Joe and Sam Miller, father and son team, say this about their winemaking on their website: “Our style is strongly influenced by the character of fine European wines that pair well with food. We work closely with selected growers to secure fruit that will produce well-balanced wines that are true to the variety and without excessive alcohol. Absolutely minimal cellar handling is used to preserve the full character and complexity that the grapes can provide. Racking and bottling schedules do not follow rigid timelines, but are adapted to fit the development of each wine. The finest barrels are used judiciously so that oak flavors are not dominant and at most provide a subtle background to the intrinsic aroma and flavor profile of the wine. We do not fine or filter our wines. The wines are exposed minimally to air during production and aging, and they can be expected to continue to improve with several years of bottle aging, though all Rexford wines can be drunk with pleasure on release.” https://rexfordwinery.com/
From the Label: “The 2013 Rexford Merlot was made from grapes grown in the Regan Vineyard located on a hillside near Watsonville. This site yields very dark and often intense Merlot that shows similarity to the wines of Bordeaux. We punched this wine down by hand during fermentation and aged it in 50% new French oak. Bottled without fining or filtration, the wine has complex aromas of earth and spice that are true to the varietal. The taste is driven by fruity flavors that are well balanced by tannin and acidity. This excellent Merlot is ready to drink now , but will continue to develop with further bottle age.”
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Father-and-son vintners Joe and Sam Miller consistently deliver solid wines, including this twist-top Merlot that’s aged in 50% new French oak. Its boysenberry fruit is awash in the green peppercorn, herb and crushed graphite character associated with the mountainous region. That pyrazine touch hits the palate, along with black pepper and dark chocolate spice, accenting the tangy red fruit.” Matt Kettmann, July 2017
My Review: Rich garnet in color. Plum, vanilla, spice, cedar, blackberry and cassis on the nose. Complex on the palate – smooth, rich cherry and cedar with some structure. Cassis and a touch of licorice and lemon on the finish. Pretty delicious. January 2021
Check out their current releases on their website. You will find several “firsts” there: a red blend, a Cabernet Franc, plus their 2017 Merlot from the Black Ridge Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara County! Their prices are mostly $30-35 per bottle and they are currently (as of 3/5/2021) offering free shipping with the purchase of 3 or more bottles. Sounds crazy good, eh?
Stay tuned for the reopening of their winery tasting room in Santa Cruz later this month!
*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 was 68 degrees on a May afternoon. For most of you, so what, right? In our coastal town of Pacific Grove, it was one of the very few days of the year when it was warm enough to sit on our front porch, which never sees the light of day or warmth of the sun. Our new isolation/Shelter-in-Place thing to do is for all of us – including our dogs – to enjoy a warm afternoon on the front porch, sunk into an old, comfy, rattan couch. On this day, we played my husband’s favorite isolation game – Guess the Wine.
He brought us each a glass of pale yellow, very chilled wine. My first guess was a Sauvignon Blanc, but there was way too much pineapple. Chardonnay was my second guess. Monterey County was a safe bet, but he wasn’t sure. I wracked my brain trying to think of whose Chardonnay we had in our house. Nope. Do they have a tasting room in Carmel Valley Village? Yes, but we don’t go there often. Hm…finally I start listing the tasting rooms we visit in order of geography…and finally hit upon Rexford.
Rolling Vineyards Just South of the Santa Lucia Highlands
We are moving into the Santa Lucia Highland (SLH) AVA, where some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the county is grown at some of the county’s most famous vineyards. You can feel the power and see the beauty of SLH while driving down the River Road Wine Trail. “SLH” on a label to me means a wine of distinction. You would expect me to be presenting a Hahn, a Talbot, a Boekenoogen, or something from one of our renowned SLH wineries. But, since I am presenting you wines we have consumed while Sheltering-in-Place by AVA, I am bringing you a Rexford.
The Rexford Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village.
The Rexford Winery was founded in 2008. It is known for its single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, and other premium varieties. This wine comes from the northern part of the SLH AVA. Pretty sure we drove right by this vineyard on our April River Road trip. We got to know Rexford from our many visits to the former White Oak Shopping Center, now home to some of our favorite wineries (we’ve already mentioned Parsonage, Chesebro, and I. Brand in this blog). The Rexford tasting room is closed.
Winemaker’s Notes: The grapes were crushed and destemmed, then pressed immediately. Barrel fermented and aged sur lie. “This wine was fermented and aged in French oak barrels then bottled without fining or filtration. It is a rich, full-bodied Chardonnay with an excellent balance of fruit and acidity. In the aroma are hints of oak and tropical fruits and in the taste flavors of citrus and melon.” Only 98 cases were produced and it sold out quickly.
The 2015 Rexford Chardonnay is bursting with flavor.
My Review: Light on color, brilliant pineapple on the nose and palate, with a touch of butter. This higher alcohol Chardonnay is perhaps the biggest, most flavorful one I have ever tasted – just bursting with flavor. It was refreshing after a long hike and was greatly enjoyed on our front porch on such a warm day. I would buy this again. May 2020
Check out Rexford here – their prices are mostly $30-35 per bottle and they are currently (as of 9/11/2020) offering free shipping with the purchase of 3 or more bottles. Crazy good, eh?
*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.
As I started to write my first blog posts, I realized, if I am going to do a Real Wine Blog, that I need a lot more photos. It’s been kind of overcast and cool in Pacific Grove, day after day. Last weekend, I decided I would drive out to Carmel Valley Village where I would be sure to find some warmth and sunshine and could take some pictures of the tasting rooms. I was able to check out their outdoor wine tasting venues, as that’s what’s permitted here in Monterey County as of this writing. A nice warm sunny day, lots of wine flowing everywhere. Except to me – I was on a mission!
