Tagged: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

And Now: The Final Post on the Monterey Wines Trade and Media Event!

THE STORY

As I mentioned in my previous post, I really feel like Decanting Monterey is getting some recognition when I start getting invited to events that are “wine trade only.”  The Monterey Wines Trade and Media Tasting, was held in Carmel in early August, offering an opportunity to talk to vintners and their representatives one-on-one! This is part 3 of my experience there. Please read Part 1 here and Part 2 here for more details. And many thanks again to the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association for the tickets!

Today’s post will cover these local wineries and some of the wines they presented that day: Lepe Cellars, Windy Oaks Estate, Wrath, McIntyre Vineyards, and Galante Vineyards. Because these are the last wineries we visited that day, our tasting notes are skimpy – we focused more on conversations with the winemakers and staff. Winery notes come from their website or conversation with the winemaker, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

THE WINERIES/WINES

LEPE CELLARS

It was so nice to finally meet Miguel Lepe! He is one of our bright, creative NextGen winemakers – and one to watch!  I’ve tasted his wines several times and was so happy to finally meet him.  I admire the fact he is willing to make the kinds of big reds I like – in our land of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I previously wrote about Lepe Cellars here: Lepe Cellars: A New Face on the Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Circuit! I’m also working on a Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society event at his tasting room in Carmel-By-The-Sea in the next few months!

2022 Lepe Cellars Sangiovese Rosé, Merit Vineyards, San Antonio Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#1109)

Winery Notes: “This bright, stone fruit focused dry Rosé starts out with a burst of peach and apricot leading into hints of tangerine. Pairs well with seared salmon, lobster and tuna tartare.”

My Review: By now, our tasting notes have been reduced to a few words. This rosé exhibited a mellow nose.  The Sangiovese grapes made this a very tasty version. August 2023

2020 Lepe Cellars Petit Verdot, Merit Vineyards, San Antonio Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $49 (#1110)

Winery Notes: “Elegant aromas of wild strawberry, savory soy and light licorice show on the nose of this pure varietal. Dark plum and cherries show on the first sip, with a bit of earthy forest floor woven with pepper, oak and tannin creating a velvety, rich texture.”

My Review: Plummy and jammy on the nose. Tobacco and dark fruits on the palate. Very nice. August 2023

WINDY OAK ESTATE

I met Kerry Winslow in the Windy Oaks Tasting Room a few years back.  Extremely knowledgeable and friendly, Kerry is a class act – and he is everywhere.  After years of reading and quoting the wine blog grapelive.com, I finally put two and two together. And he has a great presence on Instagram and LinkedIn – follow him! He had us try a few wines on this day. We were just about at the end of this event, so note taking was practically non-existent. My apologies, Kerry.  I can do better. I previously wrote up Windy Oaks here: Windy Oaks: Les Deux Grands Crus and More Pinot Noir!

2018 Windy Oaks Chardonnay, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, $32(#1111)

Winery Notes: Kerry indicated that this is a particular parcel of the Escolle Vineyard farmed especially for them.

Winemaker notes from wine.com: “Brilliant crisp golden delicious apple, bosc pear, lemon and pineapple fruits unfold on the rich palate along with hints of nutmeg, clove spice, butter rum and golden figs.

“This Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from the Escolle Vineyard near the famous Garys’ Vineyard, which is set on the classic sandy loams with touches of quartz and granite. All barrel fermented and aged in French oak with bâtonnage (stirred lees), it sees malolactic secondary fermentation which adds depth and texture to this lively wine.”

My Review: This is a very delicious, oaky, buttery, and creamy Chardonnay and currently available on their website. August 2023

2021 Windy Oaks Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County (#1112)

Winery Notes: N/A

My Review: You all know I am not the biggest Pinot Noir fan, but I liked this one.  It had a very nice, lean palate with enough complexity to hold my interest. August 2023

2016 Windy Oaks Diane’s Block Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County (#1113)

Winery Notes from wine.com: “Grown on 5-acre block, all estate, slightly warmer site, at a lower elevation, resulting in a bit more fruit forward notes. Exciting density and ultra-smooth ripe/creamy tannins with a stylish nose of wild strawberry/rhubarb and lavender. More subtle in the nose it saves its forward nature for a medium full attack on the lush palate showing fine detail and an array of red fruit flavors, mineral tones and sweet and sour notes, finishing long and spicy. The mouth feel makes an impact with layers of raspberry, black cherry and fresh picked plum along with a hint of French oak and savory spices that add excellent contrast in this serious and structured Pinot.”

My Review: It was a real treat to be able to taste this vintage of the Diane’s Block.  However, I apologize for lack of good tasting notes.Garnet in the glass with a touch of acidity on the finish. 2023

WRATH

We became quick fans of Wrath thanks to their broad portfolio of wines, especially, for me, their Syrahs.  It was through their wines that we began to get to know some of the great vineyards of Monterey County, such as their own San Saba Vineyard, the Tondré Grapefield in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and, more recently, KW Ranch, also in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Because of their different lines of wines – and if I happen upon a good sale, I can even squeeze their EX (formerly Ex Animus) wines from time to time into one of my East Coast wine classes. And when I needed a Falanghina for my part of a virtual wine class, Wrath had one. You can read about it here: Ancient Roman Winemaking Meets Modern Viticulture!

2020 Wrath Swan/828 Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.3% ABV, $39 (#1114)

Winery Notes: “Dark cherry, raspberries and a touch of earthiness highlight the characteristics of our growing area… This clonal blend uses all estate grown grapes.  It combines dark cherry, raspberries and a touch of earthiness on the nose.  The palate offers a balance of structure and acidity that compliments elegant, focused red berry and cherry cola with a hint of forest floor.  Nimble and pure, it terminates with a long clean finish that is enhanced with a touch of mineral.”

My Review: This wine was interesting to me, as the smokey, earthy nose contrasted with the rich palate of fruit which followed. August 2023

2020 Wrath Pinot Noir, McIntyre Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $49 (#1115)

Winery Notes: “Wines made from master-grower Steve McIntyre’s vineyard often exhibit the telltale characteristics of Santa Lucia Highlands terroir.  Our 2020 McIntyre Vineyard Pinot Noir is no exception.  Comprised of 100 percent 115 clone and made with 20 percent whole-cluster fermentation, it is dense and complex, with pomegranate, a touch of smoke and a mineral element.  Berry flavors of cranberry and pomegranate remain persistent, blending with red currant, more mineral and bright acidity in a structured finish.” 94pts- Wine Enthusiast

“The 2020 Wrath McIntyre Pinot follows instep with previous vintages and displays classic red and black cherry flavors with a distinctive underlying minerality.”

My Review: I tend to like the Pinot Noir wines that come from the McIntyre Vineyard and this one is no exception. This one was quite rich in the palate and delicious. August 2023

MCINTYRE VINEYARD

About two years ago, we happened to be in the Crossroads Shopping Center in Carmel and popped into McIntyre. It was a very quiet afternoon, so we got to taste a wide variety of Pinot Noirs.  That is when McIntyre Vineyards Pinot Noirs got my attention – I tasted some I actually liked!  You can read about that experience here: Impressive Pinot Noirs from Steve McIntyre Bring SLH to Life! Now I seek them out at events like these to validate my first impression! At the trade event this past August, we got to meet Kristen McIntyre and talk a bit about the wines.  Again, apologies.  As our penultimate stop, our notes are skimpy.

2019 McIntyre Family Wines Winemaker Series Don Van Staaveren Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA Monterey County, 14.6% ABV, $50 (#1116)

Winery Notes: “The idea for the Winemaker Series was born out of impatience and age-related urgency! If I’m lucky I’ll get to participate in another 20 to 30 vintages as our vineyards and wines evolve. Collaborating with a diverse set of winemakers and viticulturists provides exciting opportunities to experiment and accelerate our pace of discovery. Each Winemaker brings their own style and experience, just as a great chef or a musician, to the process of producing a life enhancing experience best shared with others” – Steve McIntyre

“Smells of bright, candied cherry fruit. The remarkably pure and crystalline cherry flavours have an aromatic sweetness to them that charms, while excellent acidity keeps the saliva flowing. Boisterous and bright with barely perceptible tannins. This expression of cherry will bring a smile to most drinkers.” (Alder Yarrow) Wine Enthusiast: 94 points

My Review: I tend to like the Pinot Noir fruit and winemaking style from McIntyre.  This one was quite delicious. Classic and elegant. I now have a better appreciation for the Winemaker Series of their wines and will stop by to taste some more. August 2023

2018 McIntyre Merlot, Kimberly Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.3% ABV, $30 (#1117)

Winery Notes: “Our 2018 Kimberly Vineyard is the epitome of Goldilocks-climate Merlot. It marries the lavish, ripe fruit of a warm site with the elegance and structure of a cool locale. As in previous years, the dominant character traits include blackberry, anise, cassis and dried currants. Below that is a bed of juicy black fruit and supple, silky tannins. While it drinks well now, this Merlot will continue to evolve and improve over the next decade.” (Steve McIntyre)

My Review: Sadly, I have zero tasting notes for this wine and will have to revisit it in their Crossroads Tasting Room in Carmel!

GALANTE VINEYARDS

While I have presented Galante wines on my website before (check out Galante: Now This Cowboy Makes Big Reds!, this was my first occasion to meet Jack Galante. The Galante family has a long legacy in the region, with his grandfather James Frank Devendorf founding Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Highlands Inn!  You can read more about the Galante history on their website.

A few years back, Galante sold its vineyards and winery to Tira Nanza (see above) and today it sources grapes from a variety of vineyards “from Paso Robles to Napa,” with most of their grapes coming from the Carmel Valley AVA, according to their website. According to Jack, they are still managing some vineyards.

