Tagged: Windy Oaks

East End “Members for the Day” – A Crazy Good Idea!

THE STORY

The tasting rooms in the Carmel Valley Village “East End” (the old White Oaks shopping center) decided to share “Members for the Day” – a member at one winery could taste at all the tasting rooms! With our Tasting Passport in hand, we could taste at Parsonage, Corral Wine Co., Chesebro, Windy Oaks, Austin Harlow, and I. Brand & Family! How cool was that!

ABOUT THE EAST END “MEMBERS FOR THE DAY”

Each winery sent an invitation to its members, inviting 2 members plus 2 friends to spend a Sunday afternoon visiting the 6 wineries.  Each prepared a limited menu from which attendees could pick a couple of wines to try.  Or that was the idea, anyway. From the members’ perspective, this was a great way to try wineries we had never been to, bring a friend or two, and meet new people. 

From the tasting room staff perspective, this was a bit of crowd-management chaos, in a fun way. Lots of people signed up and the fine print of only picking a couple of wines at each one was totally lost on the members. Some wineries told us verbally, others printed it on the menu, and yet another simply opened 2 wines as the only ones available that day – smart.

Members who were used to tasting the whole menu showed no restraint. 😊 At one winery, the event overlapped with their spring release, creating added confusion to who was “allowed” to try what! We could see in the eyes of the tasting room staff that some were doing the best they could with as much enthusiasm they could muster, while others looked simply shell-shocked. We members, on the other hand, had a wonderful time. At some wineries, the sales were flowing, so the idea worked for them.

In hindsight, some said that *if* they were ever to do this again, they would limit the invitation to 2 members (no extra friends), make it clearer that people could only pick 2 wines (or only serve 2). Good ideas. I would add: make this an annual event and try not to overlap your releases so there is a single menu. (I know, easier said than done and I am guilty of showing up to do both at once). 

If you attended this event, I would love for you to leave a comment today on your experience at East End “Members for the Day”!!

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 10wines I have not presented before from 5 of the East End “Members for the Day” – Austin Harlow, I. Brand & Family, Chesebro, Windy Oaks and Parsonage.  We also tasted the wines at Corral Wine Co. – you can find my previous reviews of those wines Corral Wine Co.: A Beautiful Portfolio of Tasty Wines! and Corral: Newly Released Pinot Noirs Available Now! Winery notes come from the event tasting sheet or their website. You can read more about each winery on its respective website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2021 Mid Life Crisis Chardonnay, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV , $21 (#1303)

My Review: Pale gold in color and viscous in the glass. Butter on the nose. We found this Chardonnay to be pretty tasty with a buttery and light grapefruit finish. April 2024

2021 Austin Harlow Sharon’s Chardonnay, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $36 (#1304)

My Review: Faint peach on the nose. A nice palate with a grapefruit twist on the end. April 2024

2023 Paysan Rosé, Central Coast AVA, 12.5% ABV, $19 (#1305) 78% Mourvèdre, 11% Cinsault, 11% Grenache.

Winery Notes: “Even though it wasn’t a warm vintage, our 2023 rosé shows more warm climate character, not unlike Spanish rosés, than in past years. The long hang time and ample canopies brought full phenological ripeness for a red wine at rosé sugars and acids. The resultant flavors are more cherry and plum than underripe strawberry and watermelon but in the same refreshing composition as usual.”

My Review: Pale pink in the glass. Light in flavor. Very refreshing. I would drink this in the micro-climate! April 2024

2023 Paysan Sauvignon Blanc, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.5% ABV, $24 (#1306)

Winery Notes: “I feel like this last year people finally ‘got’ the Zabala Sauvignon Blanc. It’s not a gooseberry and cat pee SB like we were taught to like from New Zealand (and which has become, in the vein of buttery Chardonnay, a parody of itself) nor the laser thin acid bomb of Sancerre. The Musqué clone it’s based on gives a distinctly melon driven presentation, underscored by river rocks and crushed seashells. It also retains less acidity than other SB clones, which is essential in Arroyo Seco because the winds and cold nights make everything acidic. Our Zabala Sauvignon Blanc is an exceedingly pleasant wine, joyful, friendly, consistent. It’s the white wine you always want in the fridge for when you need a splash.”

