I introduced you to Boëté in August here: https://decantingmonterey.com/boete-exceptional-cabernet-franc-from-carmel-valley/. Please take a peek at that link for more about the winery. Since that post, there have been some new releases, including their 2018 Cheval Rouge, a red blend. I also noticed the release of a 2018 single varietal Merlot, something I don’t recall seeing before – picked one up to try for a future post!
When Jana Saunders advertised a couple of weeks ago that they were doing a painting and sipping virtual event, I signed right up. Here was the teaser: “Boëté Winery is teaming up with the talented KB of KB Studio and Gallery in hosting a Virtual Pre Valentine’s Paint and Sip. This is not your normal paint & sip as you will be learning to paint with a palate knife to create a uniquely one of a kind abstract painting while enjoying Boete’s newest Cheval Rouge!” I didn’t need to be asked twice. I am not an artist, but my daughter gave me the courage to put paint on canvas over the holidays – such a nice break from all the news!
Wine Enthusiast rated the 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points. “Roasted red-cherry aromas meet with charcoal, smoke, oregano and marjoram on the rustic nose. Stiffer tannins uphold both bright and dark-red fruit flavors on the palate.” Matt Kettmann, August 2020
My Review: Dense deep ruby in the glass, luscious dark berry on the nose, smooth rich flavors on the palate. Deep juicy cherry and dark berries, and a touch of cedar anise on the finish. This is an incredibly delicious wine. November 2020
From Boëté: “A classic garnet color invites you into an elegantly expressed vintage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a pinch of Merlot. This medium body vibrant wine elevates the palate with flavors of cherry jam, vanilla and hints of chocolate. A youthful wine that will only get better with time.” This wine was released in the Fall of 2020.
My Review: Dense deep ruby in the glass, luscious dark berry on the nose, smooth rich flavors on the palate. Deep juicy cherry and dark berries, and a touch of cedar and anise on the finish. This is an incredibly delicious wine. One of my favorites. November 2020
*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.
Sometimes when I buy wine during the pandemic, I approach it with the same attitude as at the grocery store – if you see it and you think you might want it someday, you’d better buy it now. And that’s how I ended up with a sampling of enough Pierce Ranch varietals to last me a whole year!
And, as a brief refresher, Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation. From Pierce Vineyards web page: “Pierce Ranch Vineyards is a small, family-owned operation centered in southern Monterey County’s San Antonio Valley appellation. We produce limited-run, estate-grown wines with an emphasis on Spanish and Portuguese varieties.”
2017 Pierce Ranch Tempranillo, San Antonio AVA, 13.1% ABV, $28 (#236*)
About the 2017 Tempranillo: “…Located in the southernmost tip of Monterey County, the newly declared San Antonio Valley appellation is already showing itself to be an ideal region for producing nuanced, complex Petite Sirah. Consisting entirely of fruit sourced from our Y Ranch Vineyard’s rocky, hillside Block 1, this, our 2015 bottling, provides and elegant expression of the variety with excellent depth and solid tannic structure. Produced on a very limited scale, it was fermented in small lots and then aged, unracked, in French oak for 18 months. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, black currant, and black plum combined with a savory component and traces of spice.”
My Review: Cherry, blueberry on the rich palate, with currant and a mellow mocha on the finish. November 2020
2017 Pierce Ranch Petite Sirah, San Antonio AVA, 15.3% ABV, $28 (#237*) (gratis)
About the 2017 Petite Sirah: “Located in the southernmost tip of Monterey County, the newly declared San Antonio Valley appellation is already showing itself to be an ideal region for producing nuanced, complex Petite Sirah. Consisting entirely of fruit sourced from our Y Ranch Vineyard’s rocky, hillside Block 1, this 2017 estate bottling provides and elegant expression of the variety with excellent depth and solid tannic structure. A limited run, it was fermented using only native yeasts and aged in primarily neutral French oak for 18 months. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, black currant, and black plum combine with a savory component and traces of spice.” Awarded a Silver Medal at the 2020 Monterey International Wine Competition.
My Review: Dense ruby in color. Deep cherry blueberry and blackberry on the nose. After opening up, smooth, rich dark cherry and berries with a tasty finish. Super good. Petite Sirah continues to be my favorite Pierce Ranch varietal. This wine was given to me by Pierce Ranch – I will always let you know when I have been comped a wine. December 2020
Check out the Piece Ranch Vineyards webpage and Facebook page for their current releases and specials. This might be the chance to get some of their wines before they sell out (such small production means the favorites are gone before we even know they are there. Their tasting room in Cannery Row is open for shopping. You can order their wines via Pierce Vineyard Tasting Room or at (831) 372-8900, and they’ll arrange for curbside pickup or shipping (which is just $5 anywhere in California). Also, they now ship to DC and Virginia, my friends! Maybe a future Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar (WWCS) offering??
