Tagged: Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Late Arrival Leads to More Rainy Day Wines!

Last week, I posted about a rainy day Idle Hour tasting. In addition to Idle Hour, Mark Bunter of Bunter Spring Winery (finally) showed up with his wines and Lenora Carey of Big Sur Vineyards also poured some of hers – including a limited release Pinot Noir made by…Mark Bunter!  We had arrived early for Idle Hour and were just about ready to leave when these wineries showed up, so I only have 3 wines to present today. In addition, we re-tasted Bunter’s 2018 Hippie Syrah – it was meaty and delicious, as I previously reported here:  Interesting Showing of Central Coast Wines at the Dome Reunion! 

Some of my notes are amplified by budding winemaker Erin and Jacqueline, the President of our Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society. As always, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the winery.  Any mistakes are mine and mine alone.

Mark raises the point in his writeup of the Palisades Vineyard Pinot Noir below that not all vineyards in Carmel Valley are in the Carmel Valley AVA – but now there is a brand new Carmel Coastal AVA which you can read about in Matt Kettmann’s article here: Is the Carmel Coast California’s Next Pinot Noir Star? I hope this new AVA addresses his issue!!

2019 Spring Pinot Noir Palisades Vineyard Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 12.84% ABV, $30.  (#919)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Owner John Stafsnes spares no amount of trouble or expense on his vineyard. In one of the many examples of AVA nonsense, Palisades, smack dab in the center of Carmel Valley, isn’t in the Carmel Valley AVA, although vineyards many miles away, and over the ridge, in tributary Cachagua valley, are.  So legally it’s not Carmel Valley wine, it’s Monterey wine. Whatever.  It is subtle but complex, a wine to savor and consider at length with good food. Low alcohol with medium body, spicy, leafy, earthy aromas, tart red cherry and red currant flavors finishing with lingering cinnamon-like tannins. Can you taste the $1300 French barrel? Hope so!  Ingredients: grapes, water, yeast, sulfite.  Not fined, reverse osmosis filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 69 ppm, residual sugar 0.3 g/L (dry).” 50 cases produced.

My Review: We had already tasted plenty of wine, so our notes on this one are a bit skimpy. This is a lighter style, food wine with plenty of expected cherry notes for a Monterey Pinot Noir. December 2022

2021 Spring Saignée Rosé, (Pre-release) (#920)

This wine is pre-release and not yet posted to their website.  Made from 50-year-old vines and spent 4 hours on the skins.  About 20 cases produced. If you want to read more about saignée, I found this Decanter Magazine article, “What does ‘saignée’ mean in rosé wine?”

My Review:  Pale salmon in the glass, more floral, like a rosé from Provence with some tart notes on the palate. Would be a great patio wine on a warm afternoon. December 2022

2021 Big Sur Vineyards Limited Release Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.8% ABV,$42 (#921)  50/50 Pommard Clone/667 Clone

Winemaker’s Notes: “Our 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve, handcrafted by winemaker Mark Bunter is light, bright and a classic Monterey County Pinot noir. Mark blended two Dijon clones; Pommard with its vevety style and soft tannins, and 667 with aromas of dark fruit and black tea. The result is a beautifully fresh, vividly ruby wine in the glass and layers of raspberry, plum, dark cherry and a hint of “Christmas spices.” It is rich and elegant on the palate while at the same time bursting with aromas and flavors, leaving you with a lasting impression of a well-crafted wine.”

My Review assisted by Erin & Jacqueline: Cherry deliciousness on the palate.  This is going to be a great wine – balanced. I’m not a big Pinot fan, but I liked this wine.  December 2022

You can check their respective websites for how to purchase their wines.  Thanks to the cooperation of Idle Hour, Bunter Spring and Big Sur Vineyards, you can sometimes find a pop-up tasting by Mark Bunter in the Idle Hour tasting space inside the Big Sur Vineyards tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. Check out the Bunter Spring Winery Facebook Page and the Bunter Spring Winery Instagram page for more information.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Decanting Monterey is a non-profit wine education effort to promote our Monterey wineries through social media and classes. If you would like to donate to the cause, please click the PayPal button below or visit the Decanting Monterey Make a Donation page for more information. All monies received will be used to defray the expenses of operating this website and offset travel expenses for Central Coast wine education classes.


Last Minute Switchup Leads to Scratch!

When the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society lost the planned location for their December gathering, the Scratch Tasting Room offered an excellent alternative! We are indebted to Scratch’s staff for accommodating us on very short notice.  It allowed us to have an exceptional social and wine education event.  I knew from photos announcing its opening that this tasting room was designed to the nines.  But I didn’t realize how spacious it was!  It would be a great location to have a quiet tasting with a girlfriend or a larger event like a bachelorette party or a reception. Really lovely. And the wines matched the setting.

Sabrine Rodems is Monterey County’s most renowned female winemakers. Not only is she the winemaker for the highly respected Wrath Winery (where I first learned of her), but also has her own label – Scratch – and serves as the winemaker for Kori Wines.  While I enjoyed a bottle of Scratch’s Blanc de Blanc earlier in the pandemic, and have written up one or two of her wines, I had not had the opportunity to stop by for a wine tasting or write up a review.

About Scratch from its Website: “Scratch is a project of Winemaker Sabrine Rodems producing small-lot Chardonnay Sparkling, Riesling, Grenache, Pinot Noir and Cabernet from Monterey, Arroyo Seco, Santa Lucia Highlands and Santa Cruz Mountains AVA’s.

“Sabrine received her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA in Theatre, Film and Television and worked in the film and theatre industry for many years before deciding to go back to school to earn her Master’s of Science in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis. For the past twenty years Sabrine has been making highly acclaimed wines from some of the best vineyards in California.

“Working in the Central Coast and Monterey area has given her access to some of the best cool climate grapes in the world.” 

I’m also intrigued by her edgy labels. I asked the winery about the message behind them and got this response: “Mr. Cola was once a photographer for the New York Times then eventually found his calling in producing art. Sabrine was originally drawn to Mr. Colla due to his edgy nature as well as powerful message. As we do not have a lot of female wine makers today, we really wanted to showcase strong independent “bad ass” women on our labels to celebrate the change in the industry but also in hopes of inspiring the next generation of female wine makers.” They suggested we check out the artist’s website here: https://www.eddiecolla.com/.

On Eddie’s website he says this: ” There is a visual conversation that takes place on the streets of urban environments. This conversation is dominated primarily by advertising and utilitarian signage and assumes passive participation. Whether invited or not I am going to participate in this conversation. Public spaces were never intended to be coated from top to bottom with photos of consumer products. These spaces should, in some manner, reflect the culture that thrives in that space.”

Erin O of Terravenos and me!

I have 7 Scratch wines to present to you today from this event. I was assisted in my tasting notes by Erin O of Terravinos. I’ll write more abut her in the coming weeks. Therefore, today my notes are a little more in-depth and descriptive. Erin has a much more sophisticated and trained palate than I. I’ve added “assisted by Erin” to those reviews. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or website: https://www.scratchwines.com/. Any errors are mine and mine alone. 

Our Monterey AWS Chapter Leadership!

2020 Scratch Blanc de Blanc, Monterey AVA, 12% ABV, $49 (#905)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Extra Brut Chardonnay sparkling wine with brisk acidity and refreshing bubbles. Citrus with some tropical flair of lychee, guava and white flowers.”

My Review, assisted by Erin: Light cream soda in the glass. Pear and honeysuckle on the yeasty nose. Very crisp palate with notes of lemon zest and green apple – very balanced flavors and a creamy mousse. Super youthful. Nice. December 2022

2020 Scratch Brut Rose, Monterey AVA, 12.1% ABV, $49 (#906)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The touch of 828 Clone Pinot Noir to the Clone 96 Chardonnay base synergistically add a juiciness to the mid-palate that makes you want to take another sip!  Clone 96 Chardonnay has a round honey-dew melon mouth feel and with the addition of pinot makes you think you are biting into a fresh Fuji apple.  This sparkling wine is make using the classic Methode Champenoise, fermented in the bottle.”

My Review, assisted by Erin:  Dusty rose/pale pink in color.  Strawberry jam with a little biscuit and red apple on the nose. Strawberry and rose petals on the palate, amplified by crisp red fruits and ruby grapefruit.  A soft mousse. Fills the palate with bubbles. Youthful. December 2022

2019 Scratch Riesling, Monterey AVA, 13.7% ABV, $28 (#907)   

Winemaker’s Notes: “This Riesling is on fire! Big acid, bright minerality, grapefruit and lemon with a hint of flowers.   There is no residual sugar in this wine so it is not sweet at all, it is completely dry.  From the rocky, loamy Kristy’s Vineyard.  ”

My Review, assisted by Erin: Medium lemon in color. Some lees on the creamy, biscuity nose – reminiscent of a sauterne! Nectarine, peach and minerality on the palate. Muted acidity and brightness. Drink now. December 2022

2021 Scratch Boekenoogen Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.4% ABV, $49 (#908)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Bright energetic palate of Cranberries, pomegranate seeds, sour cherries and berries. This juicy Pinot from the near top of the Santa Lucia Highlands bench shows the classic fruit of this AVA along with nutmeg, cinnamon and hints of white pepper.”