Galante was the very last table we stopped at during this event – and my lack of tasting notes reflect that.  I haven’t been to their tasting room in a couple of years, so I will try to get back out there soon!

2021 Galante Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Blackjack Pasture, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $80 (#1118)

Winery Notes: N/A – pre-release

My Review: My only note was that this was one heck of a serious cab.  I definitely need to retaste this wine when it is released! August 2023

2021 Galante Vineyards Legacy Red Wine, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $85 (#1119) 54% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery Notes: “This ongoing series celebrates Jack’s great-grandfather’s – James Frank Devendorf – vision, who founded the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Aged in new French Oak for 15 months, this Bordeaux-style wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, featuring blackberries, violets and cocoa on the nose. Dried cherry and strawberry middle notes lead to a long, lingering finish of spice and tobacco. Cellar-worthy for many decades, but enjoyable right now as well.”

My Review: The only notes I took said that this wine exhibited some rather intense fruit – also worthy of a retaste soon! August 2023

THE TASTING ROOMS

All of these wineries have tasting rooms in Carmel, Carmel Valley, or out River Road – please check their websites for more information.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

Support Decanting Monterey’s Wine Education Efforts!


Monterey Wines Trade and Media Event in Drizzly Carmel!

THE STORY

I really feel like Decanting Monterey is getting some recognition when I start getting invited to events that are “wine trade only.” The Monterey Wines Trade and Media Tasting, was held in Carmel in early August, offering an opportunity to talk to vintners and their representatives one-on-one! This event was organized by Kim Stemler, Executive Director, and Tina Huynh, Membership & Program Coordinator, of the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association. I am grateful to have been able to participate for the first time in this event. I also thank I Brand & Family for validating this by sending me a personal invitation.

The event was held at 7th and Steak in Carmel-By-The-Sea on what started out as a drizzly morning. We paid no attention to the drizzle and immediately headed to the back patio to start tasting wines alphabetically.  28 wineries were scheduled to pour several wines each, which meant there was a lot to do in our limited time.  My partner and I have a strategy: we prioritize wineries at which we have not tasted, we choose 2 wines at each winery table, we share the taste, and dump the rest. 

We really valued the opportunity to talk directly to the winemakers, CEOs, vineyard managers, tasting room managers and others at this special event.  Each winery was a unique experience.  Although we didn’t get to every table, I nonetheless have a lot of wines to present from this event.  I struggle with how to do that and not get grossly behind in my posts.  I’m expecting 3 posts to cover this single event. So, I am continuing my twice weekly post until I get caught up.

THE WINES

I have 12 wines to present to you today these local wineries: Caraccioli Cellars, Corral Wine Co., Folktale Winery, Holman Ranch, J Lohr, and Lucy Wines. Winery notes come from their websites or conversations with the representatives at this event. It was eye opening for me to see the wholesale prices for the wines.  While I am usually extended an industry discount, I am grateful for the occasional offer of the wholesale price for my wine education events.  That allows me to present higher quality local wines in nonprofit, budget-limited classes.  Any errors in this post are mine and mine alone. I encourage you to check their websites regarding tasting opportunities!

CARACCIOLI CELLARS

Caraccioli Cellars is one of the best places to taste sparkling wines in Monterey County, with their Brut Rosé being one of my top choices for a special celebration. We were excited to learn about their Private Property label – a second label to bring a more affordable option to highlighting our region while still leveraging grapes from the family’s highly acclaimed Escolle Vineyard. 

2021 Private Property Brut Rosé, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 12% ABV, $40        (#1086) 57% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir

My Review: Very pale pink in color. Not too yeasty on the nose. Very crisp and tart with a lot of fruit flavors. Fine bubbles dissipated quickly. August 2023

2017 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvee, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 12% ABV, $60 (#1087)

Winery Notes: “Produced as a mixed cépage of Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%), this wine is aged on the lees four years. Bright and fresh with layers of depth and structure, the Brut Cuvée is our flagship wine.” 93 Points Wine Enthusiast

My Review: A little barnyard on the nose. Fine bubbles on the crisp and slightly tart palate. Classic. I would like to present this one in a class. August 2023

CORRAL WINE CO.

It was great to see winemaker Adrien Valenzuela at this event and taste some brand new vintages!  I like to present Corral wines in my classes because I believe Adren is one of the best up-and-coming winemakers in our region.  While his whites are very tasty, what he can do with red varietals and blends is impressive. I say, “Watch this space!!”

2022 Corral Sauvignon Blanc, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County (#1088)

My Review: Honeydew on the nose. A nice, round palate finishing with pineapple and citrus fruits. August 2023

2022 Corral “Pancho’s Chard” Chardonnay, Carmel Valley, Monterey County (#1089)

My Review: Nice, crisp palate. Smooth, well-melded fruit. Tasty. August 2023

FOLKTALE WINERY

As of this event, I had not yet been to Folktale for a formal tasting, but was scheduled for a winery tour with winemaker David Baird the very next day! (Post coming soon!!)

Folktale Brut Sparkling Wine, Monterey County, 11.8% ABV, $40 (#1090)

Winery Notes: “Light and refreshing, we made our Brut to enjoy on its own or paired with, well, just about anything. This sparkling wine opens with notes of green apple, banana, and tropical kiwi, developing into flavors of peach and tart strawberry on the palate. Enjoy chilled and often.”

My Review: A sweet nose. Tiny bubbles on the light, pleasant palate. August 2023

2022 Common Thread Three Strands Red Wine Blend, Central Coast AVA, 12.8% ABV, $40 (#1091) 57% Pinot Noir, 28% Pinot Gris, 15% Pinot Meunier

Winery Notes: Description of the 2021: “A blend of 2 red and 1 white grape varieties, this natural wine exudes character. Juicy with bright red fruits and exotic spice, the wine has bright acidity and fine whole-cluster tannin. Pairs wonderfully with vegetarian dishes or as a refreshing aperitif wine.” This is David’s own label.

My Review: Slightly cherry nose. A little tart. Very balanced with some cinnamon on the finish. Would be good with food! August 2023

HOLMAN RANCH

For us, it was a real treat to meet Kirstie Dyer, the CEO of Holman Ranch at this event.  I really owe Holman Ranch a visit (they make a Syrah now, after all!) and would love to see the ranch itself.

2019 Holman Ranch Jarman Estate Reserve Brut Rosé, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, $114 (magnum) (#1092)

Winery Notes: “The 2019 Reserve Jarman Sparkling Brut Rosé begins with a bright citrus nose of grapefruit and lemon, carried by balanced marine salinity. Notes of raspberry and strawberry introduce a warm palate, enhanced by a hint of freshly risen dough, showing great precision. A well-integrated, restrained dosage is complemented by a persistent méthode champenoise mousse.” 87% Pinot Noir, 13% Chardonnay

My Review: Barely pink – very light in glass. We liked the flavors and the bubbles in this sparkling rosé. August 2023

2022 Holman Ranch Estate Susan’s Saignée Rosé of Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $37 (#1093)

Winery Notes: “The 2022 Susan’s Saignée Rosé shows a light salmon hue in the glass. This wine has aromas of bright strawberry and watermelon, accompanied by more tropical characteristics. The palate gives passion fruit, lemon peel and orange blossom, adding complexity. This wine is clean and lively with balanced acidity.” Made from 667 and 777 clones.

My Review: Pale pink in glass with a slightly sweet nose. Yeasty, lean palate. Metallic taste. Not a patio wine. August 2023

J LOHR

I enjoy seeing J Lohr at these events, even though I put them in a different category from our smaller, local vintners. It was terrific to meet Kristen Barnhisel, their winemaker for white wine located in Greenfield. The wines they presented today allowed us to try some different things. Would be nice if there were a tasting room in the county, but I guess I’ll just have to get down to Paso Robles more!

2021 J Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, $25 (#1094)

Winery Notes: “The 2021 Arroyo Vista Chardonnay exhibits intriguing aromas of paperwhites, Meyer lemon, ripe apple, pear, and crème brulée. The rich palate texture is balanced by layered flavors of pear, lemon cream, baking spices, and minerality, with a long, sweet oak finish.” 94 Points, Best of Class, Gold at the 2023 Los Angeles International Wine Competition

My Review: A bright, pale yellow in the glass. Butter and pineapple on the nose, carrying over to the palate. Tasty. I liked it. August 2023

2022 J Lohr Wildflower Valdigué, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, $13 (#1095)

Winery Notes: “Crafted in the style of Beaujolais wines. This light-bodied red wine from Monterey is perfect when served chilled and can pair with a wide variety of foods…Served slightly chilled, displays inviting fresh raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate aromas, with a bit of black pepper and hibiscus. Flavors of brambly, bright red berry with a touch of spice, mid-palate acidity lead to a juicy, mouthwatering finish.”

My Review: So very purple in color. Cranberry, hibiscus, and plum on the nose. A surprisingly lean palate, yet quite tasty. Not a typical varietal we find bottled in these parts. August 2023

LUCY

I had never head of Lucy before, so I am including a bit of extra information about them – I was stuck by their affordability for the quality – and their charity-driven purpose.

About Lucy: “Welcome to Lucy, made by the Pisoni family. Elegant, approachable, meaningful, and fun. The Lucy philosophy is to craft beautiful wines that are classically made for pure and vibrant expressions. The wines also represent important aspects of our region’s history and community…

“The wines we take great care in crafting under our Lucy label are standouts for us in their ability to combine glamor with versatility. Because they pair well with a wide range of dishes, they’ll shine in any setting. We’re particularly proud to be able to match these three wines to a trio of outstanding causes: funds to support breast cancer research, ocean conservancy, and the Big Sur Fire Department.”