My Review: Pale in the glass. Melon, peach and light pineapple on the nose.  The palate is refreshing and light with a lingering finish. April 2024

2023 La Marea Verdelho, Pierce Ranch, San Antonio Valley AVA, Monterey County, 11.8% ABV, $19 (#1307)

Winery Notes: “I set a goal of exploring more white wines in 2023. We picked up some pretty esoteric stuff, including two grapes off Pierce Ranch. The second will come in the summer, but the first is this delightful Verdelho. Verdelho is a Portuguese grape grown predominantly on the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores. It creates a bright, almost spicy wine redolent of citrus and orchard fruit. This is an exceedingly pleasant quaff. We only made 50 cases of this wine, so don’t pass on it or you’ll miss it!”

My Review: Very pale in color and lacking aromatics.  Light on the palate with some ginger on the finish. We thought this would pair well with food and took one home. April 2024

2023 La Marea Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13% ABV, $25 (#1308)

Winery Notes: “After several short vintages, it’s lovely to finally have a decent crop off Kristy’s. The 2023 vintage was characterized by a comparatively late harvest. Across the 2023s, sugars were late to accumulate and acids remained stubbornly high as phenolics developed in the moderate temperatures. High potassium levels in the juice resulted in higher than usual finished pHs with good titratable acidities (a measure of the total acid content in the wine) meaning that the 2023 whites are deeply flavored, supple and open while remaining focused. Our 2023 Albariño has been showing great with depth and complexity to spare.”

My Review: Pale yellow in the glass. Full-bodied and delicious.  Very balanced in all its flavors. We liked this one so much that we took 2 home! April 2024.

2022 Paysan Petite Sirah, Pierce Ranch, San Antonio Valley AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $27 (#1309)

Winery Notes: “One way to beat the fall heat spikes of 2022 is to pick before they hit. Heat is a fact of life in the San Antonio Valley and the secret is to work with well adapted varieties. Thick skinned Petite Sirah is a lovely choice and on the fractured silicate and calcareous rock of Block One it yields a wine of surprising elegance and grace. I made the wines for Pierce Ranch for several years earlier in my career, so I know the vineyard well and this is one of their premier blocks. Fermented with 30% whole cluster and aged in neutral oak for 11 months.”

My Review: Almost purple in the glass. A nice, black and blue fruit palate with a tannic finish.  I think this will settle down into a very yummy wine. April 2024

2016 Cheseboro Grenache, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.8% ABV, $35 (#1310)

Winery Notes: “A savory and robust Grenache from the sandy, well-drained soils of Cedar Lane Vineyard in Arroyo Seco. Only 80 cases produced.  Ripe rasberries and cracked pepper with a firm core of dusty tannins. Aromas of dried sage brush leads off followed by bright red berry fruit and a long caressing finish.”

My Review: Unfortunately, I did not take notes on this wine.  I recall it being quite delicious and full, made in a style I would prefer my Grenache to be. April 2024

2018 Windy Oaks Special Release – Le Chaud, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 14.8% ABV, $85 (#1311)

Winery Notes: “Using a special piece of machinery that heat treats specific rows of the vineyard in rapid motion, it decreases the number of mildew sprays and actually increases the phenolics (important flavor contributors) in the grape skins. This results in amplified aromas and black/red fruit characteristics with unusual complexity and layering.”

My Review: I was unable to taste this wine, but my partner did – and I simply wanted to include it today.

2021 Parsonage Wild Card, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $40 (#1312)

Winery Notes: “This iteration of the beloved Wildcard, our preposterous melange of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Grenache, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir, will rock your world. The nose is a fragrant and seductive melange of exotic spices, wild flowers, boysenberry, and cranberry. The palate is marked by cedar notes and blueberry with a vibrant backdrop of red and black fruit in this medium-plus mouthfeel beauty.”

My Review: Garnet in color. Well-melded flavors in this red blend – a great follow-on to the fabulous 2020 vintage, which I am presenting in my DC wine class. Red and black fruits dance on the medium-bodied palate. This wine is still young and has great potential. April 2024

THE TASTING ROOMS

The Carmel Valley Village “East End” tasting rooms are located at 19 East Carmel Valley Road.  Please check each winery’s website for their specific hours.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Windy Oaks: Les Deux Grands Crus and More Pinot Noir!

We stopped in briefly at the Windy Oaks tasting room in Carmel Valley Village last February where we met knowledgeable Kerry Winslow, Wine Educator for Windy Oaks, who let us sample some pretty incredible Pinot Noirs, including some made from Burgundy clones of distinctive heritage.  We finally got back to the tasting room on a busy Saturday for a full tasting (sorry, Kerry – we should have come in on a weekday but it was a target of opportunity!).  Despite the busy environment, Kerry ensured each table received his full attention and shared his in-depth expertise with each of us, making it a very special tasting for us. Nothing short of perfect. We are self-admittedly not the biggest Pinot Noir fans, but those Burgundy clones are impressive. 