*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.
Back in November, with the holidays rapidly approaching, I ventured out to Carmel Plaza. Can’t go there without stopping at Wrath! As a huge fan of their San Saba Syrah, I was thrilled to learn the 2017 had just been released. On a previous trip, I had done a side-by-side tasting of the 2016 San Saba and the 2016 Syrah KW Ranch. With both the 2017 San Saba in hand and the 2016 KW Ranch in my cellar, time to drink some Wrath!
“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.”
“…Our 2016 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 tannnis are bold, the wine is still nimble, elegant and approachable.” 100% Syrah. 100% French oak, 30% new. 158 cases produced.
Critical Acclaim: 93 points Jeb Dunnuck;91-94pts Connoisseur’s Guide
My Review: Deep ruby in color, white pepper, dark berry on the nose. Explosion of fruit blueberry, blackberry and cherry with a solid dose of pepper on the palate. A little licorice, medicinal, vegetal on the finish. Over time, a little tobacco on the finish. November 2020
2017 Wrath Syrah San Saba Vineyard, Monterey AVA, 14.6% ABV, $39 (#233*)
From Wrath about the 2017 Syrah San Saba Vineyard:
“Our Estate San Saba Vineyard is set in a sheltered nook just below the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The estate consists of 72 acres of which 67.75 are planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Falanghina. This is a cool site with little rainfall and one of the longest growing seasons in the world. Our soils, Arroyo Gravelly Loam and Hanford Gravely Sandy Loam, provide a low-vigor, well-draining, disease- and pest-free medium for our vines. They also impart a subtle mineral quality to our wines…”
“Powerful and elegant, aromatics include blackberry, leather and peppercorns; the palate is rich and concentrated with graphite, cassis, and a hint of smoke.” 10 months in French oak, 20% new. 313 cases produced.
Critical Acclaim: 91 Wine Spectator, 93 Vinous
My Review: Dark purple in the glass, blueberry and a touch of barnyard/sulphur on the nose, intense blueberry and blacked berry on the palate – jammy and good. Vanilla on the finish. I do slightly prefer the 2016 vintage to this 2017. November 2020
You can buy these wines at A Taste of Monterey or directly from Wrath.
Regarding Tastings: “As of Monday, Jan 25th, both Wrath tasting rooms are now allowed to open for limited outside seatings and tastings. New hours for Wrath’s winery tasting room are Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon from 11-5pm, closed Tues-Wed-Thur. The winery patio is large so we can accommodate multiple visitor groups and still maintain 10′ plus spacings for safety. Our Carmel tasting room is open every day from 11-5pm.” https://www.wrathwines.com/Visit
*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.
When Chesebro offered a sale on their 2018 rosé, I jumped at the chance to get some – good thing I did – they sold out immediately. I learned a lesson, though: make a copy of the Winemaker’s Notes when you purchase the wine – they might not be there when you need them!! If I get them later, I’ll update this post.
Halloween provided a great excuse (and warm weather) for an outdoor celebration!
We served this wine as our opening for a socially-distant, patio happy hour alternative to Halloween. We were ever-so-slightly in costume (no photos to protect the innocent!), much to the amusement of our guests. The Chesebro Rosé was remarkably our only Central Coast wine of the evening.
Winemaker’s Notes for the 2019 (current release) from Cedar Lane Vineyard: For the 2019 (current release) from Cedar Lane “This Provençal style 100% Grenache Rosé is beautifully light pink in color. Aromas of fresh picked strawberry, grapefruit skin and raspberry essence. Perfect for a warm afternoon. Classic!”
My Review of the 2018: Very light pink. Raspberry on the nose and good Grenache flavors on the palate, with a little acidic bite on the finish. Our French wine lovers said this one passes for a French rosé. October 2020
Buying Chesebro Wines: The 2019 Chesebro Rosé from Cedar Lane Vineyard (one of my favorites) is the current release available for $19 here in limited supply. Updated information on its tasting room hours and reservation link is here. Chesebro has curbside pickup and has always been great about shipping wines to the East Coast for me.
*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.