You can read more about the making of these wines here: https://lucywines.com/behind-the-wine/

2022 Lucy Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, $24 (#1096)

Winery Notes: “If the Lucy Rose of Pinot Noir offers any preview into the quality of the coming wines for a given vintage, rest assured that 2022 will certainly be a vintage to remember. Sporting shades of melon, salmon, and coral that are classic for a Lucy Rosé, this beautiful offering packs unyielding aromatic intensity as it chills and condensates on the sides of the glass. Delicate at first with notes of fresh strawberry and subtle, mineral driven undertones, this wine begins to offer complexities seldom seen in rose as it warms slightly. Plush notes of peach blossom and watermelon waft into the air, as the first sips offer citrus driven flavors of tangerine and orange peel, backed by tart raspberry and rose petal. Brief but impactful aging in 100% neutral French oak barrels offers an added layer of texture that pairs seamlessly with fresh, prickly acidity.”

My Review: Pale salmon in color. Musty goodness on the nose, perhaps the best smelling rose of the day.  Followed by big rose flavors, making it the tastiest rose of the day. August 2023

2022 Lucy Wines Pico Blanco White Blend, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, $26 (#1097)

Winery Notes: “Our blend of pinot gris and pinot blanc is named Pico Blanco to commemorate a mountain peak in Monterey County known for its beauty and its high-grade limestone mineral deposits. With Pico Blanco, we pay homage to Monterey County’s earliest grape growing traditions–traditions in which pinot gris, an early-planted cool climate grape in the region–played a central role. Crafting this wine is a way for us to locate ourselves in historical time and place and to respect the traditions of grape growing in Monterey County.

“As always, purity and complexity continue to be our focus. The pinot gris and pinot blanc grapes to be blended into Pico Blanco are hand-sorted and carefully pressed to moderate the extraction and flavor derived from their skins. We use entirely neutral barrels for fermentation to sustain the purity of the fruit and to augment its texture. We also depend exclusively upon native yeast. Doing so is another way we maintain the traditional winemaking practices we prize. At the same time, this practice allows us to coax complex flavors from the fruit. We bottle Pico Blanco without any fining.”

My Review: A delightful, floral nose. Round flavors on the palate. Lingering finish. August 2023.

THE TASTING ROOMS

Most of these wineries have tasting rooms in Carmel-by-the-Sea or in Carmel Valley – I encourage you to get out there and try them for yourselves! please check their websites for more information.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

Support Decanting Monterey’s Wine Education Efforts!


Best Winery Tour Ever at Bernardus!

THE STORY

In July, the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod experienced the best winery tour ever at Bernardus! Last November, at the Marinus dinner, Jim McCabe, assistant winemaker at Bernardus, invited us to come up to the winery in Cachagua for a tour. We finally made it there in July! And I would say the fun wine education aspects of the tour were what made it so special.

Winery notes for this post come from conversations with the winemaker unless otherwise indicated. You can read more about Bernardus on their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

Also, with all the wine events and special tastings we have done, I will be posting twice weekly for a bit to get caught up! My, we have been busy!!

Jim McCabe met us outside where he explained what happens to the grapes from the moment they arrive at the facility. He indicated that harvest is looking 2-3 weeks late this year due to the winter and spring rains. Veraison is a little late, but every really hot, sunny day we get speeds it up. Chemistry and appearance will tell them when to harvest the grapes.

In response to our questions about white grapes, they expect 2-3 tons per acre. They gently press the white grapes to avoid any off flavors. They shoot for 150-170 gallons of juice per ton.

We grabbed our glasses as we moved inside.

THE WINES

We started out tasting some Monterey Chardonnay at the filtration stage, followed by a Pinot Noir at the cold fermentation stage. We then went deep into the barrel room to do more wine education.  We examined how different barrel ages affect the wine, how different yeasts influence the flavor profile, and how to recognize and resolve reduction! What fun!

2022 Bernardus Chardonnay, Monterey County (#1065)

We tasted this sample at the filtration stage.

My Review: Light golden. Nice delicious tropical nose. Pineapple and butter. Rich and sweet on the palate with a bright finish, some bitter notes yet nice. July 2023

2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Gary’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highland AVA, Monterey County (#1066)

This sample was at the cold fermentation stage.

My Notes: Garnet. Cold. Plum and perfume. Tasty palate. Smooth. July 2023

2022 Bernardus Chardonnay, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highland AVA, Monterey County (#1067)

We compared 2 samples from different aged barrels.

My Notes:

New oak barrels: Buttery, tropical nose with some sulfur dioxide. Rich and viscous on palate with pineapple flavors on the finish. Wow. Big. Delicious. July 2023

3-year-old oak barrels: Faint tropical notes on nose and more sophisticated palate. Leaner yet tasty with more subtle flavors and more acidity. July 2023

2022 Bernardus Chardonnay, Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highland AVA, Monterey County (#1068)

We compared 2 samples made with different yeasts – and then a combined sample! Wow – we made some wine!!

Winery Notes: Every 2 weeks, they top off the barrels and perform battonage. They expect to bottle 19 barrels of Sierra Mar Chardonnay.  

My Notes:

D47 yeast: More acidic on the nose. Citrus notes. Mouthfilling, completely different flavor profile. Explodes on front end. Crushed pineapple a hidden bitterness on the finish. More acidic overall to me.

Montrachet yeast: Totally different. Pale in glass. Butter and mild pineapple on nose. More vanilla and tartness on the palate. Rounder flavors.

Blended samples: Crushed pineapple on the nose. Balanced palate. Burnt caramel on the finish. Very nice.

2022 Bernardus Cabernet Sauvignon, Marinus Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County (#1069)

Winery Notes: A little Hungarian oak. Intended for Marinus red blend.

My Notes: Intense dark ruby in color. Tart jam on nose. Juicy on the palate.

2022 Bernardus Merlot, Marinus Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County (#1070)

Jim had just talked to us about reduction a few moments before we tasted this wine. One of our members identified it right away, so we got to see first hand how to mitigate reduction. 

Barrel sample: Rubbery notes. Reduction is starting! Bright and dark raspberry on the palate. Dark and bitter on finish.

Post-copper treatment: Immediately changed flavor: lots of jammy, berry fruit and no reductive flavors. Tasted amazing.

Other fun facts (any of which I could have captured wrong):

  • They have a small, full-time staff of 8 people, plus contract support for busy times.
  • In their winemaking, they use French oak barrels for a period of 3 years. 

  • They have some huge, 2000-gallon oak tanks which they can use for Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, taking the place of stainless tanks.
  • Grapes from Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards that don’t make the vineyard designate bottlings can then become part of their Santa Lucia Highlands program.
  • They are elevating their Marinus vineyard. Doing more hand work and replacing some of the old vines.
  • The label: They are dropping the “B” label and going to a cleaned-up version (see the one on the right below) of the old one for brand recognition.

  • They also switched cork sources to improve the reliability of their corks. Their “Monterey” line has screw tops.
  • He showed us a brand new barrel and even let us sniff inside!

  • They produce 45,000-61,000 cases in an average harvest year.
  • And, finally, examine your spit after drinking Cabernet Sauvignon – it might surprise you. (But none of us can remember why…)

Tasting Bernardus Wines: Their tasting room, located at 5 West Carmel Valley Road, is open every day! Reservations are not required. You can see more information and book a tasting here or email tastingroom@bernardus.com or call them at 831-298-8021.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

Support Decanting Monterey’s Wine Education Efforts!


I Brand & Family’s Summer Releases: Pulling Out All Stops!  

THE STORY

As soon as we got word that the I Brand & Family’s summer releases were available for pickup, we assembled most of the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod and head to sunshine in the valley.  We were on a mission to taste these wines and make our selections.  We were thrilled that Angie was managing the tasting room that day. She encouraged us to compare and contrast varietals from different AVAs side by side.  What fun!

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES

Interesting note: According to the I Brand & Family website, the 2023 Summer Release wines are only available to wine club members for the time being! There are a couple of factors at play, both addressed in Ian’s Summer 2023 Winemaker Letter:

1. Climate Change: The small yields of 2020-2022 due to wildfires, storms and hot weather significantly reduced the production for many of our local vintners. According to the latest County of Monterey Crop & Livestock Report, there was a 20% reduction in the value of grapes harvested in 2022, dropping them from 5th place to 7th in crop value in Monterey County. This was due primarily to the end-of-summer heat wave. Fingers crossed for a better 2023…so far, so good…lots of rain, just bring on more warm, sunny days!

2. Demand for Monterey Grapes: As Monterey grapes and winegrowing areas are exposed through the creativity of our local vintners, more and more of the best fruit gets bought up by others.  While non-Monterey vintners have historically purchased roughly 50% of our grapes (see Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association Fast Facts), the demand goes up as specific vineyards and varietals get put on the map through the fine work of our local vintners who produce such good quality, good value wines. 

THE WINES

Before I get into the new releases, let’s pause for a moment to explore those fun side-by-side tastings accompanied by my notes:

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISONS

We tasted the Cabernet Francs and then the Cabernet Sauvignons side-by-side for some AVA and winemaking style comparisons. Most of these were previously presented in this blog.

Cabernet Francs:

2020 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bayly Ranch, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, 11.9% ABV, $30 (#900): Garnet in color. Rose petal on the nose.  Lean palate of dark fruit – a bit more like a Pinot Noir.  This wine was made in a leaner Chinon style. It was earthier, with a touch of smoke, Kalamata olive.

2020 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 12.8% ABV, $48 (#901): Deep ruby in color. Very nice palate of dark fruit – seems to be made in a richer, Bordeaux style. Or is it just the fruit? Fruitier, fresher, juicier.