I parked in front of the former location of Mercy’s tasting room and set out on foot. (I miss Mercy so much.) The tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village are easily walk-able, unless you are intending to buy a lot of wine! As you go through this list, please remember we are living in a very fluid situation right now. If you are planning a wine tasting visit, the best option is to review the winery’s web page to see if they are open and if you need a reservation. Safety is the most important feature of each of these venues.
I began my trip with Massa Estate, 69 W. Carmel Valley Road, as it was where we started our Monterey County wine exploration way back when. It is the first tasting room as you enter the village. The owner, Laurie Massa, welcomed me in, showed me their tasting list, and allowed me to take photos of their outdoor space. Massa has an incredible outdoor space to not only taste wine, but also for food. Local Chef Michael Jones is here with a very special menu – you can taste the wines and order a meal – or carry one out. So many cute, outdoor tables with umbrellas – it’s just adorable here. In addition, there’s croquet in the front lawn so you can come, play, and relax. Open Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Massa Estate has a cute, fun, yet elegant outdoor space.
The next winery I went to was Georis, 1 Pilot Road. We’ve always had a fondness for the brand, as Gaston Georis (Walter’s brother) once taught my husband French! Their indoors wine tasting bar and room is very large (for better times). Their outdoor spaces are incredible for significantly socially distance tables for any sized party, even a larger, private event, as appropriate. I would feel very comfortable coming to Georis to do winetasting of primarily his great Merlots. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Georis has the largest outdoor space with distanced tables, and a vineyard setting.
Then I walked over to Seabold, 2 Pilot Road. I am not yet familiar with Seabold, so it was a good way to meet them and see their outdoor spaces. They have smaller outdoor tables as well as big picnic benches and the occasional late afternoon music. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Seabold: Great space and some music, too!
Cowgirl Winery, 26 Pilot Road, has incredible outdoor space for wine tasting and fun – open 11:30-5 daily. (Sorry, I didn’t make it there to get pictures.)
Even though their wines come from elsewhere, I include Twisted Roots in my blog because of their tasting room location at 12 Del Fino Place (oh, and we enjoy their great wines). They also have a nice outdoor setup on the side of their building open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m. Reservations suggested.
Twisted Roots has an excellent, quiet outdoor space for wine tasting!
I walked by Bunter Spring at 9 Del Fino Place, which is not doing public tastings until further notice. Mark Bunter told me he is doing pickups by appointment, free local delivery, 20% off any six bottles, 25% off twelve bottles, and half-price shipping to CA, DC and FL only.
Bunter Spring is closed for tastings and Idle Hour is moving down the street!
Idle Hour right next door had a big sign saying they were moving in with Big Sur Vineyard’s tasting room at the end of the street. That was welcome news to me, as collocation with Big Sur will probably result in a more constant presence than the out-of-town Idle Hour could always provide.
Big Sur Vineyards at 1 Del Fino Place was setting up as I dropped by. Owner Lenora Carey showed me something really cool they are using for their outdoor wine tastings – wine vials that look like big test tubes called “taste tubes!” Customers receive the flight of wines in a tube rack and pour their own when ready, improving social distancing during the tasting. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Big Sur Vineyards is using these cool “Taste Tubes” for a more touch-free experience!
Joullian, 2 Village Drive, is open daily 12-4 p.m. – reservations required. They had a couple of small tables visible on their front patio.
Bernardus is still closed for in-person wine experiences due to their current focus on wine production and some virtual wine tastings.
Boekenoogen, 24 W. Carmel Valley Road, has an incredible outdoor patio, so their transition to outdoor operations was very easy. They are open daily, 12-5 p.m.
The lovely patio was occupied, so photos will have to wait.
I’d been talking to Rombi Wines, 1 Center Street, which, like the rest of the wineries, had just set it all up for indoor operations when the order came down to move things outside. Sal Rombi was able to create a relaxing, quiet spot to taste his big wines just in front of his tasting room. Open Saturday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Rombi’s first outdoor tasting guests!
Joyce, 1 E. Carmel Valley Road, has a nice outdoor space and some great wine sales. Reservations preferred; weekends also first come, first served. Wednesday-Friday 12-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Over to Albatross Ridge, 9 E. Carmel Valley Road, which showed me their outdoor space behind their tasting room – a lovely space with plenty of tables. Sunday-Thursday 12-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12-8 p.m. Reservations preferred. They are open in Carmel-by-the-Sea, as well.
Finally, a very short walk over to the old White Oak shopping center at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road, where the rest of these tasting rooms can be found:
We were invited several weeks ago by Parsonage to help them test-drive their indoor wine tasting procedures (they learned a lot from our visit, as we tasted EVERY wine!) – only to have to revamp their procedures and space for outdoor operations. They have built a parklet and are able to serve several tables outdoors. Reservation required. Thursday-Monday 12-5 p.m.
Parklet photo courtesy of Parsonage – very clever!
Rexford Winery tasting room is closed. For a limited time, they are offering complimentary shipping on new orders of 3 or more bottles. Chesebro tasting room was likewise closed.
Windy Oaks is using a couple of small tables in front of its tasting room for outdoor operations. The staff is very welcoming. According to their website, the Carmel Valley tasting room is open Friday-Tuesday 12-5:30 – reservations recommended. Their Carmel-by-the-Sea location is open for limited tastings Wednesday-Monday 12-6 p.m. by reservation.
I Brand also has some small outdoor tables and is open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 and by reservation.
These wineries are so happy to be sharing their wines with you. I hope, if you get a chance, that you will get out to the valley and try some yourself. Check to see if they require a reservation and confirm they are open. It all looked good to me! Come on out, give it a shot come out and support your local vintners.
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