Turley is widely known for its zinfandels, but have you ever had one of its petite sirahs? When I have to make purchasing decisions without the privilege of a tasting, we have a method: value (we always get an Old Vines and a Juvenile), history (some vineyards we just love year over year) and ratings (if a well-respected wine critic gives it a high score). But there is one thing: We always order their petite sirahs.
We recently opened this 2021 Turley Pesenti Vineyard Petite Syrah and found it absolutely scrumptious.
I have just this one wine to present to you today from Turley. Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
Winery Notes: “This estate-owned and certified organic vineyard was planted by the Turley team using cuttings from the legendary Hayne vineyard. Head-trained, dry-farmed and planted in limestone, the wines are dark, smooth, dense and classic Petite Syrah. As the vines age the wines are increasingly expressive of the Pesenti Vineyard with minerality, savory spices and high tone pepper.
“Certified organic, dry-farmed estate vines descended from Hayne budwood. Captivatingly expressive from start to finish with blackberry preserves, black cherry, plum, graphite, and luscious, effortlessly smooth tannin. Unlike most Petites, this wine is rewardingly ready to drink now.”
My Review: Dense, inky purple in the glass. Plum, mocha, vanilla and eucalyptus on the nose. Rich palate of blackberry, blueberry and leather. December 2025
THE TASTING ROOM
Want to try a Turley? Let’s head on down to Paso Robles!
Paso Robles Tasting Room: “A few miles inland of California’s storied Central Coast, Paso Robles is a pioneer’s paradise, where surfers, cowboys, vintners, farmers, and ranchers commingle amidst ancient vines, towering oak trees, and rolling hills.”
It is open daily 10 am – 4 pm. If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!
Stopping in at Chesebro last fall, my server Nic had some wines for me to blind taste. I love to do a blind tasting, as you can approach a wine with no preconceived idea of the varietal, the region, the producer or the vintage. For some reason, I said it looked like a Cabernet Sauvignon and that it smelled quite old. I was detecting tire rubber (now, that’s a new one!) and dark berries on the nose, followed by a deeply delicious, smooth palate. I fell out of my chair when I saw it was a 1988 Durney Cabernet Sauvignon! And then he had an even older one to share with me. What an unexpected privilege! Thanks, Nic!
According to the Historic Vineyard Society, Durney was the first vineyard planted in Carmel Valley ad their wines were served in the Reagan White House during the Reagan Administration! With some of the most precious Cabernet Sauvignon vines in all of Monterey County, they made some of the best local wine.
We used to visit their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village, but I don’t think we grasped the significance of their vineyard – until after they were gone. We even had some half bottles of their precious Cabernet Sauvignon in our collection. I think if we had known or understood then what we know now, we would have collected more of their wine.
Today, I am presenting the 2 Durney wines I tasted that day. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
1988 Durney Cabernet Sauvignon, Durney Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV (#1712)
Grapelive: “A brilliant bottle that has aged much better than expected from a less than perfect vintage, this dark garnet 1988 Durney Vineyards Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon shows off a deep and complex medium/full palate of earthy mulberry, dried currant, dark berry and baked cherry fruits, along with spicy cedar, loamy notes, sage, potpourri and pipe tobacco. Fresher and more elegant than I would have hoped, this was a lovely Bordeaux like experience.”
My Review: I tasted this blind. In my opinion, it looked like a Cabernet Sauvignon in the glass. It smelled much older than it looked – I got tire rubber and dark berries on the nose, a strange mix. The palate was a sharp contrast to the off-putting nose. It was excellent in flavor, with a nice, smooth palate. This is a worthy wine – if you can find it anywhere. November 2025
1983 Durney Cabernet Sauvignon, Durney Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13% ABV (#1713)
My Review: Very port-ish fruit. Vanilla, whiskey, and smoked meat on the nose. All following over to the palate. November 2025
When we heard that Lepe Cellars had moved to a great new spot in Carmel Valley, we leapt at the chance to take the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter there for one of our 2026 tastings. We recalled fondly how Miguel Lepe and his tasting room manager Thyra Roth hosted us for our holiday party a couple of years’ back.
In February, we held an early Valentine’s celebration at their new venue. Members brought food (delicious) to pair with the wines. Upon arrival, we heard that Lepe Cellars was raffling off a magnum of Petit Verdot for us – what an extra treat on top of their industry discount they afforded our group! With 32 members and guests in the room, Thyra kept things hopping while Miguel talked to us about making single varietal, single vineyard wines to showcase our Monterey vineyards. It was a fabulous event.
This was an early photo – members brought so many delicious appetizers to share!
I have 7 Lepe Cellars wines to present to you today, from that evening’s event plus a scouting trip last November. Winery notes come from their website or tasting sheet unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
Winery Notes: “Expressive and lush this wine opens with notes of red cherry and raspberry jam interwoven with notes of rose petals and clove. On the palate are notes of wild strawberry, dried herbs leading to a lingering vanilla finish.”
We love it when new guests check us out!
My Review: Pale translucent ruby in the glass. Spicy nose of cinnamon and light cherry. Cherry and woody cinnamon stick on the palate. November 2025
2022 Lepe Cellars Grenache, Zabala Vineyards, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $45 (#1706)
Winery Notes: “Opens with notes of plum and dried cherries and a trace of wet stones. The palate unfolds with notes of fresh strawberry, savory soy and a hint of dried thyme.”