Cabernet Sauvignons:

This was a fun side-by-side, as it was the battle of the higher end Cabs with a more moderately priced version, each from a different vineyard. When we did the side-by-side, I had assumed we had tasted and presented all the wines previously, which evidently is not the case for the one from the Massa vineyard!

2019 I Brand & Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Fellom Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Cruz County, 13.7% ABV, $75     (#751): Caramel on the nose, followed by a lean palate.  More Napa-like in overall composition.

2019 I Brand & Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Massa Vineyard Block 10, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $75 (#1064): Intense dark fruit and dust on the nose. A rich, juicy palate with a nice finish. This wine is a tad more my style.

2020 I Brand & Family Bates Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Cruz County, 13.8% ABV, $48 (#904): Dark ruby in the glass. It has a juicy, rich, dark berry and cassis nose – yummy – following through on the mellow palate, with a touch of acidity on this finish. This old vines Cabernet is very well priced. Ian is giving all the value to his fans on this good wine. We took some home.

TODAY’S WINES

I have 9 wines to present to you today from 3 labels: I Brand & Family, La Marea and Paysan – tasted at their tasting room on June 30th. Winery notes come from their Summer 2023 Winemaker Letter. I used the full notes, as this blog is about wine education and I find them so interesting! Any errors are mine and mine alone. 

2022 I Brand & Family Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 13.8% ABV, $30 (#1056)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This is our third vintage of Arneis from Vista Verde. We originally tried this block out because we were looking for anything white after the fires of 2020 in case the smoke taint was worse than we thought. It turns out that the Vista Verde hillside does a damn good version of this rare and resurging Piedmontese variety with textbook apricot, honey and raw almond flavors. Our wine making remains largely unchanged over the last three years: Nail the pick, press whole cluster, settle, ferment and age in the same barrels and let it rest on lees until we are ready to bottle. Every time I open a bottle, I’m happy I did.”

My Review: Pale golden in color. Sweet grapefruit and apple on the nose. Tasty palate with round flavors, crisp yet some honey notes, and a long finish.  We liked this wine. June 2023

2022 I Brand & Family Pinot Gris, Eden Rift Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 13% ABV, $30 (#1057)

Winemaker’s Notes: “We continue to put about 5 days of skin contact on our Eden Rift Pinot Gris, flirting with a ramato (copper) style, but not driving into the esoteria that can characterize ramato Pinot Gris in Friuli. Now in our 5th year of working with the Eden Rift site, we’re really dialing in our pick times to capture maximum complexity and depth in the wine. It can take time in bottle or in the decanter for this to reach its apex of enjoyability, but we think it’s worth it. When our Pinot Gris is at its peak, it’s a super compelling wine, unique in its marriage of lightness on the palate and grip on the finish.”

My Review:  Salmon in the glass. Very delicious palate with a lingering finish of caramel and lingering fruit skins. We liked this wine, as well! Year over year – a favorite. June 2023

2022 Paysan Chardonnay, Jacks’ Hill, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $22 (#1058)

Winemaker’s Notes: “We are suddenly short on Paysan Chardonnay. After years of swimming upstream stylistically, we’ve had a coincidental convergence of factors that have open the floodgates on this wine; not the least of which is a majority leap in quality. The 2022 vintage was small, berried and intense with tremendous acidity. This wine is fantastic and I’m ashamed that we need to put it on allocation. Like with our Albariño this year, we will be in touch once we move through the initial release with any available bottles remaining.”

My Review: Straw in the glass.  Slight buttery notes on the nose. A light and clean palate with a slight tartness – more like a Chablis.  Even non-Chardonnay lovers can like this wine. June 2023

2021 I Brand & Family Chardonnay, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $36 (#1059)

Winemaker’s Notes: “When we were still pouring the 2019 Escolle Vineyard Chardonnay in the tasting room I had a friend text me that her friend told her she really liked our oaky Chardonnay. This had resulted in some confusion because she was sure I would never make an oaky Chardonnay. I suppose technically it’s true; this wine sees a lot more oak than I put on any other white wine and bears some of the typical markers of new barrels. But it’s also a play on the adage popularized by Dave Ramey – that he’s never seen a wine that was overoaked, just a barrel that was underwined. Ultimately, I am quality focused and style agnostic.  Escolle Chardonnay is dense, flavorful and high acid. We let it spend 11 months in cooperage, including two new puncheons (twice the size of a normal barrique), which is a really long time for a white wine, and then another six months in stainless to ‘marry’.  The result is a lively, textured, long-lived Chardonnay worthy of sharing the table with the best wines in the world.”

My Review: Pale in color. Good fruit on the nose.  A rich palate with a slight sweetness on the finish.  This tends to be one of our top picks and one of the best Escolle Vineyard Chardonnays produced! June 2023

2020 La Marea Old Vines Grenache, Central Coast AVA, 14% ABV, $30 (#1060)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This blend of three ‘old vine’ Grenache vineyards from the Central Coast is a unique wine. There aren’t more than a handful of old vine Grenache vineyards on the Central Coast and we’ve gone about collecting every significant block (and some fairly tiny ones) we can because we believe in the history and future of Grenache in our region. We’ve tried bottling grenache every which way, but this three-vineyard blend is tops for depth and approachability –– it’s like everything you want from a great Pinot Noir at a third of the price. Try it with a slight chill on a warm summer evening with light fare from the grill or stash it in the cellar for a couple of years. Our experience, is our Grenaches really start showing their full potential between years 4 to 8.”

My Review:  Translucent ruby in the glass. A noseful of Grenache. Cherry and crushed berries on the palate with some cinnamon on the finish. This is a very good Grenache. June 2023

2021 Paysan Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 13.2% ABV, $27 (#1061)

Winemaker’s Notes: “We’ve developed quite a reputation for our throwback Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a real rarity – a thoughtful, balanced, approachable Cabernet at a reasonable price. The 2021 vintage is one of my favorites in California – the wines have such prodigious quality and this is no exception. I’m constantly shocked by the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon we bring in and I know that if my mentors like Randall Grahm and John Alban were dead, they’d be rolling over in their graves. Thankfully they’re not and I wish them many happy years. Like all of our Paysan wines, it belongs on your table now and for years to come.”

My Review: Inky in color. Dark berry jam balanced by garrigue/herbal notes. Juicy on the palate. A bargain. Like a Languedoc wine. June 2023

2021 Paysan Petite Sirah, Pierce Ranch Vineyards, San Antonio Valley AVA, Monterey County, 12.9% ABV, $25 (#1062)

Winemaker’s Notes: “We stopped making Petite Sirah in 2017 because our reserved, elegant version of the grape did nothing but confuse people. By 2021, we’d had enough of people asking for it in the tasting room and decided to see if we could get back into Block One on Pierce Ranch. Thankfully, Josh was able to find a couple of tons for us in our favorite Petite Sirah section. Planted on the fractured shale of old sea beds and fermented with 1/3 whole bunch inclusion, this is the perfect wine for barbecue or richer fare demanding darker fruit flavors.”

My Review: Garnet in the glass. Fresh raspberries on the nose. Crushed red berries on the palate with some structure on the finish. June 2023

2022 I Brand & Family Piquette Nat, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, $18 (#1063)

Winemaker’s Notes: “I think people are beginning to catch on to the beauty of our Piquette Nat. Similar to a beer in fizziness and alcohol but without the weight or wheatiness, it’s perfect chilled for Summer and pairs excellently with a variety of flavorful foods. Our 2022 version is much heavier on the hibiscus so it’s almost like a sparkling Jamaica agua fresca or showing shades of dry Lambrusco. The perfect match for street tacos. I swear it’s addictive.”

My Review: This vintage is very different previous ones – quite ruby in appearance.  Reminded me a bit of a very fine, tasty, bubbly French vinaigrette! June 2023

2019 I Brand & Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Massa Vineyard Block 10, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $75 (#1064)

Winemaker’s Notes: “…This is a great coastal mountain Cabernet, classically styled and age worthy; a time piece from the heyday for California Cabernets before vineyards were replanted with restrictive root stocks and new clones. Growing in diverse topography at higher elevations lens towards intense fruit, elegance and balanced tannins. The cool maritime climate helps drop the daily diurnal in the Carmel Valley AVA (aka Cachagua), which through air and time loosens into an incredible and wide expression of true mountain magic. Like all mountain fruit, our Massa Cabernet offers an ardent expression of the varietal with structure, depth and age-ability. Great vintages off the vineyards have aged more than thirty years beautifully. Wild red and black fruit aromas are complimented on the palate thanks to natural acidity captured upon the vines. Dark fruit and graphite transition directly to a palate expression of dark berries and ethereal savory umami. Unbelievable.”

My Review: Quick side by side: Intense dark fruit and dust on the nose.  A rich, juicy palate with a nice finish. I prefer this wine. I confess to having a Carmel Valley Big Red palate! We have this wine at home already! June 2023

THE TASTING ROOM

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

© Decanting Monterey 2023

Support Decanting Monterey’s Wine Education Efforts!


Austin Harlow Has a Mid Life Crisis in Carmel Valley!

It’s rare for the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod to be caught by surprise – but Austin Harlow Winery & Mid Life Crisis Wines surprised us! They recently opened a new tasting room in Carmel Valley Village – right next door to I Brand and just down the row from Parsonage, Corral, Chesebro and Windy Oaks.

I had never heard of Austin Harlow so it was time for us to get educated! There were 9 wines on the tasting menu with 2 options: half flight for $10 and full flight for $20.  Now, that’s enticing! We chose a half flight, so I still need to go back and try his other wines.