My Review, assisted by Erin: Pale ruby in color.  Bouquet of cranberry, raspberry, red plum, and warm baking spices, followed by a touch of garrigue. Raspberry and cranberry on the palate with medium minus tannins and medium acid, leading to a slightly bitter finish. Not cherry at all. The intensity of the fruit is not matched by the alcohol. December 2022

2018 Scratch KW Ranch Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $49 (#909) 

Winemaker’s Notes: “A rich and lush Pinot Noir with black cherries, plum, nutmeg, clove and hints of anise. Produced using 30% whole clusters fermentation creates a structured wine with balanced tannins and complexity.”

My Review assisted by Erin:  Pale garnet in color. Dried cranberry and Bing cherry on the nose – potpourri. Medium-bodied palate presents a little jammy with medium plus grippy tannins and a touch of caramel with cherry notes on the finish. High alcohol.

2018 Scratch Grenache, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.5% ABV, $49 (#910)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This wine with nutmeg, clove, anise and black cherries will make your meal sing!  This is a sneak-peek at this yet-to-be-released-wine.”

My Review, assisted by Erin: A perfume of rose petal, lavender, raspberry, black cherry and red fruits like cranberry and a tiny bit of chocolate, tobacco.  Perfume carries over to palate with cranberry and raspberry flavors. This is a big wine with medium grippy tannins. December 2022

2017 Scratch Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, 14.4% ABV, $75 (#911)           

Winemaker’s Notes: “From the steep hillside of the JANACA Vineyard on Mt. Madonna. Rich flavors of plum and blackberries with juniper, nutmeg, clove. Classic Cabernet!”  

My Review, assisted by Erin: Inky in the glass. Brambly, blackberry nose with baking spice, mint and sage notes. Full bodied and rich with chalky tannins. This is a lovely wine that represents well one of the top Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions in California. December 2022

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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The Scratch Tasting Room is located at 1 East Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Sunday – Thursday: 12 PM – 7 PM; Friday – Saturday: 12 PM – 8 PM.  You can find more information here.

A Plentiful Supply of Central Coast Wines Right at Home

I was thumbing through past issues of Wine Spectator on their way to the recycle bin, hunting for articles and reviews of Central Coast wines. One wine kept jumping out at me – Carol Shelton’s Coquille Blanc from Paso Robles.  I remembered I had the 2020 vintage to write up and thought it might be a perfect time also to share the wine we had at Thanksgiving, the 2016 Calera deVilliers Vineyard Pinot Noir from Mount Harlan in San Benito County. In addition, I’ve had the 2017 Odonata Spiketail (Santa Lucia Highlands) and the 2018 Silvestri Estate Barbera (Carmel Valley) on my list.  The great thing is that all of these wines came from our own wine room. Which is why it is always nice to have a plentiful supply of our very own Central Coast wines right at home!

Today I am presenting 4 Central Coast wines.  Winery notes come from their website or the tasting room, unless otherwise noted. I encourage you to feel free to comment, share what wine you had for Thanksgiving dinner,  or simply “like” this post – engagement is always welcomed!

2020 Carol Shelton Coquille Blanc, Paso Robles, 13.2% ABV, (#873) $27  34% Grenache Blanc 32% Roussanne 22% Viognier 12% Marsanne

I joined Carol Shelton’s wine club during the pandemic and we have been pleasantly surprised!  We met her ages ago at a Zinfandel Advocates and Producers event in Washington, DC. Over the years, our neighbors would share her wines with me. I really don’t know why it took us so long to become part of Carol’s Bunch!

About This Wine: “We originally created the 2008 version of this wine to celebrate our 10th anniversary as a winery in 2010. With the exotic complexity and food friendliness of a white Rhône-style blend, it is a “red-drinker’s white,” a complex alternative to the more one-dimensional white varietal wines like Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. It is the perfect complement to its namesake shellfish, as well as chicken or pork dishes with buttery-creamy sauces. *Coquille is pronounced “ko-keel” and it is French for shellfish or scallop, like the scallop shells on the Shelton family coat of arms.” 931 cases produced – sold out!

Winery Notes:  “Enticing nose of spicy pears and white peaches, almond paste/marzipan, a touch of honeysuckle perfume. Multi-dimensional (many layers), a hard-to-describe range of aromatics, intriguing, almost mysterious! In the mouth it is crisply dry yet creamy and round and full-bodied, with nice almond paste on crisp-yet-juicy pear fruit…100% barrel fermented, then stirred weekly for 5mos About 10% finished malolactic fermentation…”

My Review:  Classic white Rhône nose, nectarine. Bright acidity balanced by a touch of sweetness. Nice tropical flavors of pineapple and pear on the palate, with a lime twist on the finish. Exceptional for a warm, summer day. September 2022

2016 Calera deVilliers Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mount Harlan AVA, San Benito County, 13.95% ABV, $79 (#874)

I picked up this wine in 2019 when I took my girlfriends to explore Hollister wines.  We took a picnic lunch and sat outside at one of their picnic benches with our flights of wines in the 90+ degree heat. It was a very special time – we were welcomed so warmly and treated so well by the winery staff.  While I am not a big Pinot Noir fan, this one blew me away.

About This Wine: “Calera’s Mt. Harlan Vineyards are located in the Gavilan Mountains 25 miles east of the Monterey Bay. The site was chosen for its limestone soils and ideal climate. At an average elevation of 2,200 feet it is among the highest and coolest vineyard sites in California.” You can read more about Mt. Harlan AVA here: https://www.calwineries.com/explore/regions/san-benito-county/mount-harlan.

Winemaker’s Notes: “Once again, de Villiers has produced one of Calera’s most voluptuous and dark-fruited expressions of Pinot Noir, with alluring aromas of blackberry, cassis and cedary cigar box. On the palate, lush dark berry and black currant flavors are supported by a firm tannic backbone that frames the fruit and carries the wine to a long, energetic finish.” Wine Advocate: 95 points.

Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Hard cinnamon candies, cherry juice, pomegranate extract and a touch of balsamic vinegar combine for sharp, nose-tickling aromas on this organically grown wine from pioneering vintner Josh Jensen. The flavor-forward palate explodes with dark fruits, noticeable tannins and solid acidity, showing allspice, Vietnamese coffee and black tea elements.” Matt Kettmann, July 2015

My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Soft berry and dark plum on the nose. Nice juicy palate with some bitter tannins/tobacco on the finish. December 2022

2017 Odonata Spiketail, Hook Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV (#875)  60% Syrah, 40% Grenache

We picked up this 2017 vintage with the rest of the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod during our first visit to Odonata in 2021 when we got their shortly before closing time.  We revisited with our daughter in 2022 as the single wine tasting stop, which I would highly recommend. Eric hosted us both times and shared much information on the wines, always appreciated. You can learn more at the Odonata website.

Winery Notes: “Offering copious aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, raspberry, strawberries, licorice and roasted herbs. Bright acidity, beautiful density, and full-bodied opulence.” 120 cases produced.

My Review: Rich, dark ruby in the glass. Dark berry jam on the nose. Low key palate of jammy berry flavors – this is one delicious wine. June 2022

2018 Silvestri Estate Barbera, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $50 (normally $75) (#876)

I picked up this wine in August 2021 while doing a birthday wine tasting afternoon with a key Decanting Monterey Wine Pod member.  As I recall, they did not have it open for tasting, but I had recalled really liking this wine in the past.  Their tasting room is small yet very welcoming – I miss their COVID parklet!

About This Wine: “Barbera is a red grape varietal originating from the Piedmont region of Northwestern Italy. Our small block of Barbera, which is the first planting of this varietal in Carmel Valley, was added to the vineyard to honor the Silvestri family heritage. It’s position on a warm southern facing slope allows this varietal to mature and ripen to its fullest potential before harvest.  With the influence of French oak barrel fermentation and maturation our Barbera exudes a deep richness and complexity that helps balance the grape’s high acidity.” 462 cases produced.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Black cherry, dried strawberry and plum aromas blend through to like flavors and move on to full, soft tannins with sufficient acidity. A more refined yet full-flavored Barbera.”

My Review:  Inky in the glass. Mocha, dark berries and alcohol on the nose. Very cherry on the palate. Crushed cranberries and berries linger on the lively palate. September 2022

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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How Many Monterey AVAs Can I Cover in One Class??