Mark provided his readers a very blunt assessment of 2020 here. But he also added this: “Any good news we have is NOT from 2020. There are some promising 2019s coming up. The sauv blanc and orange wine from Santa Cruz are daring- we harvested earlier than ever before, to get high natural acidity for drinking with shellfish and shrimp. The sauv blanc is a ringer for Sancerre. Our ’19 estate Syrah is perfectly balanced and intensely varietal, again leaning toward a European version of the grape. It will spend another year or so in barrel. Carmel Valley Palisades 2019 pinot noir will be bottled this spring. It reminds me of our 2013 Sonoma Coast pinot. We made some excellent Monterey reds in 2018: a pinot noir from Carmel valley, another from Santa Lucia Highlands, and some zin, cab sauv, and cab franc from a “sleeper” vineyard hidden in the hills high above Arroyo Seco. These follow distinctive 17 cab sauv and cab franc from a fifty year-old organic vineyard in Carmel Valley. We have plenty of good wine for the short term. We will need to make some whites in ’21 to go with our estate Syrah, and whatever other red grapes we buy.”
Bunter Spring 2017 Spring Cabernet Franc, Carmel Valley AVA, 14.34% ABV, $30 (#225*) 86% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48 cases produced
“It tastes like California sunshine: ripe black cherry and red raspberry, heady with alcohol.“
Winemaker’s Notes : “This wine is from a historic organic vineyard in the hills high above the Carmel River. The AVA gives a distinct and recognizable character to its fruit, something midway between Napa and Paso Robles – which is exactly where it is!…” From the back label: “Aged 20 months in French and American oak barrels, 50% new. This wine smells like something from the Mother Country: lilac, violets, saddle soap, bay spice, cassis. It tastes like California sunshine: ripe black cherry and red raspberry, heady with alcohol. Dense with fine tannins. It has a long, warm aftertaste of sour cherry candy…Not Fined. Not Filtered.”
My Review: Very inky, almost purple in color. Fresh blueberry and plum on the nose. Very rich intense dark berry and cassis on the palate, a little chalky. Opens into deep cherry and dark berry lingering flavors. I prefer this vintage to the 2016. October 2020
Outdoor tastings…pending licensing…at 9 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village
According to their website, “Our Carmel Valley tasting room remains closed to the public. We have created an outdoor tasting area and soon should have that operating, pending licensing…” On the flip side, he is offering the public 25% off, 35% off 12 bottle case purchases and a very generous discount to club members. To buy their wines, check out their current releases and contact Mark by phone or email to order. Directions are here. They ship within California and to Washington DC and Florida.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – includes non-Central Coast wines.
I don’t get to write much about Turley in this blog, as most of their wines fall outside the “Central Coast” theme. I presented some Turley Pesenti Vineyard wines from Paso Robles back in December (https://decantingmonterey.com/turley-pesenti-a-whole-other-reason-to-love-paso-robles-wines/ ). During Christmas week, we opened a Turley Zinfandel from Contra Costa County – stretching the limits of the Central Coast AVA!
I don’t know that much about the Contra Costa County AVA but I found this description on Wine Searcher here: “Contra Costa County is an AVA directly east of San Francisco Bay in California’s Central Coast AVA. Once a prolific wine-growing region, the county is home to some century-old plantings of Zinfandel, Mourvedre and Carignan that produce rustic, earthy and leathery styles of red wine.
“The county sits on the edge of the San Francisco and Suisun bays at the entrance to where the Sacramento Delta begins to weave its way inland towards Lodi. Livermore Valley is directly south of Contra Costa County, and the city of San Francisco across the bay gives the county its name – contra costa meaning ‘opposite shore’ in Spanish…
“The quality soils of Contra Costa County are the defining feature of its terroir. Gnarled old vines were planted 100 years ago on deep, sandy soils that have restricted yields, particularly as the vines have aged. Deep and free-draining, the sand offers little resistance to wandering root systems, and the lack of water in the ground means that the vines produce small, concentrated berries with thick skins. This in turn leads to concentrated wines with firm tannins and excellent structure.”
2017 Turley Zinfandel Salvador Vineyard, Contra Costa County, 15.9% ABV, $38** (#224*)
Photo of the Salvador Vineyard, courtesy of Turley Wine Cellars
About Turley Zinfandel Salvador Vineyard fromwww.turleywinecellars.com: “Salvador Vineyard in Contra Costa County is a paragon of old vine Zinfandel. These organically farmed vines were planted on their own roots in 1896. The roots are free to roam deeply as the soil is solid sand for 40 feet down. The wine is stunning: suave, complex and powerfully elegant.”
Winemaker Notes: “The Salvador feels like truly old-school California, reminiscent of what wine might’ve tasted like when it was first made from these vines well over 120 years ago! Aromas of dark berries, peach skin, sandalwood & leather make this one of the most intriguing iterations of Salvador to date. The palate is intensely concentrated, co-mingled with an energizing acidity. These ancient, ungrafted vines in sandy soils make for some of the suavest tannins and most elongated finishes around.”