I have previously presented only a single Windy Oaks wine: https://decantingmonterey.com/windy-oaks-estate-premium-wines-grown-in-unique-terroirs/. You can also check out their website here:  https://www.windyoaksestate.com/.

Here’s what Jim Schultze, Founder & Winemaker, says about their wines on their website: “Our goal is to create wines which elegantly reflect their terroir — wines with balance, complexity and harmony. One wine writer described our approach as “extreme minimal intervention” where we try to do as little as possible in the winery to manipulate the grapes. We want our vineyards to speak for themselves!”

Today, I am presenting 8 Windy Oaks wine, most from the July tasting, but also a couple from our brief tasting in February. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors in my recollection of what Kerry told us are solely mine.

With this posting, we cross the 800 mark for wines I have reviewed during COVID, not all of them within the scope of Decanting Monterey. Wow. Who would have thought a temporary COVID hobby I started to entertain family and friends would turn into this!!

2017 Windy Oaks Old Vines Estate Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, 13.8% ABV, $45 (#800)

Winery Notes: According to Kerry, the Miller Vineyard is located close to the summit.  Also known as the “4-barrel Chardonnay,” 18 months in 25% new oak barrels. This wine received a little lees stirring and rested on the lees.

My Review: Beautiful golden in color. Must and chicken tamale (a very familiar scent) on the nose.  Tropical and buttery, with margarita rim notes on the finish. July 2022 (No buttery, no oak)

2021 Windy Oaks Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, $34 (#801)

Winery Notes: “The brand new Estate Grown Barrel Fermented Rosé of Pinot Noir was picked early to keep freshness and vitality all from etate vines. The grapes were crushed and allowed to soak for about four hours before pressing to used French oak. Matured for close to 8 months this Rosé has depth, loads of flavor and exceptionally elegant mouthfeel.” Only 2 barrels were made.

My Review: Dusty rose in the glass. Watermelon on the palate.  Very tasty with good acidity.  Perhaps a tad sweet. A nice summer patio wine. July 2022

2019 Windy Oaks Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, 13.5% ABV, $45 (#802)

Winery Notes: “The main estate Pinot Noir comes from various parcels and a full selection of clones fermented mainly with native yeasts and partial whole cluster. Then it was aged 18 months in French oak with 35% new barrels used, then bottled unfiltered. 350 cases made.”

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Lovely fruit concentration and vibrant energy that showcases the harmony of the vintage and the vineyards. Medium full palate of luxurious red fruits, racy acidity and elegant French oak nuances. Expressive layers of black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and tangy plum fruits that rush at you in the mouth with a hint of rose petals on the nose, that fades nicely into a slight spicy and toasty note while lingering on the finish with an opulent creamy/satiny feel.”

My Review: Transluscent pale ruby in the glass. A light nose of cherry and black tea, carrying over to the palate.  Easy to drink.  A little sweet with a slightly bitter finish. July 2022

2018 Windy Oaks Les Deux Grands Crus Special Release Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, 13.7% ABV, $105 (#803)

Winery Notes: Only 2 barrels were made of this wine from grapes grown from two well-known and respected Burgundy vineyards.

My Review:   Transparent ruby in color. Light cherry on the nose, but a richer palate of cherry and wood. Earthy and elegant. This is a lovely wine and my favorite of the tasting.  Even I really like this Pinot Noir! February & July 2022

2019 Windy Oaks Limited Release – Wood Tank Fermented Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, 13.6% ABV, $64 (#804)

Winery Notes: “The Wood Tank Pinot was fermented in our French oak open top wood (tank) fermenter that adds dimension and textural richness. This vintage was aged close to 24 months in French oak barrels.”

My Review: A nice, translucent ruby. Cherry and black tea on the nose.  Rich cherry on the palate leading into a darker finish. While flavors are very typical of a California Pinot Noir, this wine is very elegant and smooth. July 2022

2019 Windy Oaks Proprietors Reserve Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, $65 (#805)

Winery Notes: “Top top barrel selection of the vintage, coming from our old estate vines. Always beautifully structured this new release Reserve was aged close to 24 months in French oak barrels with a selection of close to 50% new wood and bottled unfined & unfiltered.” (from the tasting sheet February 2022)

My Review: My only notes for this wine tasted back in February were that I liked it.  February 2022

2018 Windy Oaks Rodnick Vineyard Old Vines Pinot Noir, Chalone AVA, 13.7% ABV, $49 (#806)

Winery Notes: New release. 24 months in French barrels, 25-50% new. 