In 2019, I was asked by the Northern Virginia John Marshall Chapter of the American Wine Society to present a class on Monterey wines.  I was informed it would be “more educational” than the short presentation I do for another Washington DC group and it would require a PowerPoint presentation.  Seriously? For something I do as a hobby/volunteer?  I decided to do it – and it was very well received. I leaned heavily on information from the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association website – thank you, Kim Stemler! The AWS chapter invited me back this year – and I was finally able to do the class in October.

This time, preparing the materials was much easier – I already had a basic presentation, which I updated with the latest Monterey County agricultural report and some climatic info, including the 2020 fire season.  My goal this time was to cover as many of Monterey County’s AVAs as I could. I managed to include: Arroyo Seco, Carmel Valley, Monterey, San Antonio Valley, San Bernabe, and Santa Lucia Highlands.  Not bad!

For the most part, my stories were very local and wines selected were based on personal relationships I have developed with vintners and tasting room staff. I also needed to live within the event’s budget, so I leaned on industry discounts and donated wines in order to present some others at their full price. For that, I am grateful especially to Bunter Spring, Chesebro, Idle Hour and Pierce Ranch. Thanks to their generosity, I was able to throw in a couple of “extra” wines to the tasting. And I was excited to be able to discuss some wineries for the first time. I’m also indebted to the Monterey Vintners and Growers Association for providing me with some large maps and the latest tasting room brochure – always a hit!

The event went well, with great appreciation by the attendees.  Some of the wines I presented were teaching points, such as how a sparkling wine producer makes a Chardonnay or making rose from a smoke taint year.   A few attendees said a couple of the wines didn’t taste like the varietal on the label. This was the case with the Pinot Noir and the Merlot.  While I agree with the Pinot Noir statement (and that’s why this non-Pinot lover liked this wine), perhaps the commenters were thinking of a French Merlot vs. a California Merlot. I am not sure. The bottom line is that they enjoyed and appreciated most of the wines. 

Today I am presenting 10 wines from Monterey County.  Many of them have been presented before, but I thought you might find it interesting to see what I put together.  Winery notes come from their website or the tasting room, unless otherwise noted. I encourage you to feel free to comment or “like” this post – engagement is always welcomed!

2017 Tassajara Road Viognier, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13.4% ABV, $18 (#871)

About This Wine: A Chesebro Wines project, named after their winery’s location. Intended as a same quality, more affordable label.

Winery Notes:  Destemmed, crushed, immediately pressed. Stainless steel for 12 months. Intense tropical and citrus aromas are backed up by a smooth mouthfeel; and long crisp finish.

My Review:  The Virginia crowd, well familiar with Virginia Viogniers really enjoyed this wine. Gardenia on the nose.  Some apple and lime twist on the palate, with a touch of orange blossom and honeysuckle on the finish. February 2022

2019 Diora La Splendeur du Soleil Chardonnay, San Bernabe AVA, Monterey, 14.5% ABV, $20 (Wine #652*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This Diora La Splendeur du Soleil Chardonnay is a beautiful, golden hue, with aromas of toasted oak mingle with light spice notes of cinnamon. The delicate flavors of vanilla bean give way to a lovely, soft and light buttery layer. This reminds one of a rich, yet delicate crème brûlée with a soft, round mouthfeel that will pair beautifully with lobster or sautéed scallops. The light acidity and long finish of this wine will also be a great accompaniment to a variety of dishes.” This wine comes mostly from its San Bernabe estate vineyard, where it gets its tropical notes.  The rest comes from its Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, providing more of the citrusy balance. 

Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Excellently presented aromas of butter, nectarine, warm almond and white flower are delicate but expressive on the nose of this bottling. An immediate acidity races through the palate, lifting the toasty and buttery elements while pairing smartly against the ripe citrus and white flower elements.” Matt Kettmann, December 2021

My Review: This was a big hit with the AWS class. I picked this wine based on Wine Enthusiast’s listing of this wine in its Top 100 Chardonnays – Top Under $25. Viscous and golden in the glass.  Tropical nose with melon and a touch of smoke. Grilled peach and pineapple on the palate with toasted caramel on the finish. This was a very interesting, atypical Chardonnay (in my opinion) which everyone enjoyed.  April 2022

2018 Caraccioli Cellars Chardonnay, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.9% ABV, $35 (#578*)

Winery Notes: “Pale straw, light golden hue. Lemon meringue, honey dew melon along with tropical pineapple, kiwi, lychee and guava. A flirty balance of fruit, delicate white jasmine flower and salty sea. Creamy mouthfeel coupled with structural integrated fruit throughout the sip. Fruit notes reminiscent of green apple, pear, pineapple, candied peach and nectarine. Soft florals balanced with a brined mid palate acidity, mouthwatering finish that showcases the bright fruit.” 94 points, Wine Enthusiast.

My Review: I chose this wine, as the Escolle VIneyard, owned by Caraccioli, is a source of grapes for some of the region’s best Chardonnays. This particular vintage presented a bit tart/acidic for the class – a good example of how a sparkling wine producer might make a Chardonnay. Pale in the glass.  Touch of soft pineapple, a little butter and woodiness on the nose “like the Lone Cypress” or a cut shrub.  Clean, nice, some minerality.  December 2021

2020 Chesebro Gamay Rosé, Arroyo Seco AVA, $19 (#872)

About This Wine: First time they have used Gamay for their rosé instead of Grenache (a wildfire by-product!). Harvested at low alcohol solely for making rosé. Grapes pressed like a white. Juice comes out this color.  Stainless steel.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Beautiful light pink in color. Aromatics of rose petals and citrus combined with a light body and crisp acidity – perfect for pairing with food or just sipping on a hot day.”

My Review:  This wine was great as a teaching point of what to do with grapes affected by the fires of 2020. It is unlike the typical Pinot Noir-based rosés from the region.  Pale pink in the glass. Tart grape bubblegum wrapped in sweetness. March 2022

2019 Idle Hour Clone 667 Pinot Noir, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.2% ABV, $40 (Wine #727)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The crispness and brightness of Bing Cherry followed by the earthy aromas of forest floor and the sweet and savory notes of sassafras and cola. This wine is the most Burgundian Pinot Noir I have ever made. It’s light color and silky tannins are testament to the extra year of aging on the sediment that I gave it. The wine finishes with the fine structure on your tongue of wet stones.” Spent 1.5 years on the sediment. Donated to this class (many thanks, Anna Marie dos Remedios!!)

My Review: The AWS audience said this did not taste like Pinot Noir to them, which is probably why I like this wine.  My notes: Dark ruby, almost purple in the glass. Earth, plum and spice on the nose. So not like a typical, cherry California Pinot Noir. Richer on the palate with dark fruit flavors. April 2022

2017 Pierce Ranch Vineyards Maçon, San Antonio Valley AVA, 14.3% ABV, $32 (#656) 53% Petit Verdot, 30% Tempranillo, 17% Graciano 

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Something of an Ibérique Supérieur, our new Maçon brings together Tempranillo, Graciano and Petit Verdot to form a slightly idiosyncratic blend of Spanish and French varieties. Combining a hint of Iberian aromatics with the earthy, mineral palate reminiscent of a Bordeaux, this is a wine that approaches Old World character while also indulging a touch of experimentation. A floral nose balances itself against a darker midpalate and a solid tannic structure, as notes of violets and dried herbs give way to an underlying earthiness and a savory, vaguely smoky finish.” Donated to this class (many thanks, Pierce Ranch!).

My Review:  The AWS group liked this little wine. This is an intriguing combination of French and Spanish grapes. Dark ruby in color with cedar, mocha and rose petals on the nose. Full bodied, with mocha, cherry, berry and black tea flavors on the palate. Our favorite wine on this tasting day in March 2022

2018 Spring Red Wine “Garagitage”, Highlands Vineyard, Monterey County, 14.64% ABV, $24  76% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker’s Original Notes: “These grapes came from a small vineyard in the hills above Arroyo Seco just north of Carmel Valley Road.  They were harvested, very ripe, on Sep 30 2018.  Upon release, in Spring 2021, ss I write, this wine is a rough and tumble California fruit bomb, with tons of grapey flavor, plenty of alcohol, and no manners.  Maybe, someday, it will grow up.  Meantime, have fun!” 15 months in once used French oak barrels.  76 cases produced.

Winemaker’s Updated Notes: “Big ripe fruity red wine, lotsa alcohol, plenty tannin, enough oak.  Screams “CALIFORNIA!” Gotta love it. Why pay more?”

