ripe black cherry and cassis fruit, vanilla and cinnamon spice with cedar, graphite, dried autumn leaf and licorice notes over an attractive toasted oak background. Dry, full-bodied with ripe, complex black fruit of cherry and blackcurrants layered with baking spice on the entry. The mid palate has continuing ripe fruit with savory dried leaf elements, cedar, anise, camphor and a bit of cocoa surrounded with firm, chewy tannins and sweet spice notes that add complexity as the palate evolves. Sustained fruit, spice, and savory elements mix through a very long, complex and fresh finish with lingering tannins. The 2016 ISOSCELES is full-bodied, complex and balanced and pairs well with rich, full-flavored dishes. If you can, try cellaring some of your 2016 ISOSCELES to better experience the added complexity and finesse that only time can bring to this exceptional wine.
“Try the 2016 ISOSCELES right now with rich, full-flavored dishes like braised beef short ribs over polenta as easily as it does with a classic New York steak simply seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled over an open fire.”
Wine Enthusiast – 94 points: “Soft aromas of black cherry and smoked meat gain complexity thanks to hints of olive, tar and thyme in this Cabernet Sauvignon, which includes 8% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. It boasts chiseled but firm tannins and a blackberry jam flavor that entices on the palate, while thyme, cracked pepper and soy tones ride out the close.” Matt Kettmann, 9/2020
My Review: Inky in the glass. Super jammy nose of raspberry and blackberry. Extra jammy palate of juicy berry fruits. Soft for a Cabernet. January 2023
2017 Justin Right Angle Red Wine, Paso Robles AVA, 16.1% ABV, $28 (#946) 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 6% Petite Sirah, 4% Petit Verdot
K&L Wine Merchants Notes: “Justin’s classic Bordeaux-style blends may get the lion’s share of attention at this benchmark Paso Robles estate, but the winery also takes on the enjoyable challenge of turning out unconventional blends. The Right Angle is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine with a dash each of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Rich nose of dark berries and cassis Yummy, yummy, yummy. An in-your-face wine. March 2023
2016 L’Aventure OPTIMUS Red Blend, Paso Robles AVA, 15.4% ABV, $58 (#947) 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot
Winery Notes: “The 2016 has balance, silkiness and length. The wine is big, super intense, rich and flavorful but at the same time is super delicate, pure and vibrant!” 95point – Jeb Dunnuck.
My Review: Inky in color. Dusty jam and leather on the nose – like a really big red wine. Dark berry jam of ripe fruit, rich and sweet (in a good way). Cedar, mint and tarragon notes on the finish. January 2023
Experience the Exceptional at Justin Vineyards: “JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is more than a beautiful place to drink exceptional wine. It’s a unique viticultural microclimate. It’s a MICHELIN-starred restaurant. It’s world-class accommodations. It’s tasting rooms at the vineyard and in downtown Paso Robles, and more.”
Visit L’Aventure: “Take in views of our vineyard from our fully covered patio as you taste through the flagship wines of our latest release from Winemaker, Stephan Asseo. Tastings are conducted by appointment only, allowing us to create personal relationships with our guests as your Estate Educator guides you through a flight of four wines.” Other options available.
Last October, we had our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners over for dinner and they brought the 2015 Law Beyond Category red blend. It was a seriously big blend of Spanish varietals and abundantly food friendly. It paired well with the rigatoni we served.
Winery Notes: “The ever-evolving Beyond Category has now taken a more focused approach behind its lead varietal, Tempranillo. Inspired by the rich and silky Rioja wines of Spain, this Spanish blend is texturally incredible and highlights rural feelings of leather, sweet tobacco, sage and lavender. The cascade of freshness and brilliant fruit, garnered by the estate’s limestone soil, sweeps the palate with compliments of caramel and spice from the 42% new French oak used during aging.” 93 points by Vinous; 92 points by Jeb Dunnuck.
My Review: Inky in the glass. Intense nose of berries and thick on the palate. Super rich and fruity. This is my kind of wine – I wouldn’t mind having more. Sadly, the Beyond Category is sold out for all released vintages!! October 2022
You can purchase Law wines from the winery on line or at their tasting room. Check it out here. Tastings are by reservation only.