My Review: Bubblegum on the nose and palate, with chalkiness shining through its long finish. This is a lighter and more subtle Pinot Noir. July 2022

2019 Windy Oaks Vaccaro Family Block Estate Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains, 13.9% ABV, $49 (#807)

Winery Notes: “The cool climate, singe acre, Estate Syrah is an elegant and peppery medium bodied version of this grape with classic northern Rhone character. 100% de-stemmed berries, native yeast fermented, and aged in used French barrels for 25 months, only 140 cases made.”

My Review: This was the last wine we tasted that day and the palate did not seem very Syrah-like.  Lots of different spices on the palate, but not ones we’d usually think of in a wine. I’d like to taste this wine again as a stand-alone. July 2022

All of Windy Oaks tasting rooms are open:  at the winery, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, and in Carmel Valley Village.  Check here for the details: http://www.windyoaksestate.com/.  Please call 831-724-9562 for reservations and other pertinent info.

© Decanting Monterey 2023

Windy Oaks Estate: “premium wines grown in unique terroirs…”

We discovered Windy Oaks when they opened a tasting room in Carmel Valley (yes, you’ve heard this before).  The winery is located in Corralitos in the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking the Monterey Bay.  While most of their wines are from their 30-acres of vineyards, where they produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, they also source grapes from Monterey County.  We found them interesting for what they have done with clones, making even a non-Pinot Noir lover stop to enjoy their wines.  But I digress.

From Windy Oaks: “Windy Oaks was founded in 1996 by Jim and Judy Schultze, when they returned to California after living overseas for 7 years in Australia and Europe. On a windy ridge in Corralitos, overlooking Monterey Bay, they planted their first three acres and produced their first vintage of Pinot Noir in 1999. Today, they farm almost 30 acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.”

Windy Oaks was named “Winery of the Year 2018 by Rusty Gaffney, PinotFile, one of the most knowledgeable wine writers in the industry.”

Windy Oaks 2015 Night Owl Red GSM, Monterey County, 13.8% ABV, $28? (#8*)

The 2015 Night Owl Red has all the fruit and complexity expected of a GSM.

Today’s wine, the 2015 Night Owl Red, is a Rhône blend – a Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (GSM) blended from 3 different Monterey County AVAs:  Arroyo Seco, Chalone, and Santa Lucia Highlands.  We would expect a GSM to be a bold wine, a bit leathery with dark fruits. 

My Review: A beautiful ruby red in color, this wine has bright fruit notes on the nose and palate, with a darker fruit finish and a bit of that bitterness or leather one might expect.  I found the brighter fruits made it very drinkable and enjoyable, while the finish would stand up to a good meal and leave you wanting more.  I don’t have notes on the exact blend for this wine, but I would expect it to be 40-45% Grenache, 25-30% Syrah, and 30% Mourvèdre.  There is not much publicly available information on this vintage; 2016 is the current release. 

Windy Oaks Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village!

All of Windy Oaks tasting rooms are open:  at the winery, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, and in Carmel Valley Village.  Check here for the details: http://www.windyoaksestate.com/.  Please call 831-724-9562 for reservations and other pertinent info.

*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.

© Decanting Monterey 2020

Just in Time for the Weekend: Carmel Valley Village Tasting Room Update!

As I started to write my first blog posts, I realized, if I am going to do a Real Wine Blog, that I need a lot more photos. It’s been kind of overcast and cool in Pacific Grove, day after day. Last weekend, I decided I would drive out to Carmel Valley Village where I would be sure to find some warmth and sunshine and could take some pictures of the tasting rooms. I was able to check out their outdoor wine tasting venues, as that’s what’s permitted here in Monterey County as of this writing. A nice warm sunny day, lots of wine flowing everywhere. Except to me – I was on a mission!

I parked in front of the former location of Mercy’s tasting room and set out on foot.  (I miss Mercy so much.) The tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village are easily walk-able, unless you are intending to buy a lot of wine!  As you go through this list, please remember we are living in a very fluid situation right now.  If you are planning a wine tasting visit, the best option is to review the winery’s web page to see if they are open and if you need a reservation. Safety is the most important feature of each of these venues.