My Review:  The AWS class thought this wine was fabulous, with some asking what it would be like in 5 years (I invited them to my house to see!). This was my favorite wine from a winery tasting in the Fall 2021 and continues to be a household favorite:  Very dark ruby in the glass. Perfume on the nose, followed by a yummy palate of dark fruit.  We keep drinking this wine – what an incredible wine for a bargain price! October 2021

2018 Boëté Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, 14% ABV, $50 (#568)

During one of our visits to the winery over the last couple of years, we got to taste this wine – the first time I know of that they bottled a Merlot as a single varietal – it usually is blended in their popular Cheval Rouge.  They weren’t sure they were going to continue to bottle it alone – we encourage them to do so, *if* supply permits! You can find all their available wines here:  https://www.boetewinery.com/

Winery Notes: “Ruby red in color, aroma notes of dark berries jump out on the nose of this classic medium body Merlot, with black cherries, plum & a hint of cocoa spice on the palate.”

My Review: A couple of people in the AWS class stated this did not taste like a Merlot to them, yet everyone enjoyed it. Purple in the glass. Rich and juicy in the mouth with some solid dark fruits, blackberry and black currant.  Balanced and very smooth on the finish.  This wine is a big hit at my house. October 2021

2018 Spring “Pizza Wine”, Highlands Vineyard, Monterey, 14.96% ABV, $24 (#745) 65% Zinfandel, 35% Syrah

Winemaker’s Notes: “Fruit punchy jammy everyday red. It’s great with red-sauced pasta, too.” 75 cases produced.

My Review:  This was a big hit with the AWS class – and with me – I took all the leftovers home! Very dark in color. Sweet dark fruit on the nose. Jammy dark berries and a touch of alcohol on the palate.  I would like to present it to another class some day. June 2022

2014 Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage, CM Ranch Vineyard, Carmel Valley, $35 (#618*)

Winery Notes: “Grown on our estate in the Upper Carmel Valley’s rocky mountain soils at 1500’ elevation, this Rhone style blend of 80% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre is powerful and rich with aromas of cassis, dark forest berries, scorched earth and spice.  Blockbuster with a long lingering finish.

My Review: Rich ruby in the glass. Pleasant nose of fresh berries.  Palate of berry jam, eucalyptus and chocolate with red currant and anise flavors on the finish.  Super delicious. My very favorite of all the Chesebro wines. January 2022

Where can you taste these wines?  I wrap up my classes by encouraging attendees to come taste our wines for themselves and walk them through the tasting room maps in the latest brochure which I received from Kim Stemler (again, many thanks!). If you want to find these specific wineries, check out their websites for the latest information.  Here’s where I found these wines, some of which may no longer be available:

Carmel-by-the-Sea: Caraccioli Cellars Tasting Room on Dolores between Ocean and 7th.  Diora does not have a local spot to taste, but wine was purchased at Carmel Belle.

Carmel Valley: Boëté (reservation required – by appointment only), Bunter Spring (tasting room closed, but contact the winemaker to taste his wines, Chesebro (including Tassajara Road), Idle Hour (inside the Big Sur Vineyards tasting room).

Monterey:  Pierce Ranch Vineyards in the Cannery Road area of Monterey.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Hahn: Stellar Location for the Monterey AWS WinedUP Friday!

A few months back, they asked me to find a tasting room for their November WinedUP Friday. I suggested Hahn, as there was a desire to get back to Carmel-By-The-Sea.  I have a relationship through my wine education efforts with the staff at Hahn, yet arranging this event took some convincing.  I was able to work this out with Hahn’s Coby Shammas, who has worked with me in the past, helping me identify some Hahn wines for my classes and arranging a tasting for Decanting Monterey last February, which is posted here: https://decantingmonterey.com/hahn-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-decanting-monterey/.

I was recently asked by the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society if I would be willing to serve as an advisor to their board.  I had to feel out what level of commitment this meant – maybe a meeting a month – and to keep doing what I am doing for them.  Which means occasionally using my contacts to find them a venue for their WinedUP Fridays – both an educational and social event. I said ok, and am now officially a Monterey AWS Board Advisor!  It is one small recognition that this blog has some meaning to someone.  If you like what I am writing about, please feel free to comment or “like” this post – engagement is always welcomed! Also always looking for recommendations, although I have yet to run out of material!

OK, back to our event…The Hahn tasting room is a stellar event location.  Nicely decorated with ample indoor and outdoor seating, it easily accommodated our group of about 20 people! The tasting menu that day was perfect, with 2 higher-end Lucienne label wines available for us. Extra hands were on staff to help pour and answer our many questions.  Coby and the other wine presenters did a great job of ensuring we were able to taste all the wines. My final task was to ensure we were all out the door by 6:15 – we made it – with some prodding! I’d call the event a success!

I am presenting 7 Hahn wines today.  Our one common comment on the wines is that Hahn loves its toasty oak.  If you are also a fan, this is the winery for you! Winery vintage and tasting notes come from their website. I encourage you to read more about Hahn here: https://decantingmonterey.com/hahn-inspired-by-the-rhone-blends-of-southern-france/ and on their website.

2017 Hahn Winery Selection Blanc de Noir Brut , Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 11.5% ABV, $50 (#864) 100% Pinot Noir

Vintage Notes: “Our Blanc de Noir, meaning “white of red”, is made of 100% Pinot Noir grapes from our certified sustainable Smith Vineyard. The fruit was harvested by hand in mid-August when sugars were low and acid was beautiful. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures, allowing the wines bright fruit aromas to shine.” 150 cases produced.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of red cherry, raspberry, cantaloupe and toasted brioche, complemented by hints of apricot and orange zest. Flavors of grapefruit, pear, white peach and toasted bread lead into a long and graceful finish.”

My Review:  Very slight color – a touch dusty pink.  Very dry and crisp, with apple flavors. Kind of like a sophisticated, adult sparkling apple cider – an adult Martinelli’s! November 2022

2021 Hahn Estate Grown Pinot Gris, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.1% ABV, $28 (#865)

Vintage Notes: “The winter rainfall was slightly below average, but we were able to compensate with early spring irrigation to fill soil profiles before budbreak. Warm spring temperatures aided vine growth and they were able to reach max canopy height. Summer temperatures heated up and slowed down vine growth as vines transitioned into fruit development. Weather leading into harvest was relatively cool and uneventful, which allowed for gradual ripening of the fruit. It was another remarkable growing season in the Santa Lucia Highlands, resulting in wines with beautiful color, great structure and naturally balanced acidity.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “This elegant wine presents with expressive and complex aromatics of citrus peel, lemon, pineapple and nectarine. Bright flavors of tropical fruit, lemon zest and hints of pear and melon mingle on the mid-palate, rounding out medium-bodied mouthfeel with refreshing acidity and a clean, mineral finish.”

My Review:  Extremely pale in the glass, almost like water. Honeysuckle on the noce and palate.  Pear flavors, with lemon/lime on the finish. November 2022

2018 Hahn Lucienne Lone Oak Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $50 (#866)

Vintage Notes: “Aromas of white melon and ripe citrus are accented with notes of banana and spiced vanilla. Medium-bodied, refined and elegant on the palate, the wine displays flavors of lemon citrus and nectarine, highlighted by vibrant notes of minerality on a medium acidic finish.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of red and black cherries, red currant, and strawberry with notes of violet and rose petals. On the palate, layers of red fruit and fresh berries, rhubarb pie with a touch of warm spices complemented by vanilla notes and integrated oak on a long delicate finish.” 93 points – Vinous

My Review:  Pale golden and viscous in the glass.  Buttered toast on the nose. Crisp, slightly burnt caramel on the palate with lemon curd, coconut, and brioche notes. The oak on this wine is out of balance – all secondary.  If you love a buttery Chardonnay, you will love this wine. November 2022

2019 Hahn Lucienne Smith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.5% ABV, $60 (#867)

Vintage Notes: “Curving along the ridges and valleys of the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Smith Vineyard is Hahn’s highest elevation vineyard, reaching 590 to 1,280 feet above sea level. Originally planted in 1974, Smith is also Hahn’s first estate vineyard, and today its 131 acres are certified sustainable. With rocky well-drained soils and eastern exposures that sit well above the fog line, this is a cool climate site with moderate wind and ample sunshine that contributes to a long growing season.” 1300 cases produced.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Fragrant aromas of black cherry, red plum, black tea and notes of mint and forest floor. On the palate, flavors of red cherry, black currant and a hint of clove are supported by intriguing layered round tannins, lush mouthfeel and balanced acidity.” 93 points -Vinous.