Wine Spectator Review – 89 points: “Briary and loaded with zesty pepper, smoky plum and eucalyptus flavors that build speed toward mildly rustic tannins. Drink now through 2023. 545 cases made.” TF, 2018
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate highly rates other vintages giving the 2014 and 2017 94 points and the 2016, 95 points.
My Review of the 2015: Vanilla and spice on the nose, berry and cedar on the palate. Spice on the finish. Could be that sandalwood and eucalyptus! December 2020
**I bought this through their mailing list at the prices above. Found this wine at Napa Cabs for $65. Take a look at Turley’s special packs open to everyone – very good opportunity to get some Turley in your wine cellar. They will ship wine and do tasting room pickups (Paso Robles and Amador). https://www.turleywinecellars.com/shop/?view=products&slug=PTRRemotePurchases. No tastings available right now.
*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.
I had the chance back in October to make an extremely isolated trip with a girlfriend to Parsonage to taste the new reserve releases. The setup was good and the wines, right up my alley. We were so excited to get past the Soberanes fire vintage and get back to the fruit and flavors we all know and love.
Parsonage has an excellent outside, socially distant tasting venue for its exceptional wines – when we aren’t under a Stay-at-Home Order!
We also opened the 2007 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon Tanner Reserve to share with our COVID Wine Squad on New Year’s Eve. And then my DC wine class decided Petit Verdot would be the theme for a January class, so I hunted down the oldest one in my cellar – a 2009 Parsonage Bixby Reserve. That spurred me to put together this “catch-up” post on Parsonage wines we’ve been tasting in recent months, mostly their reserves. My last review of Parsonage reserve wines is here: https://decantingmonterey.com/parsonage-reserve-wines-my-kind-of-big-reds/.
The Lineup of Parsonage Reserve Wines: Bixby (Petit Verdot), Dario (Merlot), Hawk (Pinot Noir), Rocco (Syrah), Tanner (Cabernet Sauvignon), and Xandro (Red Blend). Their reserve wines are named for Bill and Mary’s grandchildren and Mary’s exquisite quilts are featured on the labels (you can view them on their website).
Winemaker Notes:“The 2017 Dario Reserve is a massive, powerhouse Merlot. The bouquet is an intoxicating melange of black cherry, black raspberry, star anise, and the Parsonage terroir back-note signature of wildflowers. All of these olfactory delicacies manifest in explosive complexity on the palate. The mouthfeel is full, round, and firm, wrapped in the smoothest and silkiest tannins imaginable.”
My Review: A deep red, garnet in the glass, smoky caramel on the nose (aged in new French oak) – quite delicious. Lay this one down for ~10 years. October 2020
Winemaker Notes: “This Cabernet Sauvignon field blend is joined with a mix of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It’s a full-throttle bombastic beauty, typical of younger vines. The nose is all about very dark fruit marked by brambleberry compote. Plum and cassis join with the brambleberry on a muscular palate that finishes with some major league tannins.”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. A light boquet (Pinot Noir-like), plum and cherry on the smooth palate, approachable now. Believe this is a mix of Estate and Cachagua fruit. October 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Wow! It’s hard to put into words how bold and beautiful this Cab is at such a young age. While we have never made a wimpy cab, the 2017 vintage stands out as one of the most full bodied. The power of the nose announces with authority what to expect on the palate. The bouquet is blackberry, blueberry, black currant/cassis, with a hint of cardamom and a back-note of Parsonage terroir signature, wildflower perfume. All of these flavors show up abundantly on the palate with hints of ripe tobacco leaf and leather, framed by massively and delightfully supple tannins.”
My Review: Purple-red in the glass. Such a great Cabernet nose with a big explosion of fruit on the palate – cherry, raspberry with a touch of chocolate and coffee. Smooth tannins with a touch of licorice on the finish. October 2020
Review of the 2007 Tanner (from grapelive.com):“There is no question in my mind that this cabernet is the best yet for Parsonage, though it should perform even better after a few years in bottle. Bill Parsons has shown his heart and soul in his pursuit of producing this region’s great wine. I admire his efforts and feel he is very close to world acclaim, in fact this vintage has the proof in the bottle. This vintage of the Tanner Reserve is loaded with classic cabernet fruit, thick texture and a solid tannin backbone with lush blackberry, currant, cassis and plum fruits, mountain sage, saddle leather, cedar and cigar spice, lavender, licorice and smoky sweet vanilla. Look out, Napa, Parsonage is on the rise!” Kerry Winslow
My Review: Inky purple, with a bit of barnyard on the nose. Deep boysenberry, jammy flavors. This wine was dry, austere with a leathery finish. It still needs more time in the bottle. A lot of body, but not what you are looking to with a big California cab – one might mistake it for an Old World wine! December 2020
Winemaker Notes: “A powerhouse in all ways. This Cabernet-Syrah-Merlot blend is all about dark fruit. A big, brooding, muscular beast of a wine. It’s “The Aussie” on massive doses of steroids. It may have fallen under the influence of the mysterious invisible stuff known as dark matter.”