This is another short blog post about a few wines from Paso Robles which we tasted this Spring. The Vino Robles was from a Spring trip to DC – another great find at Cairo Wine & Liquor (aka The DC Wine Guy) in Dupont Circle, Washington DC. The two Justin wines were from our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners’ private collection. After the May 7th Monterey Winemakers’ Celebration – we went back to our friends’ house where they opened the Justification. Why we felt the need to open more wine after that event remains a mystery to this day. Alas, no notes were taken, but a good time was had. The Tempranillo was also consumed at their house in May, when we ended up being invited for an impromptu dinner. Really, I was just trying to deliver lemons.
About Vina Robles: “We are growers and makers of expressive, approachable estate wines from Paso Robles, California. “
“Vina Robles is the result of a unique personal trajectory, one that led founder Hans Nef from a rural village outside Zurich, Switzerland to the rugged terrain of California’s Central Coast.
“As a child in Switzerland, Nef learned to appreciate his rural surroundings and the blessings of agriculture. It was this special appreciation that lead him to expand his interests into agricultural land in the southern United States in the early 1990s. At the same time, he leveraged his passion for fine wine into his own wine import business, furthering his appreciation for California wines.
“Each time Nef traveled to the U.S., his desire to grow his own wine became more intense. He discovered Paso Robles in the mid-1990s and quickly became enamored with the emergent wine country. Here, where the Pacific coastline unfolds into rugged ranchlands and cowboy ambiance, a new generation of California winemakers was turning Paso Robles into one of the world’s most dynamic winegrowing regions.
“Nef was inspired to embark on his own idea for a Paso Robles winery, one that would honor his European roots while embracing the unique growing region in order to pursue his dream of producing world-class wines.
“In 1996 Nef selected longtime friend and business associate Hans – R. Michel, a Swiss expatriate, as managing partner. A year later, the duo planted the first of what would later become six vineyards in Paso Robles, and soon thereafter Vina Robles was born. Winemaker Kevin Willenborg joined the team in 2012.”
About Justin: “Our Philosophy At JUSTIN, we combine traditional Old World methods—like hand-harvesting and small-barrel aging in French oak—with New World technology. For example, the “Air Knife”, an ingenious New World process invented by our winemakers, boosts grape quality and efficiency. Once the grapes are harvested, our winemakers—some of the best in the business—gather to sort, select, age, taste, blend, and decide what goes into every bottle.
“Our Vineyards We planted our first vineyard back in 1981 with a mission to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Since then, we’ve expanded both our knowledge of viticulture in this unique region as well as our acreage.
“Our Soil Rich in fossilized limestone from eons of marine deposits, JUSTIN’s soil is ideally suited to creating big, Bordeaux-style reds. The limestone “stresses” the vines, producing grapes that fully express their varietal character…
“Meet Our Winemaker After creating award-winning wine in Napa Valley for 13 vintages, JUSTIN Winemaker Scott Shirley took on the challenge of an entirely new appellation: Paso Robles. He combines a scientific background with an artistic approach, and greets each harvest like a painter facing a blank canvas with endless possibilities.”
Today, I am presenting just 3 Paso Robles wines. Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
2019 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Paso Robles AVA, Central Coast, 14.5% ABV, $29 (#847)
Winery Notes: “Petite Sirah is a classic variety grown in California for more than a century, and is well
suited to the limiting soils found in our estate vineyards in Paso Robles. The fruit for our 2019 Petite Sirah was handpicked in the early morning and sorted to ensure quality and uniformity of ripeness. The clusters were further sorted at our new state of the art winery, gently destemmed, optically berry sorted and crushed into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks where pumpovers took place regularly to extract color and tannins from the skins. After pressing, the wine was racked into barrels to complete
malolactic fermentation and aging. While the majority of this vintage was aged in French oak barrels, a portion went into American and Hungarian oak barrels to add complexity. Upon extensive blending trials after eight months of aging, the final lots were selected and blended for overall synergies – structure and minerality from Creston Valley, along with silkiness and expressive fruit from Jardine. The blend was then aged for an additional 12 months in barrels to fully integrate before bottling. The result is a wine displaying complexity, structure, richness and balance.