My Review:  Nice transluscent ruby in the glass, swirls purple. Cherry, subtle berry, very drinkable. Tasty and juicy. The Lucienne is a respectable SLH Pinot Noir. Pick one up if you can! November 2022

2018 Hahn Winery Selection Merlot, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.5% ABV, $30 (#868)

Vintage Notes: “The vintage presented us with half the average rainfall, therefore, irrigation was supplemented in January and February so the vines would awaken to a full soil moisture profile. March gave us our last winter storm and by the end of the month, all blocks had signs of bud break. The early Spring weather was cooler than normal, with periods where the marine layer would leave heavy dew on the leaves and flowers. Summer was followed by mellow temperatures, allowing the fruit to mature and slowly develop complex flavors, color, and depth, resulting in wines with balanced tannic structure, round mouthfeel and soft acidity.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of black cherry and plum, with hints of vanilla and cocoa. Flavors of dark berry, sweet spice, and mocha greet the palate with a luscious mouthfeel, balanced acidity and a smooth finish.”

My Review:  Beautiful ruby in the glass.  Black plum and black cherry with a little baking spice on the nose. Black fruit and spices continue on the palate, smooth and tasty. A little thin, perhaps typical for the varietal. Interesting to find a Merlot from Arroyo Seco! November 2022

2018 Hahn Winery Selection Zinfandel, Lodi AVA, 14.5% ABV, $35 (#869)

Vintage Notes: “The fruit for this Winery Selection Zinfandel is sustainably grown by the Mettler family, our growing partner of more than 20 years that has been farming Zinfandel since the late 1800s. Their vines are over 50 years old and certified sustainable under the highly respected Lodi Rules for Sustainable Farming program. In 2018, these vineyards had a mild early growing season which led to full canopies and good separation of the berries during veraison. Temperatures post veraison were slightly above the usual levels but still allowed for the perfect ripening of the fruit, leading to concentrated flavor and color development.”

Winery Notes:  “Aromas of blackberry, boysenberry and plum with delicate notes of raisins and warm spices. Lush and full-bodied on the palate, the wine bursts with flavors of black fruit and berry accompanied by a touch of vanilla and toasty oak on the finish.”

My Review:  Almost purple in the glass. Toasted marshmallow nose. Rich, dark berries wrapped in tobacco and toast, with anise notes on the finish and a touch of mint. November 2022

2019 Smith & Hook Malbec, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $40 (#870)

Vintage Notes: “The 2019 vintage started out with below-average rainfall causing supplemental irrigations to be applied while the vines started to awaken. There were a few heatwaves getting close to 100 degrees, but the vines bounced back from the stress with no issues. The farthest south of Hahn’s four SLH vineyards, the Hook vineyard is the least affected by the cooling influence of winds from Monterey Bay. Warmer temperatures earlier in the afternoon and consistent sun exposure accelerate ripening and yield rich, opulent flavors.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of loganberry and allspice are followed by hints of lavender, violet, and spring blossom. On the palate, notes of dark fruit with a kiss of olive and minerality, finishing with a touch of toasty cedar and espresso with a long, complex finish.”

My Review:  Dark, inky ruby in color. Toasty caramel and dark fruit on the nose.  A rich delicious palate of dark fruit – perhaos my favorite wine of the evening. I took one of these home! November 2022

Visiting Hahn: Hahn Tasting Rooms are located a their estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, as well as in Carmel Plaza.  You can find more information and make a reservation here.

Estate: “Immerse yourself in the Santa Lucia Highlands with a visit to our Estate Tasting room. Choose one of our three tasting options or gear up for some adventure on our ATV Tour. Be sure to include time to relax on the deck to enjoy the spectacular view of Smith Vineyard.” Open Thursday-Monday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 37700 Foothill Road, Soledad, CA 93960.

Carmel Plaza: “Come visit us in Carmel-by-the-Sea! Our Hahn Family Wines Tasting Room is located in beautiful Carmel Plaza, a popular wine and shopping destination located blocks away from Carmel Beach and the World Famous Pebble Beach Golf Course.” Open daily, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Carmel Plaza, Ocean Avenue and Mission Street on the Ground Floor.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Talbott: High End Burgundian Wines Right Here in Carmel-By-The-Sea!

Another dog grooming day = another Carmel-By-The-Sea wine tasting.  I finally got to experience the “new” Talbott tasting room!  This visit was long overdue, as I had not tasted Talbott wine since their original tasting room location on Carmel Valley Road.  We used to go to Carmel Valley where we could taste Durney wines at Heller and then Talbott wines in the same building!  So long ago…

I was impressed by the spaciousness and the beauty of both the indoor and outdoor spaces of the Talbott tasting room. Outdoor was rustic, yet very nice and large enough for a crowd.  Indoors, I felt I was at a fancy private event. I could see a special occasion event here. 

I was warmly welcomed by Marcus Allen who stuck with me through my entire industry tasting.  He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly.  We shared Monterey wine facts back and forth. 

Talbott is one of the “original” Monterey County wine pioneers. Robert Talbott and his wife Audrey established a luxury men’s tie business in Carmel in the 1950’s and began to dream about making high quality Burgundian wines. In the 1960’s, they purchased a 75-acre cattle ranch in Carmel Valley. In 1982, they planted the Diamond T. Vineyard in Carmel Valley. And in 1983, they built their first winery in the Cachagua area of Carmel Valley.  In 1989, Talbott purchased a 125-acre ranch in Santa Lucia Highlands on River Road, site of current winery facility and River Road vineyards (28,000 sq. ft. winery building, 110 acres Chardonnay vines). At that point, Talbott sold its Carmel Valley winery to Ben Pon of Bernardus Winery.  Talbott is only one of a handful of wineries that even had a tasting room in Monterey County in the 1990’s.

About Talbott: “The renowned Talbott Vineyards crafts estate-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir inspired by the traditions of Burgundy. With two estate vineyards located in Monterey County, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard and Diamond T Vineyard, Talbott offers a portfolio of exceptional wines to enjoy.

“For more than three decades, Talbott Vineyards wines have consistently garnered praise from wine critics and enthusiasts alike, including receiving a rare 100-point score in a Wine Spectator retrospective tasting for our 1990 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay…”

About Sleepy Hollow Vineyard: “Our famed Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, located in the Santa Lucia Highlands, was designated one of California’s Grand Cru vineyards by Wine Enthusiast in 2016 for its ability to produce exceptional wines year after year, even under challenging conditions. With rolling hills and mountains, lush green land and bright blue skies, this vineyard has remarkable beauty. First planted in 1972, the vineyard is comprised of 565 planted acres divided into three vineyard parcels, Sleepy Hollow North, Sleepy Hollow West and Sleepy Hollow South. Each grows exclusively Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.”

About Diamond T Vineyard: “In 1982, Robert Talbott hand planted Diamond T Vineyard in Carmel Valley. First planted with the Corton-Charlemagne Chardonnay clone, this 14-acre, tightly spaced vineyard grows on a 1,200-foot mountaintop. This vineyard is virtually soil free and contains chalky shale that allows for excellent root penetration with reduced yields. Due to the challenging growing conditions here, Diamond T Vineyard is a testimony to our founder’s determination to make the finest possible wines…” It falls in the Monterey AVA. 

Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2017 Talbott Diamond T Chardonnay, Monterey AVA,   14.4% ABV, $60 (#857)

Winery Notes: “Talbott Diamond T Chardonnay is made with a selection of the finest estate grapes from Diamond T Vineyard. Old world impeccable structure meets new world vibrancy in our Chardonnay. Toasty aromas of crème brûlée lead into notes of lush tropical fruit and Meyer lemon. A bright minerality reflective of the Diamond T Vineyard terroir stays on the palette in a lingering, creamy finish. Our well-balanced, cool climate Chardonnay puts a modern, refreshing twist on a classic. The 2017 vintage in Monterey County experienced significant rainfall. Summer heat quickened harvest, which finished in early fall. Diamond T Vineyard had slightly lower than average yields, producing exceptional quality Chardonnay fruit. Our traditional warm, breezy days and cool nights resulted in a long, even season for ripening. Overall, the vintage for this year was outstanding with concentrated flavors, ripe tannins and refreshing acidity.”

Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Aromas of plump white peach, seared lemon and schmaltz make for a savory entry to the nose of this bottling from a vineyard above the Carmel Valley. There is a comforting richness to the sip, yet it’s cut by strong acidity, lemon zest and an engaging texture.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020

My Review:   Rich, golden color. Pineapple dominant on the tropical nose. Super big, tropical palate of grilled pineapple with a citrus twist with minerality on the finish.  Very complex. September 2022

2018 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Block 50 South Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.4% ABV, $60 (#858)

Winery Notes: “Sourced from the southernmost part of our Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, our Block 50 Chardonnay begins to beguile the senses immediately with aromatics that leap from the glass. Hailing from the top section of vineyard, this wine has a graceful aroma of white flowers, hints of brioche and Anjou pear. On the palate, a soft and opulent mouthfeel gives way to lively acidity with notes of lychee, Red Delicious apples and hints of vanilla. Block 50 is planted with many clones of Chardonnay—three of them have been blended together to bring dramatic layers to our Block 50 Chardonnay. We use our Mt. Eden clone for density and mouthfeel, Dijon clone 95 for fruit intensity, and just a dash of our Musque clone for intense aromatics and floral characters. Enjoy with scallops, sole and lighter fare, as well as your favorite soft cheese.” 40% new French oak, aged for 16 months. 93 points – James Suckling.