My Review: Slightly hammy and dark berry on the nose, smooth and fruity on the palate with smoky cherry. A bit of tartness on the finish. Enjoy it for its smokiness (Soberanes vintage)! October 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Our flagship wine, this vintage is opulent. The ripe black, blue, and red fruit are immense in the nose and the mouth. The palate explodes in an essence of summer savory with exotic Asian spices wrapped in umami. The fullness and concentrated richness of the finish are suggestive of a high end Amarone.
My Review: Red with purple tinge in the glass, caramel on the nose. Blueberry and cherry on the palate, with a touch of mint and smokiness from the oak. Not too overwhelming. Very good. This is consistently my favorite Parsonage wine. October 2020
2009 Parsonage Estate Reserve Bixby Petit Verdot, Carmel Valley AVA, 15% ABV, $80 (#223*)
Winemaker Notes: “The 2009 was a breakout vintage. We got the Verdot riper than ever. It was rich, round, and ripe with the same dry tannins on the finish. Every vintage of the PV Blend was marked in varying degree by a foundation of blueberries and floral almost perfumey nature. During barrel tastings there were lots of comments and questions about where the perfume came from. So as a joke I started telling tasters that I added a tiny dash of Chanel No. 5 to the barrel. Some vintages had more pronounced perfumey character than others. But it was always there whether forward or subtly in the background.
“The 2009 Bixby nose was powerfully blueberry, (and for the first time) blackberry and creme de cassis with the wildflower perfume in the background. The palate was fabulously and mysteriously complex. All the fruit of the nose played out on the palate with black cherry and pencil lead/cedar notes. The mouthfeel was quite full with a very long finish. The 2009 Bixby was a field blend of 82% Petit Verdot and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested in early November.”
My Review: Garnet in color & plum/blackberry on the nose – with a touch of earth. Rich dark fruit on the dry palate. Some smoke and a bit of acidity – like sour black cherry and a touch of tobacco. Opened up intense cassis flavors. Robust yet still a bit austere. Not my favorite varietal, but this is perhaps the best I have ever tasted. January 2021
Sadly, tastings are not permitted at this time due to the Stay-at-Home order. They are open for wine purchases and pick ups. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here: https://parsonagewine.orderport.net/wines/Current-Releases.
*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.
I have presented Ian Brand’s wines to you in 4 previous posts (you can find them all with a simple search on “Ian Brand”) including one specifically on a P’tit Paysan wine here: https://decantingmonterey.com/ptit-paysan-creates-a-2019-zabala-vineyard-sauvignon-blanc/. We’ve tasted quite a few over the many months of the Pandemic and have consolidated 5 of them here! The P’tit Paysan wines are the ones that first made us fans of Ian’s wines – affordable, quality wines with amusing labels drawn by his nephew!
The I Brand & Family tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for wine sales and pick-ups!
About P’tit Paysan from K&L Wine Merchants : “Winemaker Ian Brand moved to California to pursue a life of surfing, but quickly got bitten by the wine bug. He is a bit of a rebel, and the purpose of the P’tit Paysan project is to present simple, unpretentious “country” wines. In reality these simple wines come from some unique vineyard sites that Ian has sniffed out in the backcountry of Monterey and the surrounding area. Most of these vineyards exhibit very poor soils, in harsh conditions just on the edge of farmlands. The struggle these vines must face makes for intense fruit.” Because of he sources grapes from across the region, many of his wines carry the “Central Coast” label. I have 5 of his Le P’tit Paysan wines to present to you today.
2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#25*)
It was a rare summery day, reaching over 70 degrees in our little coastal town where temperatures often hover in the 55-65 degrees range. We spent a good chunk of the afternoon enjoying the backyard, eating lunch on the patio, swimming and even sunbathing. It felt like we were at a resort and it called for a “pool wine.” But we got something MUCH better!