“Tasting Notes: Color: Opaque garnet Aroma: Boysenberry and vanilla with hints of fine tobacco and white pepper Taste: Full-bodied with juicy dark fruits, vanilla and a lively yet creamy finish.”
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Dense aromas of elderberry and tar meet with wet wood and fresh mushrooms on the dynamic nose of this bottling. The lavish tannins are silky while structural on the palate, framing tarry flavors of baked fruit and smoked kelp.” Matt Kettmann, April 2022
My Review: Inky in the glass. upon opening, oak and vegetal notes on the nose. Extremely rich and smooth dark blueberries and blackberries on the palate with an oaky finish. I liked this wine. April 2022
Winery Notes from wine.com: “Twenty-five years ago, Justin realized that the elegance, structure, and superb flavors of the winery’s Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes justified a wine that showcased those qualities. Thus was born JUSTIFICATION, a blend inspired by the celebrated “Right Bank” wines of France. Vibrant ruby in color with complex notes of ripe fruit, anise, and vanilla, JUSTIFICATION is delightful now and will age beautifully in your cellar.”
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Soft red-cherry aromas meet with dark spice on the nose of this 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot blend. Framed by firm, sticky tannins, the medium-bodied palate shows flavors of red currant, cedar and oak.” Matt Kettmann November 2018
Winery Notes from the Bottle: “The Tempranillo grape, a classic Spanish varietal, flourishes in the hot, dry climate of Paso Robles. Offering generous aromas of spicy fruit and toasted oak, along with deep flavors of ripe cherry and black currant, our Reserve Tempranillo pairs beautifully with a wide range of cuisines.”
Wine Enthusiast – 94 points: “There’s a compelling density of aromas in the way of blackberry, dark cocoa and savory charred meat on the nose of this bottling. The palate is deep and ripe yet balanced by a dry structure, offering flavors of black cherry, black currant, cocoa and espresso bean.” Matt Kettmann December 2019
My Review: Ruby in color. Rich and delicious. Having recently returned from a Tempranillo tour of Spain, we super appreciated this wine. May 2022
Tasting Vina Robles Wines: Open Daily | 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome. “We offer wines from both our Estate Series and Limited Estate Collection. These selections showcase the diversity of varieties we grow in our estate vineyards while highlighting winemaker Kevin Willenborg’s distinct talents and passions.” You can make a reservation here.
Tasting Justin Wines: “JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is more than a beautiful place to drink exceptional wine. It’s a unique viticultural microclimate. It’s a Michelin-recommended restaurant. It’s world-class accommodations. It’s tasting rooms at the vineyard and in downtown Paso Robles, and more.” They have a variety of wine tasting experiences at their estate at 11680 Chimney Rock Road Paso Robles, CA, where they are open 11-5 daily.
You can also taste their wines at JUSTIN Downtown. “Conveniently located on Downtown City Park, experience JUSTIN’s world-class tasting bar and cozy dining room. Relax and enjoy a wide selection of JUSTIN wines by the glass or by the bottle, accompanied by our chef’s small bites or full menu.” 811 12th St, Paso Robles, Sunday – Thursday 12:00pm – 6:00pm; Friday – Saturday 11:00am – 9:00pm.
Back in May, I received a call from Phil Arnold, the Vice Chair of the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society. He expressed I could be helpful to their WinedUP Friday wine tasting events because I know so much about our local wineries. The first one I organized was at Parsonage, which I wrote about here: . The next one was at Corral, which I negotiated for 1 September, the Friday of Labor Day Weekend! I previously wrote about Corral here: https://decantingmonterey.com/come-say-hello-at-corral-wines-new-tasting-room/.
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.”
Happy Birthday, Jessica!