My Review: Gold with orange hues and viscous in the glass. Caramel on the nose.  Really nice “California Chardonnay” flavors – buttery with caramel notes. September 2022

2019 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Block 48 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.9% ABV, $75 (#859)

Winery Notes: “Our 2019 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Block 48 South Pinot Noir is a highly focused wine made with a single clone from a single place – clone 113 from a small block of Sleepy Hollow. Classically styled, our Pinot Noir offers a multi-faceted complexity that Sleepy Hollow famously delivers. Jewel tones of ruby and garnet with a light halo show in the glass, while aromas of ripe red fruit, black tea and earthy spice greet the nose. Notes of Bing and black cherry meld with raspberry, underscored by warm, toasted oak and rich butterscotch. The mouthfeel is opulent and round, leading to a polished finish with a kiss of sweetness.”

Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Aromas of stewed cherry, mace and dried ginger make for a very inviting and bold nose in this block-designated bottling from the historic vineyard. Flavors of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon take center stage on the palate, where the tart red-cherry core holds down the fort.”

My Review: A touch cloudy yet translucent dark ruby in color. Cinnamon and floral notes on the nose. Quite a tasty palate – not quite cherry, but perhaps red currant, cranberry, and floral, with a touch of smooth tobacco on the finish. September 2022

2018 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Block 22 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $75 (#860)

Winery Tasting Sheet: “A symphony of clones 113, 115 and 667 come together to create spectacular balance and concentration in our 2018 Block 22 West Pinot Noir. These clones grow on 8-year-old vines located in an ideal parcel in the center of a slope in Sleepy Hollow Vineyards. Situated in the shadow of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Sleepy Hollow offers the vines a rare combination of protection from the elements and cool climate from the nearby Pacific. Like clockwork, marine breezes roll up to the vineyard around 1 pm, thickening the Pinot Noir skins and producing the deep, saturated color of the wine. Layers of wild blueberry and blackberry deliver an uncommonly rich, powerful mouthfeel straight through to the finish. With only 6,600 bottles produced, Block 22 West truly is an exclusive, special wine.”  94 points – James Suckling.

My Review:  A fruitier nose with dark cherry aromas. A bigger palate – more intense fruit – red and black currant, and a richer finish.  This is more of a “Sharon” wine. September 2022

2018 Talbott Diamond T Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.6% ABV, $75 (#861)

Winery Tasting Sheet: “The 2018 Diamond T Pinot Noir is a luxurious wine crafted exclusively from the five acres of Pinot Noir in the Diamond T Vineyard, which is famous for producing low yields of pristine fruit. This Diamond T shows deep ruby hues in the glass before opening to reveal aromas of crushed dark berries and ripe fruits. An abundance of silky, ripe tannins delivers a refreshing, mouthwatering palate with layers of ripe Bing cherry, raspberry and blackberries wrapped in ribbons of rich cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla. With a big flavor presence and round mouthfeel, Winemaker David Coventry calls Diamond T “one for the record books…a delicious Pinot Noir.” Only 750 cases were made.” 

My Review:  Beautiful ruby in the glass. Much more red fruit (red plum and berries) on the nose than the other Pinot Noirs. Very, very different palate, as well. Refreshing, yet intense at the same time.  Very nice fruit with soft tannins. Very drinkable. If I were blind tasting this wine, I might not peg it as a Pinot Noir. September 2022

Talbott’s Tasting Room: “We are now offering two tasting flight options daily: our Estate Flight and our Signature Flight. You will have the option to select the flight when you arrive at the tasting room, not at the time of booking. For more information about tasting experiences or assistance booking your reservation, please call 831-659-3500.”  Reservations are required.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Wrath Releases Its 2018 Syrahs!

Wrath’s San Saba Vineyard

We check in often at Wrath’s tasting room in Carmel Plaza to see if there is a new Syrah or a new Pinot Noir special clone wine to taste.  On a pleasant August afternoon, we finally got lucky!

I’ve experienced their EX line before – years ago I caught their Sauvignon Blanc on sale and used it in one of my wine classes.  Now they are also making a more affordable Syrah as well! Oh, make me happy!  For years, their San Saba Syrah has been a go-to favorite.  Now they also make a Syrah from KW Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  So hard to choose!!

About Wrath: “Wrath produces site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from our estate vineyard and respected properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Our production is small, our distribution is limited and our wines reveal attitude, passion, and an inherent respect for what a vineyard can give us.”

About Today’s Vineyards: I encourage you to visit this vineyard link to read more about their own vineyard and the other vineyards they use. Today I’ve included a snippet on San Saba and on KW Ranch.

San Saba: “Our Estate San Saba Vineyard is sheltered in a nook just below the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, roughly 25 miles southeast of the town of Monterey. Our climate is heavily influenced by the morning fog and afternoon winds from the nearby Pacific Ocean. This is a cool site with little rainfall and one of the longest growing seasons in the world. Our unusual climate allows us to produce ripe, concentrated wines of exceptional balance…”

KW Ranch: “KW Ranch is located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands, southeast of McIntyre Vineyard and just northwest of Gary’s Vineyard. Planted to both Pinot Noir and Syrah in 2000 by Kirk Williams, the site features a well-exposed, gently-rolling hillside with gravely loam soils. Wines from KW Ranch tend to be intense and highly aromatic.”

Winery notes come from their website here. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2019 Wrath EX Syrah, Monterey AVA, 14.4% ABV, $27 (#853)

Winery Notes: “This wine shows the savory side of our estate-grown, cool-climate syrah clusters. Black peppercorn, rosemary, cola and blueberry aromas show on the nose, while the palate has more of the same along with cracked pepper, ripe olallieberry and dried meaty flavors.  It is a slightly younger, less oaky version of its bigger brother, San Saba Vineyard Syrah.” 10 months in French oak, 20% new. 208 cases produced.

My Review:   Beautiful dark ruby in the glass. Dark berries and spice on the nose. Smooth dark fruit on the palate.  The finish has notes of cooked fruit, as though the grapes were left to hang a bit too long. This new release is very drinkable now.  It’s a fine everyday wine. August 2022

2018 Wrath Destruction Level, Monterey AVA,  13.1% ABV, $39 (#854) 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache

Winery Notes: “In antiquity, the wrath of a victorious army often left cities burnt to the ground.  Thousands of years later, these events show up as dark carbon-filled strata, or destruction levels, in the archaeological record.  The subtle smoky quality that permeates Wrath Destruction Level Rhone Blend is an ode to the smoke-filled smell of victory that greeted the victorious armies of the ancient world.  This red Rhone blend is composed of Syrah and Grenache from colder sites in Monterey County.  Inky and intense, this blend is upfront with mulled dark fruit, soy and earthy undertones. The palate is generous and seamless with mulberry, cola and a long lively finish.” 10 months in French oak, 40% new. 160 cases produced. 93 points – Vinous.

My Review: Some spice on the nose with light berry flavors. I’ve enjoyed this wine over the vintages and this is no exception. We first tasted this vintage last May, when our daughter and her friend picked up a bottle after doing a tasting in Carmel. August 2022

2018 Wrath San Saba Vineyard Syrah, Monterey AVA,   14.5% ABV, $39 (#855)

Winery Notes: “While the impenetrable color would suggest a wine of epic power, this Syrah is surprisingly elegant and graceful. The aromatics include blackberry, leather, graphite and peppercorns. The palate is rich, concentrated and structured thanks to the firm natural acidity and seamless tannins. As with its predecessors, the 2018 San Saba Syrah is a reflection of the minerally soils, strong afternoon winds and cool ambient temperatures of our estate vineyard.”  285 cases produced.  93 points – Vinous.

My Review:   Dark ruby in the glass. Strong coffee or olive on the nose. Palate is tasty with lots of jammy fruit. We took some home to see how it shows up over time. August 2022

2018 Wrath KW Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, 14.6% ABV, $49 (#856)

Winery Notes: “In keeping with our focus on sustainability, grapes are hand harvested and brought to our winery (only six miles down the road) for hand sorting.  All our single vineyard Syrahs use the small whole cluster fermentation and oak regimen.  This helps highlight the individual personality of each vineyard.  The 2018 KW Ranch Syrah is wildly aromatic with flashes of black pepper, smoked meat, blackberries, leather and cassis.  The palate is thick, powerful and succulently juicy.  Even though the tannins are bold, the wine is still nimble, elegant and approachable.” 131 cases produced.92 points – Vinous.