Winemaker’s Notes from wine.com: “Made from Grenache and Mourvédre grown in Spur Ranch’s limestone-rich clays and Grenache and Cinsault from the granitic bluffs above the Arroyo Seco River. Picked below 22 brix, with bright natural acidity. Fermented in several lots with some native and some cultured yeasts.” Because grapes are sourced from Monterey County’s Chalone and Arroyo Seco AVAs, this wine earns the “Central Coast” label. 61% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, 5% Cinsault
wine.com Review – 92 points: “It seems lately that Rosés aka Pink Wines are a dime a dozen. The omnipresence has my palate spinning. Fortunately, a few folks are producing some astonishingly beautiful efforts. The 2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé is one of the marketplace’s best efforts. TASTING NOTES: This is a pert little gem with a refreshingly delicious and crisp aftertaste. Its aromas and flavors of bright red fruit fly throughout the wine. Pair it with a chicken salad with slivers of strawberries and toasted sesame seeds.” Wilfred Wong March 2019
My Review: I presented an earlier vintage of this wine to the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar – and this one would be equally worthy – perhaps my favorite rosé of the vintage from the region. It has a fragrant bouquet of rose and gardenia. Keeping sugars in check, this wine is refreshing and balanced, pleasant and crisp – not sweet and not too dry. A bit of bitters on the finish. This is a keeper – highly recommend. April 2020
2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#33*)
No, no, the label was fine. This bottle spent time in an ice bucket!
We had a warm day – one of the warmest and sunniest this spring – short sleeves and sleeveless tops. And a virtual happy hour with our favorite East Coast friends. This called for another rosé! I told my good friend Randy that I needed his nose for my wine blog and he offered to virtually smell the wine – we held the glass of wine near our computer camera – he picked up strawberry and watermelon. Yeah, no, but it was good for a laugh. Yes, this is what it has come to.
Winemaker Notes from wine.com : “The Mourvedre from the Le P’tit Paysan Rose is from two vineyards, one in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Gilroy (rocky, alluvial soils), the other is Spur Ranch in San Benito (limestone). The Grenache is from Arroyo Seco (granite), as is the Cinsault. Monterey/San Benito/Santa Clara Counties.” 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 18% Cinsault
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points : “Fresh aromas of rose petal, watermelon, bubblegum and squeezed lime show on the nose of this pink blend of 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache and 18% Cinsault. There’s a great sizzle to the sip, where a crushed seashell minerality wraps up flavors of light orange and delicate strawberry.” Matt Kettmann September 2020
My Review: This newly-released 2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé has a lovely pale peach, pink color. It is higher in Cinsault than the previous vintage, with peach and pineapple on the nose. It is crisp and light, with the Mourvèdre shining through. Very enjoyable. I might prefer the 2018, but would have to try them side by side to know for sure. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, 13.4% ABV, $25* (#14*)
According to www.sommselect.com, the P’tit Paysan 2016 is California Cabernet “at its most balanced, bursting with finesse and freshness, which instantly makes it eye candy for lovers of classic Bordeaux… You will not find another California Cabernet that delivers this much at such a low price, so don’t miss out…The grapes underwent a long, cool, whole-berry fermentation in separate lots before blending and aging for one year in neutral French barrels. The wine was bottled without filtration.” 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Warm aromas of baked red cherry and caramel grow more complex due to a gravelly minerality and hints of peppercorns on the nose of this bottling by Ian Brand. The palate leads with oregano and pepper, those spices overwhelming the fruit, and the rocky minerality continues, leading into a cocoa-laced finish. It is a lithe and lively style of Cab.” Matt Kettmann June 2018
Good luck finding any. But, if you do, drink now through 2026. Heck, drink now. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Le P’tit Pape, Central Coast, 13.17% ABV, $22 (#37*)
Another beautiful day in isolation – and another Ian Brand Le P’tit Paysan wine. We like these wines as every day drinking – such affordable, high quality, food wines. We have been particularly fond of his Rhône blend “Le P’tit Pape” over the years. As with the red blends from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine is based on Rhône varietals and, primarily, Grenache. This was the wine which originally drew us to Ian Brand’s wines – our first favorite of his many wines.
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Ian Brand’s flagship bottling just keeps getting better, yet stays reasonably priced. Light in the glass, this blend of 65% Grenache, 26% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre and 2% Counoise offers lovely aromas of strawberry, red plum, white pepper, wild tomato and forest floor. It’s taut in texture on the sip, holding cranberry and strawberry flavors in check, as dried sagebrush carries through the finish.” Matt Kettmann March 2019
My Review: The 2016 Le P’tit Pape appears table grape red in the glass, light-to-medium bodied with raspberry and cherry, very smooth and refreshing. May 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Cherry blossoms, dusty road, red plums, herb de Provence. Rosewater and red cherry on the palate, nimble with medium body. Grippy finish with firm Grenache tannins and hints of olive and sagebrush.”