93 Points – Editors’ Choice Wine Enthusiast: “The mineral side of Grenache is rarely explored, but this bottling from a very rocky appellation puts the earth on center stage. Aromas of crushed riverstone meet with cherry and light baking spice on the nose. The palate’s strawberry and caramel flavors ride that stony edge into the finish.” — Matt Kettmann
Enjoying good wines and a good time!
My Review: A pretty, medium ruby in the glass. A mellow, darker cherry nose. Nice smooth palate with dark fruit flavors and a lingering finish. I think this is one of the best Grenache wines made on the Central Coast. November 2025
2023 Lepe Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Merit Vineyard, San Antonio Valley, Monterey County, 13.8% ABV, $65 (#1707)
Winery Notes: “Blackberry, black currant, vanilla.”
Lucky Winners of the Raffle!
My Review: Medium, opaque garnet in the glass. A lot of smooth fruit with cherry notes. February 2026
2023 Lepe Cellars Cabernet Franc, Tre Gatti Vineyards, San Antonio Valley, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $55 (#1708)
Winery Notes: “This wine opens with inviting aromas of dark fruit, including black cherry and ripe blackberry, accented by a hint of crushed stone. On the palate, it reveals layers of raspberry and red plum, leading into a lingering savory finish with notes of black pepper and dried herbs.”
A warm welcome to a new guest!
My Review: Cloudy in the glass. Cherry, red currant on the very smooth palate, with a spicy finish. While a lighter style, it is quite tasty. I took one home. November 2025
2022 Lepe Cellars Anniversary Red Blend, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $75 (#1709)
Winery Notes: “Deep and velvety this red blend is bursting with notes of black berry jam, black currant and a touch of violet. The palate is juicy with notes of cranberry and plum and finish with rich notes of brown sugar and baking spice. 42% Petit Verdot (Merit Vineyard) 34% Cabernet Sauvignon (Merit Vineyard) 20% Cabernet Franc (Tre Gatti Vineyard) 4% Syrah (Zabala Vineyard).”
Miguel and Tira enjoying our evening!
My Review: Medium garnet in color. Pepper, vanilla, and port notes on the nose. Big palate with balanced acidity and tannin. I like this wine. November 2025
2022 Lepe Cellars Syrah, Zabala Vineyards, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.8% ABV, $55 (#1710)
Winery Notes: “Blueberry, dark chocolate, dried herbs.”
My Review: Garnet in color. A mellow blueberry on the nose. Nice palate with blueberry, blackberry and spice on the rich palate. This was tasted in November and not at this event. November 2025
2023 Lepe Cellars Petit Verdot, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $55 (#1711)
Winery Notes: “Plum, boysenberry, chocolate.”
My Review: Garnet in the glass. Sweet plum and port on the nose with a bright cherry palate. November 2025
THE TASTING ROOM
The Lepe Cellars tasting room is located at 19 E Carmel Valley Rd. Carmel Valley, CA and is open during these hours: Friday – Saturday 12pm – 6pm, Sunday – Monday 12pm – 5pm, Tuesday – Thursday by appointment only.
With an out-of-town friend in tow, we stopped into The Barrel Room in Carmel Valley Village to taste Boëtéwines and pick up our allocation. The guys loved the setting – there was a tv screen to view the football game no matter where you sat! And we were served by both Dillon and Jana Saunders over the course of our tasting. Always great to see them! According to my records, the only new wine was the 2019 Boëté Cheval Rouge. I remember when the 2018 came out during the pandemic and I participated in their hearts painting activity over a Zoom call. How far we have come since those times.
The Boëté Cheval Rouge is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and, in this particular vintage, only a touch of Merlot. This wine has an irresistible, dark yet sweet jamminess and as my favorite of the day. We served the 2018 vintage to friends in January and it has matured in the bottle to a point of extreme deliciousness.
Today I am presenting the five wines we tasted in December, including the newly released 2019 Cheval Rouge. The rest of these have been presented before – over the lifetime of Decanting Monterey – but all have new, updated tasting notes. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
2021 Boëté Reserve Merlot, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $50 (#1560)
My Review: Garnet in color. Plum, black currant, and eucalyptus on the nose. Medium weight on the palate with a tart cranberry, red currant finish. December 2025
2019 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $54 (#1489)
My Review: Dark garnet in color. Eucalyptus, dark fruit, alcohol and some spice on the nose. Very dark berries and eucalyptus notes on the palate. One of the very best Cabernet Francs from Monterey County. December 2025
2021 Boëté Cheval Rouge, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $50 (#1704)
My Review: Very dark in the glass. Black plum, BBQ sauce, and stems on the nose. Sweet jamminess like raspberry jam on toast on the smooth palate. This was my favorite wine of the day. December 2025
2018 Boëté Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $52 (#1490)
My Review: Prune, bacon and hints of smoke on the nose. Medium palate with tasty cherry flavors and mild acidity on the finish. December 2025 (2019 has been released since I wrote this)
2017 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $80 (#339)
My Review: Dark plum, blueberry and cedar on the nose. Prune, blackberry, and blueberry with balanced acidity. Drinking well. December 2025
THE TASTING ROOM
You can taste and purchase Boëté wines at The Barrel Room every day (closed Wednesdays), 12-5 p.m. 5 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village.
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