My Review:  Inky, almost purple in the glass. Slight nose of dark berries.  Rich mouthful of intense berries and spearmint. Very smooth – our favorite wine of the day! August 2022

You can buy these wines directly from Wrath via their website or tasting rooms. 

Visit Wrath! 

One of the very special ways to taste Wrath wines is at its Winery Tasting Room, way down River Road.  It is an experience! And you can bring your picnic lunch, which is a smart idea, since there aren’t any cafes out there.  “Located at 35801 Foothill Road (at the junction of River Road) in Soledad, CA, 5 minutes west of Hwy 101.   Open Fri-Mon from 11-5pm, closed Tue-Wed-Thurs.    Direct: 831.678.2992”  

The easier way (and still very special with indoor and outdoor seating) is at its Carmel Tasting Room: “Located in Carmel Plaza, downtown Carmel at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Mission St., ground floor. Open Fri and Sat from 11-6pm.  Open Sun through Thur from 11-5pm   831.620.1909”

Both the winery tasting room in Soledad and the Carmel Plaza tasting room are open for outdoor and limited indoor tastings!  Check out this link for more details: https://www.wrathwines.com/Visit.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Impressive Corral Lineup for the Monterey AWS WinedUP Friday!

 Back in May, I received a call from Phil Arnold, the Vice Chair of the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society. He expressed I could be helpful to their WinedUP Friday wine tasting events because I know so much about our local wineries. The first one I organized was at Parsonage, which I wrote about here: .  The next one was at Corral, which I negotiated for 1 September, the Friday of Labor Day Weekend! I previously wrote about Corral here: https://decantingmonterey.com/come-say-hello-at-corral-wines-new-tasting-room/.

From the Corral Wine Co website: “Corral Wine Company is a production of Bell Family Vineyards. In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, we barreled our first batch of estate Pinot Noir. We’re still in that same barn, but we’ve made even more varietals from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast. We’re a family-owned operations – we’re not fancy, but we make good wine.”

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Corral Wine Tasting Room, which only opened in January 2022, has a very cool and relaxing vibe. Jessica Gatton, their awesome tasting room manager, and I were expecting quite a crowd and I wanted the members to be able to taste all the wines.  We weren’t really sure how it would go, as people arrived at different times, so no one was on the same wine at the same time.  And it was Jessica’s birthday – she had plans immediately after the event. On the verge of chaos, Corral reinforcements arrived, including their co-owners Skip and Dani Wilcox and co-owner/winemaker, Adrien Valenzuela.  The Corral staff all chipped in to pour the wines and the AWS group was very happy. The wine was greatly enjoyed and many purchases wrapped up the evening. Thank you, Jessica, Adrien, Skip, and Dani, for all your hard work, making this an exceptional event! 

As soon as Jacqueline Van Nes, Chair of the Monterey Chapter of the AWS, realized we had the winemaker in the house, she inquired if he would speak to us. Adrien readily agreed! We were thrilled that he was willing to address our group – an unplanned and very welcomed action. 

Corral Winemaker Adrien Valenzuela with Monterey AWS Chapter Chair Jacqueline Van Nes

Adrien shared with us his wine background and training.  A local from Salinas, he said he had left the area and had not planned to come back. He is written up as one of four up-and-coming winemakers in this September 5, 2019 Monterey Weekly article: Four young Monterey County winemakers talk about launching new labels in a time of uncertainty. Here is a quote from the article: “The career paths taken by Monterey County’s winemakers are not always predictable. Adrien Valenzuela studied biology and expected a career in nursing to follow – that is, until he did an internship at Estancia. He is now a winemaker for Constellation Brands in Gonzales, which owns almost 30 different labels, including Estancia and Robert Mondavi.” And now with Corral Wine Co.

He also shared the Corral story and trajectory. Their first vintage was in 2018, with a mere 500 cases, with fruit sourced from Monterey, Paso Robles, and Gilroy.  This past year, that number reached 1400 cases and now they are expecting 2600!  Nice!  While some of what they produce comes from Bell Ranch in the Carmel Valley, they have been fortunate to obtain fruit from some notable Monterey County vineyards (Zabala in Arroyo Seco, KW Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and Massa in Carmel Valley). And they are expanding their acquisition of fruit from specific areas of Paso Robles, as well as from the Enz Vineyard in San Benito County. 

Phil Arnold got up to say a few words about the Monterey Chapter of AWS, a young chapter that started in January 2020, right before the pandemic. It is a great group of people interested in learning more about wine.  In addition to the first Friday WinedUP events, they host an annual BBQ, wine judging and other events. If you are interested, you can join them by becoming a member of the national AWS here:  https://americanwinesociety.org/.  The AWS is “America’s largest community of wine explorers”! Then you can join the Monterey Chapter. Membership is quite affordable and they are a non-pretentious and friendly social group. 

Today, I am presenting 8 Corral wines from the AWS tasting event, 2 of which have been presented here before, with expanded tasting notes. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. You can read more details about some of these wines on their webpage here. 

2019 Corral Zabala Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, $28 (#604)

Winery Notes: “Bright, vibrant aromas of tropical fruit, such as guava and grapefruit dominate along with some fresh cut hay, lemon blossom, wet stone and racing acidity.”

My Review:  Very light, pretty in the glass. Grapefruit, guava and grilled pineapple on the nose. Yummy palate of lychee, mango, papaya, sweet grapefruit and hay, with some minerality on the finish. Love Zabala VIneyard and find this to be a very attractive and sophisticated wine.  I’d like to feature this wine in a future class! March/September 2022

2020 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Monterey AVA, $26 (#605)

Winery Notes: “Bright and fresh aromas of strawberry and orange blossom, with nice, bright acidity.”

My Review: Dusty rose (“ballet slipper pink”) in color.  Sweet bouquet of white peach, with a light palate of white peach and honey and a touch of smoke on the finish.  This is a 2020 rose (fire year), afterall. A classic pool wine. Only red wine they made from 2020. March/September 2022

2021 Corral “Pancho’s Chard” Chardonnay, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 13.1% ABV, $36 (#839)

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Winery Notes: “Crisp & refreshing acidity, with aromas of citrus and honeysuckle.”

My Review:   Light in color, with the scent of “Melon de Bourgogne” and lemon on the nose. A bit of a wine spritzer look and taste in the glass. Fairly lemony palate – “like a lemon bar! This is such a new release that they don’t even have the labels yet! September 2022

2019 Corral Pinot Noir,  Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $52 (#840)

Winery Notes: “Composed of two different clones from two vineyards in the heart of The Santa Lucia Highlands, this Pinot Noir shows off a lighter body, bright, red fruit and earthiness.” From the Highlands Ranch & KW Ranch Vineyards.

My Review: Transparent dark ruby in the glass.  Perfume on the nose.  Palate laden with alcohol.  This wine seems young and not ready for release – might need to open up more or settle down. September 2022

2019 Corral KW Ranch Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, $58 (#841)

Winery Notes: “Rich flavors of cherry, plum, and nutmeg. Elegant and lasting finish.”

My Review: Inky ruby in the glass.  Smells like dark fruit, almost raisiny.  Very bold on the palate – big and smooth.  I’m not a Pinot Noir lover, but I truly like this wine! As with the 2018, I would not have guessed this was a Pinot Noir if I were doing a blind tasting.  This is one of my favorite wines from today’s tasting. We thought we had this wine at home, but it was the previous vintage, so I will have to rectify that! September 2022

2019 Corral Enz Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel, Lime Kiln Valley AVA, San Benito County, 14.8% ABV, $48 (#842)

Winery Notes:  “Light-medium body, old vine Zinfandel. Red fruit and spices.”

My Review: Beautiful dark ruby in the glass.  Nose of dark fruits, pepper and violets.  Very jammy, mocha (cocoa powder), with some licorice on the finish. I’m a long-time Zinfandel fan and took one home! On a previous visit, Larry Bell played mystery wine with this wine with me – while I suspected Zinfandel, I didn’t think he was making one.  And he did – and it is good! September2022

2019 Corral “See What You Can Do” Red Blend, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $62 (#843)

Winery Notes: “50/50 Cabernet & Syrah blend with notes of cranberry, pine needles, and all spice.” 50% Cabernet from Massa Estate, Cachagua (Carmel Valley AVA); 50% Syrah from Zabala Vineyard (Arroyo Seco AVA) 75 cases produced.

My Review:  Inky in the glass.  Mocha, plum, dark berries and vanilla on the nose.  Palate of sharp berries and spearmint with vanilla and anise on the finish.  This wine is very young for all this big fruit from some of the best vineyards in our area. Recommend cellaring for a year or more – if you can resist!  One of our favorite Corral wines. September 2022

22019 Corral Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, 14.5% ABV, $52 (#844)

Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit: blackberries, blueberries tobacco, black pepper, and toasted baking spices. Rich in flavor, full bodied with a long finish.”