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Clean raspberry and strawberry aromas are lifted by a pinch of pepper and fresh marjoram on the nose of this blend of 57% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Counoise. Tart cranberry and strawberry flavors are quite fresh on the palate, but there are also savory hints of meat and white pepper.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: Transluscent medium red with a berry nose. Cherry on the palate, followed by cassis, currant and tobacco on the finish. This wine is representative of how creative sourcing can lead to a very nice, everyday wine at a great value. We recently tasted this wine again – it was a enjoyable break from the super big reds we mostly drink. I appreciated it so much! September 2020
I Brand is closed for tastings due to the Stay-at-Home order but open for wine pickups – email them at HELLO@IBRANDWINERY.COM to order wines. I just heard the 2019 rose is on sale – so contact the winery quickly if you want to get some before it sells out!
*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.
I first became aware of Samuel Louis Smith wines when he started getting some pretty fine reviews from Vinous and Wine Enthusiast – consistently in the mid-90’s! Like many of his contemporaries, he owns no vineyards himself but sources his grapes from regions and vineyards that allow him to “explore some other compelling, under-the-radar terroirs where my varietals shine” with a focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. K&L Wine Merchants did an interview with Samuel Louis Smith back in 2019 that provides the whole history of how Sam got into the wine business. https://onthetrail.klwines.com/on-the-trail-blog/2019/5/24/keep-an-eye-on-this-guy-winemaker-samuel-louis-smith .
From the SLS website, used with Sam’s permission
About the winery: “Samuel Louis Smith functions as a micro-négociant based in Salinas, California. Organic viticulture, mountainous sites, and minimal intervention in the cellar are tenets of the brand. SLS presents a compelling cross-section of the Central Coast, focusing on Sta. Rita Hills chardonnay, Monterey pinot noir, and Santa Cruz Mountains cool-climate syrah. The wines are made in a neoclassical style where light handling, wild fermentations, and stem inclusion in the reds create wines of place and purity, aroma and structure.
“In the future, the core of SLS will be made with dirty fingernails and estate grown grapes. For now, Sam is dedicated to sourcing fruit from the most distinctive honestly- and sustainably-farmed vineyards. He is also head winemaker at the historic Morgan Winery, a pioneer of organic viticulture and traditional winemaking in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.”
About Sam (from link above): “Sam studied Economics, French, and Spanish at UC Santa Barbara. A nagging desire for wine knowledge and proximity to good surf led Sam to Bordeaux- the perfect place to spend a semester abroad. Coinciding with the iconic vintage of 2009, it opened his eyes to the world of haute cuisine and fine wine. Though somewhat reticent and cold, Sam’s Bordelaise host family ate and drank quite well; their pairing of confit de canard with ’89 Margaux on a cold Sunday afternoon in November still serves as an epiphanous moment for him.
“Wine and everything it embodies are still the most cerebral and inspiring experience for Sam. Making pinot noir in the Willamette Valley and cool-climate syrah in the Northern Rhône, and cutting his teeth as assistant winemaker for Margerum Wine Company gave him the opportunities to find where his palate and California’s cool, mountainous Central Coast terroir converge.”
About the 2018 Vintage: “The vintage commenced with precipitation much below average, though reservoirs remained full through the season after a very wet 2017. January and February were warm, resulting in premature budbreak in select parcels, increasing worries of frost as nighttime temperatures dipped below freezing on February 23rd and 24th. Luckily, no harm was done, and the following months saw temperatures at, and often below, seasonal averages. 2018 was a classically cool growing season on the Central Coast- an epic year for SLS’s cool climate varietals.”
2018 Samuel Louis Smith Syrah Sandstone Terrace, Santa Cruz Mountains, 12.9% AVA, $34 (#215*)
An elegant label for an elegant wine!
About the 2018 Syrah from the Samuel Louis Smith website: “A 50/50 blend of two personalities of syrah: the extremely cool-climate and coastal Gali vineyard, and the warmer, high elevation Zayante vineyard. These components come together to exude the spicy, floral, and feminine side of syrah.
“Gali is located in the Corralitos sub-district of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. At the low elevation of 400 feet and approximately six miles from the ocean, this is one of the coolest sites in our lineup. Soils are clay loam weathered from sandstone and shale, formed on ancient submarine terraces. Though not fully organic, no herbicides are used and watering is quite minimal.
Photos of the Gali (l) and Zayante (r) Vineyards, used with permission from Sam!