Bill Austin was in the tasting room that Friday afternoon, so we had a chance to talk a bit. We learned about how he sources his grapes, including managing and farming one of the Hollister vineyards himself.  Other local vineyards are well known to us, including Zabala Vineyards down in Arroyo Seco AVA and Manzoni Estate Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. He prides himself on bringing quality wines in attractive and fun bottles at reasonable prices. This is a sentiment echoed by several of his neighboring vintners and one of the reasons I admire Monterey/Central Coast wines.

“Drawing grapes from some of the finest vineyards in California, Austin Harlow Winery prides themselves in showcasing some of the best wines being produced in the area.”

About Austin Harlow Winery & Mid Life Crisis Wines:

“Austin Harlow Winery was established in 2014 by Bill Austin of Monterey Peninsula, a long time wine enthusiast. The flagship brand is “Mid Life Crisis Wines”, officially released in March 2015. Drawing grapes from some of the best vineyards in California, the Mid Life Crisis Wines offer both intense and complex flavors at a great value. The Mid Life Crisis lineup consists of Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel (from a vineyard planted in 1935), a San Benito County Zinfandel, a Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon (from grapes planted in the Clements Hill region), a Santa Lucia Highlands Monterey County Pinot Noir (from an appellation considered to be one of the best in the world), and Santa Lucia Highlands Monterey County Chardonnay.

“All of the Mid Life Crisis Wines have been patiently aged in small, French and American oak barrels of the highest quality and then bottle aged for one year so that they are delicious immediately upon release, but they also will increase in complexity with additional bottle age…

“…Did you ever taste a $60 or $80 bottle of wine for under half the price?! Mid Life Crisis Wines are truly luxury wines at affordable prices.”

Today’s Wines

Today I am presenting 5 Austin Harlow Winery & Mid Life Crisis Wines. Please note they have 2 websites, with the second being Mid Life Crisis Wines. I could not locate winery notes for the wines. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2022 Austin Harlow Reserve Marisol’s Moscato, Napa Valley AVA, 12.5% ABV, $22 (#1042)

My Review: Sweet stone fruits on the nose, followed by a sweet palate. This was a fine Moscato. June 2023

2022 Mid Life Crisis Wines Savignon Blanc, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, $22 (#1043)

My Review:  Melded tropical fruits and fresh cut grass on the nose. Tart tropical fruits and citrus on the palate. June 2023

2021 Austin Harlow Reserve Puggy’s Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.4% ABV, $38 (#1044)

Winemaker’s Notes: From the Manzoni Estate Vineyard.

 My Review: This was the last wine we tasted – after we had the bigger reds.  My apologies, but I have no notes. My recollection is that it was representative of the region. June 2023

2021 Austin Harlow Reserve Zinfandel, San Benito AVA, 14.9% ABV, $28 (#1045)

My Review: Intense raspberry jam on the nose, carrying over to the palate.  Notes of buttered caramel popcorn on the finish. June 2023

2021 Austin Harlow Reserve Cammie’s Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito AVA, 14% ABV, $48 (#1046)

My Review: Dark garnet in color. Intense dark berries on the palate with bright red fruit (red currant) on the finish. We all thought this very young wine, with more time in the bottle, has the potential to be a very good wine. June 2023

Where to Taste

Austin Harlow Winery & Mid Life Crisis Wines Tasting Room: Located at 19 E Carmel Valley Rd. Suite G, Carmel Valley Village. Open Friday – Sunday from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm.

Monumental Third Year, Decanting Monterey!

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:

OUR STATS

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!
  • 8 Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society events and 2 private tastings conducted at home were presented.
  • 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·nos for 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 Monterey is a self-funded labor of love to help educate others about our local vintners and their wines.  The only “compensation” I receive is free tastings (most places), discounted purchases, an occasional comped bottle, and, most importantly, the appreciation of our vintners. 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:

  • $13/month for website expenses
  • $20/year for domain registration
  • $40/year for CellarTracker
  • $42/month for Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association membership (an aspiration!)
  • $50/year for codeguard
  • $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 welcome in 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.

Central Coast Sharon

Sun Wind & Wine: Great Wine and Food in the Prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands AVA – #4!

Part 4: Bruliam, Cattelya, Landmark, Miner Family, and Rombauer

Today is my final post (hurray!) about the May 13th Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival. You can find the previous posts here: https://www.decantingmonterey.com/sun-wind-wine-great-wine-and-food-in-the-prestigious-santa-lucia-highlands-ava, https://www.decantingmonterey.com/sun-wind-wine-great-wine-and-food-in-the-prestigious-santa-lucia-highlands-ava-2, and https://decantingmonterey.com/sun-wind-wine-great-wine-and-food-in-the-prestigious-santa-lucia-highlands-ava-3/

A short recap of the Festival (repeated from previous event posts): The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest.

I did not capture detailed tasting notes at this event; rather, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met. As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would attend this event again for the experience, take a lot more pictures, and focus on any new/new-to-me Central Coast wineries!

In this final post on the event, I am presenting 5 out-of-area (non-Monterey County, non-Central Coast AVA) wineries which make wines with the Santa Lucia Highlands designation. According to the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association, my go-to source for all things Monterey wine, about half of the grapes grown in Monterey County are procured by wineries outside of the county. Today’s post includes Bruliam, Cattelya, Landmark, Miner Family, and Rombauer. Any winery notes are from their websites or from the presenters at this event, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

BRULIAM

I had never heard of Bruliam before. Winemaker Kerith Overstreet was presenting her wines herself, which is always a great thing. Her winery is named by combining parts of the names of her three children.  Clever and sweet!

About Bruliam:

“When she was small, her dad used to say, “You can be whatever you want after medical school.”  So she did.  After completing medical school (U. of Rochester), residency, and two fellowships (UCSD), she thought winemaking sounded more fun.  So she enrolled at UC Davis to study enology and catapulted into the 2008 harvest.

“Starting with a single barrel, Kerith has grown Bruliam Wines to 1000 cases a year (plus/minus).  It’s mostly single vineyard pinot noir with a smidgen of Rockpile zinfandel. With delight and an “OK” from the CF-NO (aka the hubby), she added chardonnay in 2017.  Cherishing her grower relationships, Kerith has aligned herself with top vineyards and growers to supply her fruit.  Today she cherry picks her fruit from the top vineyards in Sonoma County, Santa Lucia Highlands, and her own Torrey Hill vineyard in the Russian River Valley.”

Tasting Bruliam Wines: You can book a tasting here:  https://www.bruliamwines.com/tastings.

2017 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.2% ABV, $55 (#1016)

Wine Enthusiast – 94 points: “Baked black raspberry, rose petals tea leaves, smoked sage and a hint of blood show on the complex nose of this bottling. It lands with weight and chalky texture on the palate, which is full of roasted plum and sagebrush flavors, leading into a finish wrapped in sizzling acidity and vanilla-cookie spice.” — Matt Kettmann

2018 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $60 (#1017)

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Black cherry, cola and smoky root beer aromas make for a fairly rich nose on this bottling. Blackberry and red-plum flavors mesh into cardamom spice on the palate, which is clean though hearty and ripe.”

2019 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 13.8% ABV, $65 (#1018)

Winery Notes: “Wowza! Beautifully integrated with brambly berries, exotic spices, and hints of soft herbs, the 2019 Soberanes is nuanced and complex. This pinot captivates with fine grain tannins and mouthcoating texture that belie her cellar worthy pedigree. She’s a food friendly, age worthy showstopper. But we won’t judge if you simply sip and find yourself transported.” Wine Spectator – 92 points.

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “An ample show of dust and herbs consume the nose on this bottling, which picks up scents of raspberry and rose as well. The palate’s blend of hibiscus and black tea flavors are wrapped in an oaky spice.” — Matt Kettmann

CATTELYA

We didn’t know what “Cattleya” meant (something to do with Colombian orchids, I think) – or that an out of area winery located in Rohnert Park would make so many Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah wines! I can find very little information about the newly-released vintages. Based on the prices of previous vintages, these well-respected wines likely are priced in the $70 range. In general, we liked these wines and I would like to try them again!

About Cattelya:

the winemaker Bibiana González Rave

“I grew up in a country where vineyards are virtually non-existent. My exposure to wine was limited only to rare occasions at the dinner table. A few sips occasionally stolen from my father’s wine glass were enough to inspire an all-consuming dream—to become a winemaker. So I packed my bags and left for France. And in that moment I set the course of my life, a never-ending journey pursuing inspirational wines. During the summer of 2001, I immersed myself in all things wine, ultimately earning a BTS degree in Viticulture and Enology from Cognac followed by a degree in Enology from the University of Bordeaux, graduating with honors.

“Driven by the tenacity which first took me to France, I pruned vines during ice-cold winters, trimmed shoots in sweltering summers, and tended to the vines that cling to the sheer slopes of Côte-Rôtie—first at Domaine Stéphane Ogier, then at Domaine Clusel-Roch. At the famed estates of Château Haut-Brion & La Mission Haut-Brion, I completed research for my thesis. This hard work paid off – I had the privilege to work among other family-owned wine producers in Burgundy, Alsace, and Cognac. My passion for wine whisked me around the globe, sending me between California, South Africa, and France for several years before I decided to call California my home.

The birth of cattleya wines

“By the end of 2011, after many harvests perfecting the craft of making wine, I set upon my own adventure—a label known today as CATTLEYA WINES. Meanwhile, I became a viticulturist and winemaker consultant; focused on vineyard optimization to produce exceptional wines from Sonoma and Napa Valley.

“In 2015, I was awarded “Winemaker of the Year” by the San Francisco Chronicle, just over a year after being named one of Wine Enthusiast’s “40 Under 40 America’s Tastemakers”.”

2021 Cattleya The Initiation Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1019)

This wine was very purple in the glass and comes from the Soberanes Vineyard.