My Review:  Beautiful dark ruby in the glass.  Smoke and alcohol on the nose – not a ton of fruit.  Palate is smooth and rich with dark berry flavors and yummy.  This is my favorite, current Corral wine – we keep buying more because we keep opening it at home! September 2022

We’d love to pour for you at our Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village: 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite C, Carmel Valley, CA!  Hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm; Friday and Saturday: 12:00 – 6:00ish pm; and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. They have two tastings:  The Cellar Rats (referring to Larry and Skip) ($20 for 4 wines) and The Maker (referring to their winemaker, Adrien) ($25 for 6 wines). 

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Trendy Test Tubes Deliver Wines at Big Sur Vineyards!

The Decanting Monterey Wine Pod, having picked up the wrong wines, had to make an emergency trip to the valley.  Switch made, we decided to do a little tasting before heading home.  At Big Sur Vineyards’ tasting room, we could taste their wines, as well as Idle Hour’s wines.  It was a no brainer.  Today’s post is about Big Sur Vineyards.

We have tasted their wines over the years, with owner Lenora Carey present almost every time we dropped in.  I was in the tasting room shortly after the Soberanes fire, which destroyed her home and vineyards. Yet, there she was in the tasting room.  I recall talking to Lenora about her COVID plans to use test tubes for the wine tastes, an approach that continues to be popular to this day.  We enjoyed the approach, allowing us to taste the wines at our own pace. She wasn’t in the tasting room when we arrived; she had a graduation event for her son.  But, never fear, she showed up about halfway through our visit, personable and engaged, as always.  Her fortitude is impressive.

Ondine was helping out that day for both of our tastings.  Thinking back to earlier vintages, I was surprised that almost all of the wines were from Arroyo Seco (one of my preferred sources in Monterey County).  Ondine reminded me that, because the Big Sur Vineyards were damaged in the Soberanes fire, Lenora is sourcing grapes from elsewhere in Monterey County.

About Big Sur Vineyards: “Big Sur Vineyards is an award-winning winery with several San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition medals. Our first vintage was 2013 and we picked Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah from neighboring vineyards, and called this wine Big Sur Red. It embodies all the things we love and value about Big Sur. This wine is bold, with big flavors and a touch of mystery.

“Big Sur Vineyards is a family wine business evolving with each vintage. We invite you to come try our wines at our Carmel Valley tasting room in the sun-drenched Carmel Valley village, just 15 minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea. Enjoy our wines while taking in the view of the Santa Lucia mountain range from our sunny patio.”

I am presenting the 6 wines we tasted that day.  The winery notes come from their website. Check out their bottle labels, depicting local scenes such as the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur.  Gotta love it. 

2019 Big Sur Vineyards  Grenache Blanc, Arroyo Seco, 13.8% ABV, $38 (#761)

Winery Notes: “The single varietal limited release 100% Grenache Blanc was aged in neutral French oak to allow rich details while preserving fruit purity and freshness. Exceptional energy and brightness lead the way with a lingering sensation of richness. The nose is captivating with orange blossoms, mineral tones and sea foam leading to a medium bodied palate of tangerine, peach, sour apple and tropical fruits that feel racy and vibrant in the mouth along with steely precision and a tangy dry crispness.”

My Review: Light in color. Ripe pear on the nose. Crisp, light and a touch sweet on the palate with cream soda, apricot, melon and pear flavors.  A touch of sweet lemon curd on the finish.  I really liked this wine. June 2022

2019 Big Sur Vineyards  Big Sur White, Arroyo Seco, 12.5% ABV, $36 (#762)

Winery Notes: “This year’s Big Sur White – a Rhone blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier – is youthfully fresh with a delicious, vivacious personality which shows delicate floral notes, crushed rocks and saltiness with a mix of citrus and stone fruits. It’s tangy on the palate that fills out with a touch of barrel aged richness. Enjoy this wine with Lebanese 7 spice lamb, broiled lobster, garlic chicken, medium-hard nutty cheeses such as emmenthaler, comté and gruyére. This wine love spicy foods! The result is a bright, but smooth white wine with tangerine, lime blossoms, almond oil, light herbs, melon flesh and a hint of butterscotch.”

My Review:  Viscous in the glass. Pear on the nose, with a complex palate of crushed rocks, citrus, and a hint of apricot. Marine salt on the finish. Not sweet. June 2022

2018 Big Sur Vineyards Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco, 13.8% ABV, $36 (#763)           

Winery Notes: “One of our best sellers and one of our signature wines, our Chardonnay is a classic Monterey style with a hint of tropical fruit and a light creamy mouthfeel. On the palate it shows apple, pear, white peach and lemon. This vintage has a nice array of ripe flavors and fresh acidity which makes it perfect with the local catch of the day as well as poultry dishes and Brie chesses. This clear and lightly golden Chardonnay gets fuller and more complex with air in the glass, and adds a hint of hazelnut, clove and citrus notes.”

My Review:  Viscous body. A touch of barnyard on the nose.  The palate is balanced, flavorful with rich flavors of citrus and oak. A very pleasant wine. June 2022

2018 Big Sur Vineyards  Reserve Pinot Noir, Tondré Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands, 14.5% ABV, $48 (#764)

Winery Notes: “The 2018 vintage or our Pinot Noir Reserve, hand-crafted by winemaker Mark Bunter is made from grapes sourced at the Tondré Grapefield in the Santa Lucia Highlands. This central California location is considered by many to be one of the preeminent producers of Pinot Noir in California.

“Our Pinot is bursting with aromas and flavors; ripe raspberry, cherry, crushed green leaves, dried orange peel with a hint of caramel and pomegranate. On the palate you discover the earthy attributes of the Pommard clone with its silky texture of black cherry, strong sweet tea with lemon and cassis. The wine is rich and elegant leaving you with a lasting impression of spice and fruit on the finish. Pair with duck breast with juniper berry sauce, grilled chicken and mushrooms and assorted creamy and semi soft cheeses.” 60 cases produced.

My Review:  Garnet in the glass. Black tea on the palate. This is a tasty wine. June 2022

2018 Big Sur Vineyards Grenache Noir, Arroyo Seco, 14.2% ABV, $38 (#765)

Winery Notes: “The 2018 Grenache Noir usually makes up the dominant percentage in our signature Big Sur Red Rhone Style blend, and we are thrilled with the profound delicacy and soulful character it shows. The wine has an unbearable lightness of being with a head turning burst of fresh strawberries, rose petals and faint spiciness that is sublime. It drinks as graceful as a Pinot Noir and has wonderful sense of elegance gaining pomegranate, wild plum and fresh picked briar laced raspberry as well as subtle mineral tones, earth, faint pepper, fennel and sage. This lighter style Grenache Noir shows a fresh detail, clarity and purity of form in a balanced medium bodied wine that delivers on its potential and promise from its seductive nose to its lingering tangy finish.”

My Review:  Ruby in the glass.  Spicy pepper and plum on the nose.  Cherry and smoke on the palate, reminiscent of a cherry Jolly Rancher on the finish. June 2022

2018 Big Sur Vineyards Syrah, Arroyo Seco, 13.8% ABV, $38 (#766)

Winery Notes: “Syrah is a big-bodied, dry red wine that tends to shine its brightest on the opening palate. Not only is Syrah flavor-packed, but it’s also one of the darkest colored inky wines you can find. Our 2018 Syrah has aromas of cherry, lavender, black pepper, and cassis wrapped in warm overtones of vanilla. The palate reveals red and black bramble fruit—currants, blackberries, raspberries. Tight grained tannins give way to a long, lingering finish of black pepper and a savory gaminess. Pairs beautifully with dry-rubbed brisket or well seasoned pork, any pizza with meat on it, grilled veggies and garlic mashed potatoes.”

My Review:  A pretty, rich ruby in the glass.  Menthol and dark fruit on the nose.  Vanilla, plum and berries on the palate, not quite matching the powerful nose. June 2022

Want to buy or taste their wines?  We were able to walk in for a tasting – but check out their website above to taste or buy their wines.  Their tasting room is at 1 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley, with both indoor and outdoor tasting options:

“The Redwood Bar: Serving 6 tastes daily from Rosé to White to luscious Reds. You can also sip on a glass of your favorite and learn what makes Big Sur Vineyards so unique from our owner Lenora or our friendly staff!

“The panorama patio: No fog here! Come enjoy the sunshine in Carmel Valley while looking across at the Santa Lucia range. Share a bottle with friends and take in some rays! Sip a glass and stay a while!”

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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