Corral Wine Tasting Room, which only opened in January 2022, has a very cool and relaxing vibe. Jessica Gatton, their awesome tasting room manager, and I were expecting quite a crowd and I wanted the members to be able to taste all the wines. We weren’t really sure how it would go, as people arrived at different times, so no one was on the same wine at the same time. And it was Jessica’s birthday – she had plans immediately after the event. On the verge of chaos, Corral reinforcements arrived, including their co-owners Skip and Dani Wilcox and co-owner/winemaker, Adrien Valenzuela. The Corral staff all chipped in to pour the wines and the AWS group was very happy. The wine was greatly enjoyed and many purchases wrapped up the evening. Thank you, Jessica, Adrien, Skip, and Dani, for all your hard work, making this an exceptional event!
As soon as Jacqueline Van Nes, Chair of the Monterey Chapter of the AWS, realized we had the winemaker in the house, she inquired if he would speak to us. Adrien readily agreed! We were thrilled that he was willing to address our group – an unplanned and very welcomed action.
Corral Winemaker Adrien Valenzuela with Monterey AWS Chapter Chair Jacqueline Van Nes
Adrien shared with us his wine background and training. A local from Salinas, he said he had left the area and had not planned to come back. He is written up as one of four up-and-coming winemakers in this September 5, 2019 Monterey Weekly article: Four young Monterey County winemakers talk about launching new labels in a time of uncertainty. Here is a quote from the article: “The career paths taken by Monterey County’s winemakers are not always predictable. Adrien Valenzuela studied biology and expected a career in nursing to follow – that is, until he did an internship at Estancia. He is now a winemaker for Constellation Brands in Gonzales, which owns almost 30 different labels, including Estancia and Robert Mondavi.” And now with Corral Wine Co.
He also shared the Corral story and trajectory. Their first vintage was in 2018, with a mere 500 cases, with fruit sourced from Monterey, Paso Robles, and Gilroy. This past year, that number reached 1400 cases and now they are expecting 2600! Nice! While some of what they produce comes from Bell Ranch in the Carmel Valley, they have been fortunate to obtain fruit from some notable Monterey County vineyards (Zabala in Arroyo Seco, KW Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and Massa in Carmel Valley). And they are expanding their acquisition of fruit from specific areas of Paso Robles, as well as from the Enz Vineyard in San Benito County.
Phil Arnold got up to say a few words about the Monterey Chapter of AWS, a young chapter that started in January 2020, right before the pandemic. It is a great group of people interested in learning more about wine. In addition to the first Friday WinedUP events, they host an annual BBQ, wine judging and other events. If you are interested, you can join them by becoming a member of the national AWS here: https://americanwinesociety.org/. The AWS is “America’s largest community of wine explorers”! Then you can join the Monterey Chapter. Membership is quite affordable and they are a non-pretentious and friendly social group.
Today, I am presenting 8 Corral wines from the AWS tasting event, 2 of which have been presented here before, with expanded tasting notes. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. You can read more details about some of these wines on their webpage here.
Winery Notes: “Bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit, such as guava and grapefruit dominate along with some fresh cut hay, lemon blossom, wet stone and racing acidity.”
My Review: Very light, pretty in the glass. Grapefruit, guava and grilled pineapple on the nose. Yummy palate of lychee, mango, papaya, sweet grapefruit and hay, with some minerality on the finish. Love Zabala VIneyard and find this to be a very attractive and sophisticated wine. I’d like to feature this wine in a future class! March/September 2022
2020 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, $26 (#605)
Winery Notes: “Bright and fresh aromas of strawberry and orange blossom, with nice, bright acidity.”
My Review: Dusty rose (“ballet slipper pink”) in color. Sweet bouquet of white peach, with a light palate of white peach and honey and a touch of smoke on the finish. This is a 2020 rose (fire year), afterall. A classic pool wine. Only red wine they made from 2020. March/September 2022
2021 Corral “Pancho’s Chard” Chardonnay, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 13.1% ABV, $36 (#839)
Winery Notes: “Crisp & refreshing acidity, with aromas of citrus and honeysuckle.”
My Review: Light in color, with the scent of “Melon de Bourgogne” and lemon on the nose. A bit of a wine spritzer look and taste in the glass. Fairly lemony palate – “like a lemon bar! This is such a new release that they don’t even have the labels yet! September 2022
2019 Corral Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $52 (#840)
Winery Notes: “Composed of two different clones from two vineyards in the heart of The Santa Lucia Highlands, this Pinot Noir shows off a lighter body, bright, red fruit and earthiness.” From the Highlands Ranch & KW Ranch Vineyards.