“Zayante sits at 1,200 feet on the ocean side of the central Santa Cruz Montains, and was planted in 1988 by Greg Nolton. Own-rooted, dry-farmed, and certified organic, this is a true mountain site. Soils are Lompico clay loam- material that was weathered from sandstone, shale, conglomerate, and granodiorite.”
I asked Sam about the low alcohol in this wine, asking if it was the influence of his time in France to make a more elegant, food wine. He responded that his time in France “…bolstered my affinity for elegant wines that go well with food, and that are not fatiguing. I love wines that are poised, with moderate alcohol, and great acid and structure. Most of the vineyards I work with are organic or in conversion, and have lower yields, which means better flavor development at lower brix, permitting early harvesting for low alcohol and good flavor concentration…”
Winemaker’s Notes: “Deep magenta and medium bodied. Aromas of red and purple fruits, rose petal, and dried basil give way to savory flavors of black fruits, cured meat, and black pepper. Elegant tannins and bright acidity add persistence and length.”
My Review: Very deep color, vanilla blackberries and spice on the nose. Smooth on the palate with blueberry and cedar flavors, a bit acidic, with a touch of spice and tobacco on the finish. This wine possesses a certain elegance and would be great with a meal. A very pleasant Syrah. December 2020
*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.
We were pleasantly surprised when Twisted Roots launched a tasting room in Carmel Valley (I love Zinfandel and Petite Sirah – and Lodi big reds)! But we wondered why. Took us a while to learn that there was a local connection: Josh Ruiz, partner and winemaker, is originally from Salinas! Twisted Roots opening their tasting room at 12 Del Fino Place gives us yet another reason to come to Carmel Valley to taste wine. In addition to Monterey County wines, you can find wines from Santa Cruz, Clarksburg, Lodi and even Napa (both Rombi and Bunter Spring feature wines with grapes from Napa) in Carmel Valley Village! We like to check in at Twisted Roots when we can catch them open to check out the latest releases, including what special wines/blends they may have.
This is the second article about non-Central Coast wineries with tasting rooms in Carmel Valley.
The Twisted Roots tasting room at 12 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village
From the Twisted Roots webpage: Twisted Roots Vineyard includes vines (Zinfandel) planted in 1918, but the small lot winery didn’t start making its own wines until 2005 by producing its flagship Petite Sirah. In 2009, they expanded to produce wines based on the other grapes in the vineyard, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Old Vine Zinfandel (1918) along with yearly “Limited Release” wines.
There is a great article about vintner Josh Ruiz fromEve’s Wine 101 and another great article from LodiWine.com here if you want to read more about why Lodi makes such great Petite Sirah.
2016 Twisted Roots 1918 Old Vines Zinfandel, Lodi AVA, 14.7% ABV, $40 (#32*)
According to its website, the 2016 Twisted Roots “1918” Old Vines Zinfandel is made from “the grapes that started it all for Twisted Roots… Originally planted on the “Dairy” Vineyard in 1918! Three generations of our family have cared for these vines, and they are still producing to this day. This wine presents itself as big and fruity on the nose, but on the pallet (sic) it has gentle fruit and smooth tannins. We aged this wine in 100% neutral French oak barrels to showcase the depth of flavor these old vines produce.”
My Review: Very dark purple in color, the nose and palate match on this wine: dark fruit, currant and licorice with a touch of alcohol. An almost port-like finish. April 2020
2015 Twisted Roots Petite Sirah, Lodi AVA, 15.8% ABV, $30 (#128*)
Reviews: From the above Lodi Wine article: “This is a dryer, slimmed down version of the varietal, which suits a Petite Sirah lover looking for the black color and blue fruit, but underlined by more of an edgy, angular tannin than the big, rounded, overtly fruit driven styles more typical of California iterations. Slightly caramelized, toasted vanillin oak helps drive the point home in this zesty, toothsome yet moderately sized (as Petite Sirahs go) wine.” The current release is the 2016 and sounds more up my alley: “…intense berry flavors up front, followed by a smooth, subtle finish.” It sells for $33 and you can for sure buy it through the winery’s website.
My Review: A rich, deep ruby red in color, with a strong berry nose. There is still quite a bit of tannin and acidity in this wine, with a tobacco finish. August 2020
Twisted Roots has a beautiful, spacious outdoor setting and a private room for wine tasting in better times.
Twisted Roots currently is offering free shipping. Check out Twisted Roots Vineyard on Facebook for their current specials. Check out their webpage to hear more about their wine tasting options – whenever we are able to reopen. “For more information or to make a reservation, call (831) 594-8282 or email info@twistedrootsvineyard.com.”
*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.
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