2021 Cattleya The Reward Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1020)

I couldn’t locate any winery notes about this inky and lovely wine, but I suggest reading Kerry Winslow’s writeup of it at this link on grapelive.com.

2016 Cattleya Soberanes Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.2% ABV (#1021)

This very yummy wine was rated 98 points by Jeb Dunnuck!  I unfortunately do not have access to duplicate his review here. 

LANDMARK

Landmark:

2018 Landmark Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.4% ABV, (#1022)

Winery Notes:

“We are very excited to be offering our 7th vintage from this highly regarded source of Pinot Noir for Landmark. Our partner growers at this vineyard, nestled in the hills on the ear side of the Santa Lucia Range, focus on the commitment to exceptional fruit quality. The single-vineyard source for our Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir continues to consistently provide high-quality wine grapes, year after year. This exciting appellation is enhanced by the maritime influence from nearby Monterey Bay, providing a very long growing season with a mild summer and typically dry fall.

“Medium purple/ruby at the core with a slightly lighter rim, aromas of ripe black fruit, baking spice, oak, leather and subtle roasted coffee notes. The palate is dry, nearly full bodied, with ripe black cherry, ripe plum and vanilla on entry. Toasty oak, tobacco and leather join sustained ripe black fruit on the mid-palate with balanced acidity and mouth-filling tannins that meet the generous fruit nicely through a moderately long finish.”

2021 Landmark Escolle Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.2% ABV, $50 (#1023)

Winery Notes:

“The 2021 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir bottling represents our ninth vintage working hand in hand with our grower partners and is once again defined by their commitment to achieving the highest-quality fruit from vintage to vintage. A long growing season, slow fruit maturation, and night hand-harvesting at ideal ripeness allow Landmark to craft a wine of exceptional balance, structure, quality, and longevity.

“Ruby colored at its core with moderate tearing on the glass. Aromas of dried cranberry, cola, cocoa powder, and holiday spice lead to dark cherries. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe red and black fruit that blend into toasted oak. The finish is moderately long featuring notes of porcini mushroom, coffee, and dried orange peel as well as balanced acidity and finely textured tannins.”

My Review: Ruby in color.  Berry on the palate. This wine was nice. I preferred its intensity and overall flavor profile over the earlier vintage. Mind you, it was VERY LATE in our tasting by the time we found Landmark. May 2023

MINER FAMILY WINES

We have been long time fans of Miner Family Oracle, a Bordeaux-style red blend. We were quite surprised to see them at this event.  They are part of that growing trend to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the renowned Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.

About Miner Family Wines: “Miner is a dynamic family-owned winery tucked along the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation in the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998 by Dave and Emily Miner, Miner Family Winery crafts reserve-style wines by sourcing fruit from Napa Valley and other specially selected California vineyards.

“Winemaker Stacy Vogel uses a combination of old world winemaking techniques and modern technology to make wines that reflect the unique characteristics of individual vineyards or “terroir” where specific varietals grow best. This fusion of superb vineyard sites and thoughtful winemaking allows Miner to deliver elegant, expressive wines.” (from the tech sheet below)

2019 Miner Family Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $75 (#1024)

Winery Notes: “Sierra Mar, meaning Mountain Sea in Spanish, sits just over 1,000 feet and is one of the highest altitude vineyards in Santa Lucia Highlands. This high elevation paired with the naturally thin soils pave the way for low yields of highly intense fruit. This powerful wine offers dark fruit and violet aromas with a smooth, toasted oak finish.” 482 cases produced.

2019 Miner Family Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.3% ABV, $65 (#1025)

Winery Notes: “With nuanced flavors of plum, nutmeg, cedar and cherry, this Pinot Noir is appealing for its velvety texture, finesse and purity of fruit. Rosella’s Vineyard benefits from its hillside location and weather patterns of foggy mornings and long, sunny afternoons.”

2019 Miner Family Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $75 (#1006)

Winery Notes: “This 50-acre vineyard was planted in 1995 by friends and growers Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni along the terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range, overlooking the Salinas River Valley. With plenty of lovely, rich tannins, this Pinot offers up flavors of dark red fruit, subtle oak, nutmeg-clove spice. Aged for 14 months in French Oak.”

ROMBAUER VINEYARDS:

This was another surprise to see at a Santa Lucia Highlands event.  Turns out this is their first vintage of this wine.

About Rombauer: “Koerner and Joan established Rombauer Vineyards in 1980, and in 1984 they released their first California-style Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Four decades later–and still family owned–the winery has become widely acclaimed for its distinctive, fruit-driven expressions.”

2021 Rombauer Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $65 (#1013)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of plum, cherry, and crushed cranberry are lifted and concentrated on the nose, complemented by light lavender notes and hints of spice. You will find this wine to be rich and silky, with vibrant red fruit flavors, subtle notes of earthiness, and warm spice all finding expression in this beautifully balanced wine. The finish builds on the back palate, a signature of all Rombauer wines.”

© Decanting Monterey 2023


Sun Wind & Wine: Great Wine and Food in the Prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands AVA #3!

Part 3: Sarah’s Vineyard, Three Furies, Tudor Wines

Today’s post is Part 3 of my attendance at the May 13th Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival. You can find the previous posts here: https://www.decantingmonterey.com/sun-wind-wine-great-wine-and-food-in-the-prestigious-santa-lucia-highlands-ava and https://www.decantingmonterey.com/sun-wind-wine-great-wine-and-food-in-the-prestigious-santa-lucia-highlands-ava-2

A short recap of the Festival (repeated from the previous event posts): The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest.

I did not capture detailed tasting notes at this event; rather, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met. As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would attend this event again for the experience – and take a lot more pictures!

In this post, I am presenting 3 Central Coast wineries which are not in Monterey County. (For local, Monterey wineries, see the previous 2 posts above). Today, this means Sarah’s Vineyard, Three Furies and Tudor Wines. Any winery notes are from their websites or from the pourers at this event, unless otherwise noted.  Any errors are mine and mine alone.

One more post is coming about this event!  Next week will be out of area wineries making wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 

SARAH’S VINEYARD

We have tasted wines from Sarah’s Vineyard grapes made by some of our local vintners, but this was the first time we were able to taste their wines directly. Unfortunately, I did not capture tasting notes. The winery is located in Gilroy, a short drive from the Monterey Peninsula! The vineyards for their estate wines come from the Mt. Madonna District – we will need to go up and taste those wines and tell you more in a future post!

About Sarah’s Vineyard:

In The Beginning…

Marilyn “Sarah” Otteman purchased 10 acres in south Santa Clara County’s Hecker Pass area in 1977. She began the vineyard with an initial planting of seven acres of Chardonnay. The winery itself was founded 1978.

“Marilyn was a creative, free spirit, with a love for the land (she had an actual teepee on the property) and an innate sense of style. Both her and the early wines’ character caught the public and media’s fancy – the ornate Sarah’s Vineyard label quickly developed a loyal following and a reputation for top-flight Chardonnays.

“The small, rustic tasting room soon became a “must stop” for early Central Coast wine excursions. Today, Sarah’s legacy can still be seen in the attention to detail and warm hospitality on display daily around the winery.

Tim Slater, Proprietor & Mad Scientist…

“Tim Slater took the helm at Sarah’s Vineyard when he purchased the vineyards and winery in 2001. Tim in his former life has been a DJ, a musician, and a successful “micro-machining” engineer with many patents to his name. He brought a scientific approach to replanting and modernizing S.V., finely balanced by an artist’s sensibility and a traditionalist’s love of the land.

“Tim is a very hands-on proprietor. He is both grower and winemaker, constantly experimenting in the vineyard and in the cellar. Tim is often to be found in the tasting room, sharing his latest discoveries with guests.   

“By channeling both his inner “mad scientist” and his artistic side, the S.V. estate and wines have flourished. Tim’s philosophy is a fairly simple one: bottle by bottle, vintage by vintage, to capture the “music of the vineyard” – to grow and produce some of California’s finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.”      

About Tondré Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands:

“Tondré Alarid established a vineyard on his family’s historic ranch in Monterey’s Santa Lucia Highlands. In the hands of his son Joe Alarid, the estate has become one of the S.L.H.’s best known properties. The Highlands’ sparse mountainside soils and windy Monterey Bay-influenced climate produce some of the country’s best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The combination of a perfect site and meticulous farming makes for truly great wines.”

2021 Sarah’s Vineyard Tondré Grapefield Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $38 (#1008)

Winery Notes: “The ’21 Tondré Grapefield Chardonnay displays enticing aromas and flavors of white flowers, citrus, and pastry crust. Time in the glass offers up golden apple, pear, and lemon curd flavors and a long finish of spice, vanilla, and peach. The balance of bright acidity and a hint of creaminess from the primarily neutral French oak barrels make this wine a great match for Tim’s recipe for Shrimp Tacos with Mexican Street Corn.” French oak, 25% new, 11 months. 194 cases produced.

2019 Sarah’s Vineyard Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.4% ABV, $48 (#1009)

Winery Notes: “The ’19 Sarah’s Vineyard Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir has a vast red fruit and floral presence with dark cherry, raspberry, and crushed rose petal notes in the glass. On the palate, the bright fruit is complemented by baking spice, pepper, and a hint of vanilla with smooth, silky tannins. This delightful Pinot Noir pairs wonderfully with Tim’s wine club recipe for Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts.” 461 cases produced.

2021 Sarah’s Vineyard Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.3% ABV, $52 (#1010)

Winery Notes: “The ’21 Sarah’s Vineyard Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir has cellared beautifully and has delicate dark red fruit and spice with a lovely floral bouquet of violet notes in the glass. On the palate, the rich raspberry and plum fruits are complemented by baking spice, white pepper, and a hint of vanilla with smooth, silky tannins. This delightful Pinot Noir pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken and mushrooms over wild rice.” French oak, 35% new, 11 months. 275 cases produced.