My Review: Transparent dark ruby in the glass. Perfume on the nose. Palate laden with alcohol. This wine seems young and not ready for release – might need to open up more or settle down. September 2022
Winery Notes: “Rich flavors of cherry, plum, and nutmeg. Elegant and lasting finish.”
My Review: Inky ruby in the glass. Smells like dark fruit, almost raisiny. Very bold on the palate – big and smooth. I’m not a Pinot Noir lover, but I truly like this wine! As with the 2018, I would not have guessed this was a Pinot Noir if I were doing a blind tasting. This is one of my favorite wines from today’s tasting. We thought we had this wine at home, but it was the previous vintage, so I will have to rectify that! September 2022
2019 Corral Enz Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel, Lime Kiln Valley AVA, San Benito County, 14.8% ABV, $48 (#842)
Winery Notes: “Light-medium body, old vine Zinfandel. Red fruit and spices.”
My Review: Beautiful dark ruby in the glass. Nose of dark fruits, pepper and violets. Very jammy, mocha (cocoa powder), with some licorice on the finish. I’m a long-time Zinfandel fan and took one home! On a previous visit, Larry Bell played mystery wine with this wine with me – while I suspected Zinfandel, I didn’t think he was making one. And he did – and it is good! September2022
2019 Corral “See What You Can Do” Red Blend, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $62 (#843)
Winery Notes: “50/50 Cabernet & Syrah blend with notes of cranberry, pine needles, and all spice.” 50% Cabernet from Massa Estate, Cachagua (Carmel Valley AVA); 50% Syrah from Zabala Vineyard (Arroyo Seco AVA) 75 cases produced.
My Review: Inky in the glass. Mocha, plum, dark berries and vanilla on the nose. Palate of sharp berries and spearmint with vanilla and anise on the finish. This wine is very young for all this big fruit from some of the best vineyards in our area. Recommend cellaring for a year or more – if you can resist! One of our favorite Corral wines. September 2022
22019 Corral Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, 14.5% ABV, $52 (#844)
Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit: blackberries, blueberries tobacco, black pepper, and toasted baking spices. Rich in flavor, full bodied with a long finish.”
My Review: Beautiful dark ruby in the glass. Smoke and alcohol on the nose – not a ton of fruit. Palate is smooth and rich with dark berry flavors and yummy. This is my favorite, current Corral wine – we keep buying more because we keep opening it at home! September 2022
We’d love to pour for you at our Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village: 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA! Hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm; Friday and Saturday: 12:00 – 6:00ish pm; and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. They have two tastings: The Cellar Rats (referring to Larry and Skip) ($20 for 4 wines) and The Maker (referring to their winemaker, Adrien) ($25 for 6 wines).
In January, our COVID Wine Pod partners invited us over to celebrate their daughter receiving a final job offer in Washington DC. After appropriately celebrating with Champagne, a mystery wine appeared.
First, we did a proper toast with real Champagne. Then, we played Mystery Wine.
One of our favorite games to play in the pandemic has been Guess the Mystery Wine. This wine had already been decanted, no label in sight. We guessed New World. It was very familiar on the nose, but we couldn’t place it. It didn’t taste like a Cabernet Sauvignon – more like a Zinfandel, Syrah, or Petite Sirah. My guess was Petite Sirah. Our host’s better half guessed Syrah – bingo, she was right! A Law Estate Syrah from Paso Robles!
AboutLaw Vineyards: “We are committed to making exceptional wines through sustainable and organic farming practices with minimal inputs. Located above Peachy Canyon Road on the west side of Paso Robles, the vineyard is one of the highest in the area at 1,600 to 1,900 feet. It is planted in high density, small-lot blocks. The extreme slopes, limestone soils, and multiple aspects create the distinct canvas and palette from which we work.”