I began my trip with Massa Estate, 69 W. Carmel Valley Road, as it was where we started our Monterey County wine exploration way back when. It is the first tasting room as you enter the village. The owner, Laurie Massa, welcomed me in, showed me their tasting list, and allowed me to take photos of their outdoor space.  Massa has an incredible outdoor space to not only taste wine, but also for food. Local Chef Michael Jones is here with a very special menu – you can taste the wines and order a meal – or carry one out.  So many cute, outdoor tables with umbrellas – it’s just adorable here. In addition, there’s croquet in the front lawn so you can come, play, and relax. Open Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The next winery I went to was Georis, 1 Pilot Road. We’ve always had a fondness for the brand, as Gaston Georis (Walter’s brother) once taught my husband French!  Their indoors wine tasting bar and room is very large (for better times). Their outdoor spaces are incredible for significantly socially distance tables for any sized party, even a larger, private event, as appropriate. I would feel very comfortable coming to Georis to do winetasting of primarily his great Merlots. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Then I walked over to Seabold, 2 Pilot Road. I am not yet familiar with Seabold, so it was a good way to meet them and see their outdoor spaces.  They have smaller outdoor tables as well as big picnic benches and the occasional late afternoon music. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m. 

Cowgirl Winery, 26 Pilot Road, has incredible outdoor space for wine tasting and fun – open 11:30-5 daily.  (Sorry, I didn’t make it there to get pictures.)

Even though their wines come from elsewhere, I include Twisted Roots in my blog because of their tasting room location at 12 Del Fino Place (oh, and we enjoy their great wines).  They also have a nice outdoor setup on the side of their building open Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.  Reservations suggested.

I walked by Bunter Spring at 9 Del Fino Place, which is not doing public tastings until further notice.  Mark Bunter told me he is doing pickups by appointment, free local delivery, 20% off any six bottles, 25% off twelve bottles, and half-price shipping to CA, DC and FL only.

Idle Hour right next door had a big sign saying they were moving in with Big Sur Vineyard’s tasting room at the end of the street.  That was welcome news to me, as collocation with Big Sur will probably result in a more constant presence than the out-of-town Idle Hour could always provide.

Big Sur Vineyards at 1 Del Fino Place was setting up as I dropped by.  Owner Lenora Carey showed me something really cool they are using for their outdoor wine tastings – wine vials that look like big test tubes called “taste tubes!”  Customers receive the flight of wines in a tube rack and pour their own when ready, improving social distancing during the tasting. Open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.

Joullian, 2 Village Drive, is open daily 12-4 p.m. – reservations required.  They had a couple of small tables visible on their front patio.

Bernardus is still closed for in-person wine experiences due to their current focus on wine production and some virtual wine tastings.

Boekenoogen, 24 W. Carmel Valley Road, has an incredible outdoor patio, so their transition to outdoor operations was very easy.  They are open daily, 12-5 p.m.

I’d been talking to Rombi Wines, 1 Center Street, which, like the rest of the wineries, had just set it all up for indoor operations when the order came down to move things outside.  Sal Rombi was able to create a relaxing, quiet spot to taste his big wines just in front of his tasting room.   Open Saturday-Sunday 12-5 p.m.

Joyce, 1 E. Carmel Valley Road, has a nice outdoor space and some great wine sales.   Reservations preferred; weekends also first come, first served.  Wednesday-Friday 12-5 p.m.  Saturday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.

Over to Albatross Ridge, 9 E. Carmel Valley Road, which showed me their outdoor space behind their tasting room – a lovely space with plenty of tables.  Sunday-Thursday 12-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12-8 p.m. Reservations preferred.  They are open in Carmel-by-the-Sea, as well.

Finally, a very short walk over to the old White Oak shopping center at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road, where the rest of these tasting rooms can be found: 

We were invited several weeks ago by Parsonage to help them test-drive their indoor wine tasting procedures (they learned a lot from our visit, as we tasted EVERY wine!) – only to have to revamp their procedures and space for outdoor operations.  They have built a parklet and are able to serve several tables outdoors.  Reservation required.  Thursday-Monday 12-5 p.m.

Rexford Winery tasting room is closed.  For a limited time, they are offering complimentary shipping on new orders of 3 or more bottles.  Chesebro tasting room was likewise closed. 

Windy Oaks is using a couple of small tables in front of its tasting room for outdoor operations.  The staff is very welcoming.  According to their website, the Carmel Valley tasting room is open Friday-Tuesday 12-5:30 – reservations recommended. Their Carmel-by-the-Sea location is open for limited tastings Wednesday-Monday 12-6 p.m. by reservation.

 I Brand also has some small outdoor tables and is open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 and by reservation.  

These wineries are so happy to be sharing their wines with you.  I hope, if you get a chance, that you will get out to the valley and try some yourself.  Check to see if they require a reservation and confirm they are open.  It all looked good to me!  Come on out, give it a shot come out and support your local vintners.

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