Visiting Sara’s Vineyard: “We are open daily for curbside pickups of wine orders /wine club releases and have patio reservations available daily – reservations are strongly encouraged.” Check their website for details and reservations.

THREE FURIES

Another out-if area, Central Coast winery new to us!  They make wines from several regions, each named after one of the Three Furies:  Constant Vengeance from Sta. Rita Hills AVA, The Angry One from Santa Lucia Highlands, and The Jealous – not yet released.

About Three Furies: “Three Furies Wines are a manifestation of Winemaker Martin Mackenzie’s insatiable curiosity and quest for truth, power, and beauty in wine.

“Martin, a New Zealand native, crafted wines for world-renowned Stonyridge Vineyard on remote Waiheke Island, New Zealand for ten years before moving to California wine country.

“In California since 2009 as consulting, flying, and head winemaker, Martin has produced wines with top scores, earning high critical praise for his craft.

“Three Furies Wines are Martin’s expression of respect for the power of nature.”

About their wines:

The Taste of Truth, Power, and Beauty

“Three Furies Wines explore the mysteries of the noblest of grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay through limited-edition, single-vineyard releases.

“These wines represent contemplative studies of place, from vineyards sought for their character, where grapes struggle to grow from dry, cracked earth, and where vines are buffeted by screeching maritime gales.

“From this harrowed fruit, we make seductive, delicious wines.

“Our collection currently includes Constant Vengeance from Sta. Rita Hills AVA and The Angry One from Santa Lucia Highlands.

“The Jealous is the third Fury in our collection, not yet released.

“These wines are available to our mailing list only as well as a few carefully hand selected on-premise placements.

“Our current placements include: The French Laundry, Torc, Sante and The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, K. Laz Wine Collection.”

2018 Three Furies Wines The Angry One Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $85 (#1011)

Winery Notes: ““Pure, clean aromatics exhibit bright and floral red fruit notes. Violets, red cherry, pomegranate and raspberry mingle with fresh-bread and mineral notes. Red velvet cake comes to mind. Intense in color with a vibrant crimson hue.”    ~ Martin Mackenzie, Winemaker From the time spent in barrel she has been lavished upon resulting in firm tannins offering structure while maintaining racy acidity keeping her fresh and clean. An instant favorite of those who encounter her, she contrasts sharply with the more reticent and brooding older sibling, Constant Vengeance, who demands patience and a certain period of getting to know.” This was the first vintage of this wine.

2019 Three Furies The Angry One Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $85 (#1012)

Winery Notes:

“Bright hue of crimson-rose red with a good depth of color. Pretty notes of cranberry, blueberries and cherry dominate the generous aromas. Hints of violets, sage, licorice and cedar lurk beneath, hinting at things to come. Initially fresh, bright and firm of structure, the wine soon opens up to reveal pools of glycerol laden fruit, very much reflecting the aromas. Framed with firm but fine tannins the flavors remain through the long-lasting finish. With the acid and structure to age for ten years, The Angry One nevertheless leaves the impression of volume and generosity of fruit on the palate, making it enjoyable upon release as well as for cellaring.”   ~ Martin Mackenzie, Winemaker

TUDOR WINES

 We’d also never heard of Tudor Wines from Paso Robles. They brought three library wines for us to taste! Impressive! Please note that the Wine Enthusiast reviews are at or near time of release and may not reflect the current taste of these now-library wines!

About Tudor Wines:   “Every year our grandfather Tudor used to make wine for his friends and family. It’s a family tradition we continue to this day on the Central Coast of California.

“We believe that in an increasing mechanized world, there are still a few handmade products that stand out. Fine wine is one of them. We select fruit from family owned vineyards and transform it into wine using traditional techniques. These include small fermentations mixed by hand and aging in French barrels. The resulting wine has a purity of natural expression that cannot be duplicated on a larger scale.”

Some Tudor History:

“On the island of Hvar in Croatia, the Tudor family has grown grapes and lavender for hundreds of years in a small village called Velo Grablje. The island of Hvar is the longest Adriatic island. It has plenty of lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards. Hvar is, no doubt, an exceptional island, both in summer and winter. Due to its mild winter climate and rich subtropical vegetation, it has also been called the Croatian Madeira. An average of 2724 hours of sunshine per year makes Hvar one of the sunniest places in Croatia.

“The Tudors began growing grapes in California early in the 1900’s and continue to operate one of the largest table grape vineyards in the country. 

“This tradition of growing grapes continued when Christians’ grandfathers moved to California and planted table grape vineyards in the 1920’s. These are Dan Tudor and Sons and Vincent B. Zaninovich farms located in Delano, California. Christian worked at Dan Tudor and Sons during the summer picking seasons throughout high school and college 1988-1998.”

2005 Tudor Tondré Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.2% ABV, $140 (#1013)

Wine Enthusiast – 85 points: “Has a heavy, jellied taste that detracts from elegance. Hard to tell why, for the fruit certainly got ripe in cherries, cola and raspberries, and acidity is fine. Drink now.”

My Notes: Barnyard and earth. May 2023

2006 Tudor Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $40 (price at release) (#1014)

Wine Enthusiast – 87 points: “A very nice Pinot Noir. Rich and ripe in jammy, pie-filling black cherry, currant and cola flavors, with complex notes of dusty spices and smoky oak, it’s dry and full-bodied, and ready to drink over the next few years.”  

My Notes: Raspberry. Smooth and light. May 2023

2007 Tudor Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 13.8% ABV, $250 (#1015)

Wine Enthusiast – 92 points: “This is a really beautiful Pinot Noir. It’s rich in flavor, but also strong in structure, with good acidity and firm, dry tannins framing a silky texture. The flavors suggest raspberries, cherries and vanilla cream, accented with smoky sweet oak. Drink now.”

Wine Enthusiast: “A very good Pinot Noir. Shows just what you want in a fine coastal bottling, with a smooth, silky texture, crisp acidity, and fine, delicate but powerful flavors. In this case, the wine shows cool-climate notes of raspberries, cherries and red currants, with umami, salty smoked meat and oak-inspired vanilla toast complexities. Drink now–2013.” S.H. (12/15/2010)

My Notes: Best of the bunch – very smooth. May 2023

Taste Tudor Wines: “The Tudor downtown Paso Robles tasting lounge, in the historic Acorn Building, is steps from City Park and every art, dining, shopping and entertainment experience you can wish for in a wine destination. Treasure a glass of highly-rated, Grand Cru level Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Experience unique tasting flights of current releases and rare vintage library wines. Or, enjoy a few sweets and espresso.” Open Thursday-Monday noon – 6 p.m.

© Decanting Monterey 2023


Sun, Wind & Wine: Great Wine and Food in the Prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands AVA #2!

Decanting Monterey Reaches 1,000 Wines Presented! 🎉🍷

Part 2: Mer Soliel, ROAR and CRŪ

Today’s post is Part 2 of my attendance at the May 13th Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival. You can find last week’s post here: https://www.decantingmonterey.com/sun-wind-wine-great-wine-and-food-in-the-prestigious-santa-lucia-highlands-ava

Before I launch into today’s post, Decanting Monterey has reached a milestone: 1,000 wines presented since the beginning of the pandemic! 🎉🍷 Yes, some of these were written and posted elsewhere before I began this website, so the total includes non-Central Coast wines.  Nonetheless, that is a staggering number in just over a 3-year period, even if I do say so myself!  And we have a special wine today as number 1,000.  Read on!

A short recap of the Festival: The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Sun, Wind & Wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a small but mighty winegrowing appellation in Monterey County that cultivates California’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With generations of family farming, innovation and sustainability as our legacy, our growers and vineyards have earned their place among the state’s most prestigious names for appellation and single-vineyard cool-climate varieties.” The number of wineries present was staggering! We had a strategy going in – to focus on wineries we did not know, to share pours, and to dump the rest.

I did not capture detailed tasting notes at this event; rather, I’ll talk about some of the wineries we met. As a reminder: Pinot Noir is not my wheelhouse, so I can only go by impressions. That said, I would attend this event again for the experience – and take a lot more pictures!

In this post, I am presenting 3 more local wineries. I define local as having their vineyards, winery or tasting room in Monterey County.  Today, this means Mer Soleil, ROAR and CRŪ. Any winery notes are from their websites or from the pourers at this event, unless otherwise noted.  Any errors are mine and mine alone.

More posts are coming about this event.  Next week will be non-Monterey wineries that are still in the Central Coast AVA.  And the following week will be out of area wineries making wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 

MER SOLEIL

I was super excited to go to the Mer Soleil winery.  As I mentioned last week, we had thought this event was going to be outdoors and were surprised it was indoors – an excellent space for this large event. We were taken aback by how HUGE the barrel room was.  It was quite an experience to be in there.

About Mer Soleil:

“Mer Soleil began thirty years ago with a drive from the Napa Valley down to the Santa Lucia Highlands in search of the best land to plant Chardonnay.

“We put down roots in the region, drawn in by its down-to-earth vibe, rich farming history and weather that could not be more ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Started by Chuck Wagner — known for founding Caymus Vineyards with his parents in 1972 — Mer Soleil is now led by Chuck’s son, winemaker Charlie Wagner. Inheriting his family’s love of farming and adventurous spirit, he first spent time at the Mer Soleil vineyard in middle school as “punishment” when he got in trouble for bringing firecrackers to school. Like other members of his family, Charlie feels most at home in the vineyard. He has led Mer Soleil’s evolution, creating both SILVER unoaked Chardonnay and a more recently released Pinot Noir. Charlie is always eager to escort people in his truck down the area’s rustic roads, so that they too can experience a place unlike any other.”