About the 2017 Intrepidfrom the winery: “The Intrepid’s dense purple juice presents an alluring nose of brown sugar, fleshy, dark fruits, black pepper, violets and baked blueberry pie. It maintains a sense of finesse, through the balance of course tannins, juicy acidity and mid palate weight. Despite all the decadence it offers, it never seems over the top; a humble extrovert if you will. It stays flawlessly balanced, has a lively, ample texture, and delivers a moreish finish. Not just for the Northern Rhône crowd, it’s a brilliant representation of this terroir that will keep for years.” Jeb Dunnuck rated this wine 98 points!
93 Points – Wine Enthusiast: “Those seeking wines of tremendous power and unctuous oak will enjoy this booming bottling, which was aged in 71% new barrels and begins with aromas of milk chocolate, cassis, maple butter and purple flowers. It’s thick and lush on the palate, where caramelized black-fruit, creamy cappuccino and bold baking-spice flavors go big.” Matt Kettmann, 5/2021
My Review: Very dark and dense ruby in the glass. Black fruit, cardamom and vanilla on the nose. Intense dark fruit and cassis on the finish, with a touch of menthol and a lot of vanilla on the end, representing its high alcohol content. Still a bit more like a Petite Sirah to me! We enjoyed this wine. January 2022
You can purchase Law wines from the winery on line or at their tasting room. Check it out here. Tastings are daily except Wednesdays from 10-4, by reservation only.
*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.
We were seeking parking in Carmel Valley and saw a spot just outside Sal Rombi’s tasting room. We knew he was closed, but he was there – and invited us in. While we were there, Larry Bell came in to pass a flyer about Corral Wine’s new tasting room opening. He started to tell us about his wines – but he didn’t need to say too much – he had me at Sauvignon Blanc from Zabala Vineyard, one of my absolutely favorite combinations. We decided to change our plans for the afternoon to visit Corral Wines!
Larry BellSam
As a 5th generation local, Larry Bell told us a bit of his personal story, growing up in Salinas, his family ranch – Bell Ranch – with both cattle and vineyards, and a long career in tradeshows. He shared colorful stories about his grandfather. On the cool side, he was a pilot who made some daring flights including under the Bixby Bridge (did I hear that right?). On the tragic side, as a dairyman in his 30’s, his grandfather was making deliveries at the Toro Café and was attacked by banditos, leading to his premature death – a shocking story, reminding us that it really wasn’t that long ago that this area really was the wild, wild west. I’m sure there are many more stories yet to be heard!
If you get the chance, please stop by soon to try their terrific wines and welcome them to the neighborhood! Tell them I sent you! Their stylish and comfortable tasting room is located right between Parsonage and Chesebro at 19 East Carmel Valley Road in the old White Oaks shopping center.
About Corral Wine Co.: “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.” Overall production is about 1500 cases.
They have two tasting: The Cellar Rats (referring to Larry and Skip) and The Maker, referring to their winemaker, Adrian.
Today, I am presenting 7 Corral wines. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website.
Winery Notes: “Bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit, such as guava and grapefruit dominate along with some fresh cut hay, lemon blossom, wet stone and racing acidity.”
My Review: Pale in the glass with a frgrant nose. Delicious palate of soft pineapple and white peach. Super good. January 2022
2020 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, $26 (#605*)
Winery Notes: “Bright and fresh aromas of strawberry and orange blossom, with nice, bright acidity.”
My Review: Pale salmon in the glass. Vey nice and balanced with a full-flavored kick. We liked this rose! January 2022
2018 Corral Zabala Vineyard Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco AVA, $34 (#606*)
Winery Notes: “Rich tropical aromatics such as grilled pineapple, ripe fruit, and toasted coconut with hints of vanilla. With a slight oaky characteristic enhancing the richness of the wine.”
My Review: Honey on the nose. Rich on the palate. The oak in this wine is very subtle. January 2022
2018 Corral Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $48 (#607*)
Winery Notes: Red fruit: cherry, raspberry, and strawberry. Savory with hints of smoked meat, leather, and mineral.” From Pavo Real (Spanish Springs) and KW Ranch.
My Review: Typical Pinot Noir on the nose, yet a richer palate than most local Pinot Noirs. January 2022
Winery Notes: “Full of flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, bay leaf, clove, and spice. Deep, rich fruit, with a long finish.”
My Review: Super dark ruby in the glass. Plum and dark cherry on the palate – big and rich. If I were playing Mystery wine, I’m not sure I would guess it was a Pinot Noir. We liked it quite a bit! January 2022
2018 Corral Petite Sirah , Paso Robles AVA, $52 (#610*)
Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit, black raspberries, tobacco, dark chocolate, cocoa, and toasted spices. Rich, powerful, with a long finish.”
My Review: Dark ruby/purple in the glass. Aromas and flavors of dark plum, blueberry and blackberry. Smooth, rich and delicious. One of my favorites! January 2022
Come say hello at our newly opened Tasting Room at 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA! Hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00ish pm; and closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
*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.
My virtual wine class selected the theme of Paso Robles. Lucky me, I had picked up this Niner “kitchen sink” wine perhaps at Costco, perhaps at Safeway, sometime back. Perfect for the occasion. I didn’t know anything about Richard Niner or his wines, so this was a chance to explore and learn!
My classmates presented these Paso Robles wines:
2018 DAOU Pessimist Red Blend, 15.2% ABV, $22 (purchase price was $11), rated 92 points
2015 Pasoport Wine Company Per Caso RHN Blend, 14.3% ABV, $44 ($11 on WTSO)
2012 Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.1% ABV, $20 (purchased for $15)
About Niner Wine Estates: “We currently farm a total of 240 acres across three different vineyards in Paso Robles and Edna Valley, and make all our wine in our LEED Certified Winery at Heart Hill Vineyard. We are known for our estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as our flagship blend Fog Catcher; however, we grow a wide range of varietals and specialize in small lot bottlings that we allocate primarily to our Wine Club Members.
“After growing up on a farm in West Virginia, Richard Niner spent his career building small businesses across a wide variety of industries. One of his business ventures brought him to Paso Robles in the early 1990s and he was immediately drawn to the potential of both the land and the people who lived here. After a long search, Richard and Pam purchased their first vineyard, Bootjack Ranch, in 2001 and spent the next decade building a tasting room and winery, finding and planting two additional vineyards, and assembling the current team. In 2013 they retired and their son Andy took over the day-to-day management of the business.”
Winemaker Notes from Wine.com: “The goal for the Bootjack Red was to treat each varietal separately using techniques that preserve the best characteristics of each. As a foundation, Cabernet Sauvignon was added for structure, Malbec for a juicy component, Cabernet Franc for fine tannin and length, and Merlot for subtle fruit and finesse. All other varietals in the blend are accent pieces, each adding spice and different fruit characteristics. The barrels selected along with the amount of time spent in barrel brought all of the individual pieces together in a cohesive way.”
My Review: Dark ruby, almost purple in the glass. Caramel and blackberry on the nose. Bold up front with smooth blackberry and blueberries on the palate. Intense dark fruit and a touch of ash on the dry, slightly tannic finish. Balanced, mellow and very drinkable. September 2021
You can buy Niner wines online or at their tasting room in Paso Robles by reservation only. My Wine Pod partners have been there and say it is fabulous – including a restaurant on site – sounds like a great outing!
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
This is Post Two about Seabold wines, today’s post focused on BOLD Wine Co. For more about Seabold, please see the 6/14 post. When I did my tasting at Seabold, I was told they came up with the name the night before the bottle labels needed to be printed. They thought of the Monterey Bay and the ocean breezes and their desire to be bold in the creation of their wines. Literally Sea Bold. BOLD Wine Co is the label for wines Chris Miller, the proprietor and winemaker, gets to play and experiment with. From their website:
BOLD Wine Co is the label for wines the winemaker gets to play and experiment with. From their website:
“We believe that everyone should have access to delicious and balanced wines that speak to their place of origin. Every year we work with new vineyards and varieties for Seabold Cellars; those first few vintages, the new wines that we find promising are released under the BOLD Wine Co label. We produce exciting, affordable, sustainably-grown wines from the Monterey Peninsula.”