Winery notes come from this link: https://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com/wine-shop/mer-soleil/

2013 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1000) 🎉

Winery notes from wine.com: “Golden and sun-kissed, the 2013 vintage opens up with evocative scents of lemon and peach, layered with the subtle toasted notes of freshly baked bread. The palate is full and fresh, with ripe flavors of fruit blossoms and a hint of mango balanced by natural, vibrant acidity. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a finish that is lengthy but never heavy, its mix of oak, butter and fruit characteristics blending seamlessly and leaving a harmonious, lingering impression.”

Wine.com Wilfred Wong Review – 90 points: “The 2013 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay is a teaser of a wine; begins with up-front butterscotch and crisps up towards the finish, with some nice acidity; youthful when I tasted it, which was pretty nice, time will bring into better balance. Right now, I serve this with Dungeness crab, if the season ever opened, but lobster Newberg would do nicely in its place. Medium yellow color; heady aroma of butterscotch and cream, big apples too; full bodied, surprisingly crisp on the palate; dryish, medium acidity, well balanced; playful ripe apple and wood flavors stay nicely focused; medium finish, lively aftertaste.” (Tasted: December 10, 2015, San Francisco, CA)

My Review: Golden amber in color. A musty nose with whiskey notes. Rich, deep flavors on the palate.  Pretty impressive. This was the very best Chardonnay we tasted that day. Why taste any more? May 2023

2021 Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $18 (#1001)

Winery Notes: “Fresh from start to finish, Mer Soleil SILVER is a pure expression of Chardonnay, produced from the ideal coastal conditions of Monterey County, California. Never seeing the inside of an oak barrel, it is fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and small concrete tanks imported from Burgundy, France. This wine features scents of creamy citrus and a distinct minerality that evokes wet granite encountered on a hike. SILVER is round and layered on the palate, with vibrant acidity and depth.”

My Review: Clear in color. Lychee on the nose. A light palate. Would be great on a hot day or paired with food. Too light on its own. May 2023

2021 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14,5% ABV, $24 (#1002)

Winery Notes: “Taking its name from the sea and sun – the two forces of nature that shape its exotic character – this wine is as dramatic as the place where it is sourced. With morning fog, bright sunshine and gusting winds, the Santa Lucia Highlands (40 minutes south from Monterey, California) has an extended growing season. Grapes stay on the vine longer, leading to the development of intense aromas such as custard and toasted almonds, rich fruit flavors and enlivening lemon/lime.”

ROAR

Roar was also at the top of my must-taste list for this event, but we were not alone! At first, we were daunted by the line to taste, but realized it moved very quickly, so we jumped in.  We had a chance to try 3 Pinot Noirs and one Syrah. Sadly, due to the crowd, I did not capture detailed tasting notes, just overall impressions. I was glad to finally try these wines!

About Roar: “ROAR Wines welcomes you to experience our handcrafted wines from family vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands of California. Four generations of farming here has given us 100 years of experience working this terrain. Our tradition of meticulous farming has played a large part in elevating our region to the highest quality of wine California offers. Please join us to learn why our wines and vineyards are unique to anywhere else in the world.”

“Gary and Rosella Franscioni started ROAR Wines with the knowledge that Pinot Noir had a shining future in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and a dream that their farming know-how would translate amazing grapes into amazing wines. Rosella’s Vineyard was planted on their home ranch in 1996, followed by Garys’ Vineyard in 1997 in partnership with the Pisoni family. The first vintage of ROAR was released in 2001, made from these two vineyards. From the beginning, Gary and Rosella’s mission was to make wines that they themselves would love to drink. Their approach was met with critical recognition almost immediately. Two more beautiful vineyards were planted about a decade later: Sierra Mar and Soberanes. Today, Gary and his sons continue to improve and innovate in the vineyards and winery to produce the best quality their land can create.”

K&L said this about ROAR:  “Josh Reynolds writes on the family behind the wines of Roar in Vinous: “Gary and Rosella Franscioni planted their first vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands in 1996, at what is now known as Rosella’s vineyard. The inaugural vintage for ROAR (named for the winds that come off the ocean) was 2001, and the family has since expanded to include the Sierra Mar vineyard and, in partnership with the Pisoni family, the Garys’ and, most recently, Soberanes vineyards, all of which must be counted as among the New World’s elite sites for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and now Syrah. The Franscionis’ sons, Adam and Nick, have been steadily assuming more duties here, with Adam coming on board in 2011 and Nick in 2017. ROAR is another winery whose style has been making a gradual shift from emphasizing richness to focusing on finesse and detail.” (09/2020)

2021 ROAR Wines Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $54 (#1003)

Winery Notes: The Madame

“Turns heads with elegance, charm and charisma while never letting you forget the power of her femininity…Deliciously floral, with raspberries and rose petals. There is a touch of bold elegance in its supple texture. Like Versailles – serious, but pretty.”

My Notes: Smokey

2021 ROAR Wines Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (#1004)

Winery Notes: The Challenger

“Quick witted and intuitive, more cowboy than scholar in the earthy, grounded way. Perseveres to get it right…Juicy berries, leather, herbs, and chapparal are tell-tale flavors of this Pinot. Earth and herbs underly flavors of freshly picked, perfectly ripe red cherries and blackberries.”

My Notes: Balanced.

2011 ROAR Wines Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $75 (#1005)              

Winery Notes: The Explorer

“Our adventurous maverick, the first to jump into the pool or off the cliff. But don’t be fooled, this explorer is complex and sensitive, a deeply layered original…Dark mountain berries and spice dominate this Pinot, with a stream of fine minerality snaking through. Wild, savory elements interplay with plump fruit flavors. A delicate, yet mysterious red that plays well with many cuisines.” 93 points Wine Spectator

My Notes: This library wine was the best of the bunch.  Grateful this wine was shared with us.

2021 ROAR Sierra Mar Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands (#1006)

Winery Notes: The Mystic

“Otherworldly like a sage or maybe a wizard, its aura is expansive and ethereal with an air of sorcery and magic emanating from its soul…Freshly cracked cloves, crushed blackberries, and expansive breadth of texture mirror the mountain wilderness it comes from. A softening finish of dark chocolate lingers on the tongue long afterward.”

My Notes: Deep garnet in color. Raisiny rich. I’d like to taste this one again. May 2023

CRŪ

This was my first chance to taste a CRŪ wine – and it was appropriate that my first wine of the day was a Chardonnay. CRU was on my short list of wineries I had not previously tried. Now that they have a tasting room here, we need to plan a road trip!

About CRŪ: “Deeply rooted in family & friends, CRŪ Winery sources fruit from some of the finest vineyards throughout the Central Coast of California.

“With a focus on Burgundian and Rhone varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah – which are best suited to this region, we craft wines for quality everyday drinking.”

2020 CRŪ Winery Sarmento Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#1007)

Winery Notes: “We have long admired wines crafted from the Sarmento Vineyard and in 2020 were delighted to have the chance to produce a Chardonnay from it. This wine is a gorgeous balance of bright fruit and toasty notes imparted by aging in French oak barrels.

“It opens with notes of Meyer lemon, pineapple, butterscotch and vanilla that develop into mouthwatering flavors accented with a hint of honey and hazelnut. The finish is long, creamy and leaves you wanting another sip.”

Aged 13 months in French oak barrels.

My Review: Light honey in the glass. Butter and tropical notes on the nose. Balanced palate with minerality on the finish. The nose outperforms the palate in this wine. Overall, very nice. May 2023

Visiting CRŪ: CRŪ has two tasting rooms.  One in Madera, where the winery is located, and a relatively new one in the Santa Lucia Highlands, which I have not yet visited – sounds like a Decanting Monterey Wine Pod outing! CRŪ Santa Lucia Highlands, 37500 Foothill Rd. Soledad, CA 831-678-0300

“Visit our beautiful tasting room in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Located in the Paraiso Vineyard, the CRŪ Winery Santa Lucia Highlands tasting room is perched on the east-facing terraces of the Santa Lucia Mountain range with stunning vineyard and valley views.”

© Decanting Monterey 2023


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

Part 1: Luli Wines and Mansfield-Dunne

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

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

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

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

Belle Glos | Bernardus Winery | Bruliam Wines | Caraccioli Cellars | Cattleya Wines | Clarice Wine Company | CRU Winery | Folktale Winery & Vineyards | Hahn Family Wines | Integrity Wines | J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines | Joyce Wine Company | Kori Wines | Landmark Vineyards | Luli Wines | Mansfield-Dunne Wines | McIntyre Vineyards | Mer Soleil | Miner Family Winery | Mooney Family Vineyards | Morgan Winery | Odonata | Pessagno | Pisoni Vineyards | Puma Road Winery | Rexford Winery | ROAR Wines | Rombauer Vineyards | Sarah’s Vineyard | Scheid Family Wines | Siduri | Testarossa | Three Furies Wines | Tolosa | Tondre Wines | Windy Oaks | Wrath 

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

Ardent Culinaire | Carmel’s Hidden Gem | Carmel Valley Ranch | Cheesecake Dreamations | Chef’s Palate Spice Rubs | Chef Jacques Zagouri | Dollycakes | H Jackson Events | Lula’s Chocolates | Luigi’s | Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy | Real Good Fish | Schoch Family Farmstead Cheeses | Star Market | Woody’s at the Airport | Yafa Carmel | Zio Brand Meats, and more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s go!

LULI WINES

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

About Luli Wines:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet:

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

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

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

Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet:

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

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

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

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

Winery Notes from the Tech Sheet:

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

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

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

MANSFIELD-DUNNE

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

About Mansfield-Dunne:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© Decanting Monterey 2023


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