Winery Notes: “Drs. Serena Friedman and Michael “Farmer Mickey” Drucker built up this 400-acre ranch from scratch with their bare hands. Incredibly hard workers and tireless proponents of the Paso Robles region, they grow mostly Bordeaux and Rhône varieties…Red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper, dried lavender, red currant.” 120 cases produced
My Review: Vibrant salmon in the glass – a lot of time on the skins. Very sweet nose – almost bright cherry, followed by full-bodied strawberry cream on the palate. Like a strawberry shortcake! I would love this in a bubbly version! May 2021
Winery Notes: “Balestra is located just north of the Santa Lucia Highlands on a well-drained alluvial bed of coarse loam and clay, which combined with its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, delays ripening while retaining low pH levels. Olson is one of our favorite vineyards in Monterey County, 4 miles off the Pacific Ocean, with bracing acidity. Unfortunately, while the Pinot Noir quality is outstanding, yields are typically just about 1 ton per acre…Crushed raspberry, balsamic strawberry, rhubarb, white mushroom.” Whole cluster pressed, native yeast fermentation. 412 cases produced
My Review: Bright cherry in the glass. Slightly sweet cherry on the nose – classic Pinot Noir. Cherry Jolly Rancher on the palate. Agree with the hibiscus tea! May 2021
2019 BOLD Wine Co Carignan, Redwood Valley, 13.6% ABV, $25 (#380*) 82 cases produced
Vineyard Notes: “REDWOOD VALLEY At a higher elevation and cooler temperature than much of surrounding Mendocino County, Redwood Valley has warm days and intensely cold nights, leading to a long ripening season that often lasts into November. The winemaking tradition here goes back to the mid-1800s, with small plots of original plantings from that era…VINCENZO VINEYARD First planted in 1918, Vincenzo is owned and cared for by the grandchildren of the original farmer. Organic and dry-farmed since its planting, the old-vine head-trained vines here are remarkably healthy and yield intensely flavored wines.”
Winery Tasting Notes: “Campfire, blueberry skins, black raspberry, star anise, violets, and charred meat.”
My Review: Beautiful ruby – a tad purple. Berry/cherry on the nose – like a Pinot Noir! Smooth on the palate brimming with delicious berry flavors. Just when I was thinking I was done exploring Carignan, I found this Carignan, which I liked a lot! May 2021
You can buy BOLD Wine online or at the Seabold Tasting Room, 3 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village. They are open Thursday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m. and by appointment (831-288-2730).
*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.
Warm weather and sunshine were predicted for the Monterey Peninsula – that called for another patio tasting with the COVID Wine Pod. While the sun didn’t really shine, some impressive wines were shared. Our friends brought a Law red wine from Paso Robles, known as “America’s Rhône!” I last brought you Law Estate Wines here: https://decantingmonterey.com/law-estate-rose-the-perfect-wine-for-an-unexpectedly-hot-coastal-afternoon/.
Always a treat to gather with our neighbors, now best friends, who have such similar tastes in exceptional wine!
While the sun did not come out as promised, the fire table took the edge off as the temperature dropped.
About Law Winemaking: “Being a gravity-fed winery allows us to stay true to our winemaking principle. We utilize concrete fermenters due to their pinpoint temperature regulating abilities as well as their small, yet signifcant, amount of gas exchange from the concrete’s natural porosity. Wines are drained and pressed before they go into a mixture of 100% French oak of which 30%-75% may be new depending on the blend. Once in barrel, the wine remains on its lees for an aging of 22-24 months before it is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Our wines then remain in bottle for an additional year and a half before they are released.”
Jeb Dunnuck – 95 Points from Law Estate Wines: “Entrancing with its ever-evolving layers of dark berry notes, cinnamon and black pepper, this perennial varietal expression of our site possesses significant balance of weight, tannin, and velvety texture from front to back. Upon each sip, new and exciting characteristics unveil the complexities of this noteworthy wine long after the glass is set down. It has undoubtedly earned its title as one of the longest-lasting and beautiful finishes of the vintage!”
My Review: Yummy black fruit, tobacco and graphite on the nose. Deep jammy cherry and berry fruit. Balanced with minerality. Super smooth and yummy. Clove on the finish. This is pretty fantastic now and will get better with time. April 2021
You can purchase Law wines from the winery on line or at their tasting room. Check it out here. Tastings are by reservation only.
*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.
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