Over a year ago, I became friends with Marilyn Curry and discovered we had wine in common. Marilyn and her husband, Barry Kinman, owned Bear Cave Cellars in Paso Robles from 2004-2012. They made my kind of wines, so I am very sad they are no longer in business. I am glad I got to try their Syrah, but didn’t get to try the rest of their big reds. And now they are leaving the Monterey Peninsula for Hawaii, moving from one paradise to another. I will miss her!
About Bear Cave from California Wine Advisor: “Bear Cave Cellars is the creation of Barry Kinman and Marilyn Curry who, in their other lives, are husband and wife as well as partners in the law firm, Kinman & Curry. In a unique melding of two distinctly different businesses, the law office is also the legal tasting room of Bear Cave Cellars. Whether you want legal advice or to try our wines, call our offices. (My note: Several reviews also mentioned this was a very, very dog friendly tasting room!)
“Barry has been making wine since 1991. While living in Sonoma county he had access to top quality fruit from winery clients of the law office, including Kunde Vineyards. In the early 1990’s getting top quality fruit in Napa and Sonoma was not as difficult as it is today. Focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, Barry had the opportunity to work with top quality fruit in what may be the greatest decade of California grape growing – the 1990’s. Barry produced excellent wines from Napa in 1994, Sonoma in 1997 and the Sierra foothills in 2000.
“Paso Robles produces ultra-ripe wine grapes, which lend themselves to the fruit-forward style of wine making. By using a cool fermentation with extended time on the skins our wines all provide a softness and full mouth feel. The winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Zinfandel.”
My Review: Inky and dense in appearance. Aromas of blueberry and blackberry. Rich dark fruit on the palate. At 15.9% ABV, this rich, aged Syrah still packs a wallop. Wish I could have tried their other wines. January 2021
*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.
A mystery wine was opened during our chilly December happy hour with our COVID wine tribe, warmed by the flames of their fire pit. We guessed New World, but couldn’t hone in on the varietal (not one we normally taste). It was revealed to be a Tannat, for which I have a fondness. I mean, it is a palindrome, after all – perhaps the only wine that is one.
We were first exposed to Tablas Creek wines at the MacArthur Beverages annual Red Barrel Tasting charity event in Washington, DC. When we couldn’t get to California to go wine tasting, MacArthur’s brought the wineries to us. Tablas Creek was one of the few Central Coast wines we could buy in its shop back then.
About Tablas Creek from its website: “Tablas Creek is a pioneer of California’s Rhone movement. Founded in 1989, it is the culmination of a friendship between two of the international wine community’s leading families dating back to 1967: the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel and the Haas family of Vineyard Brands. After a four-year search, the partners chose Paso Robles, California, for its many similarities to the southern Rhone, and began the lengthy process of importing vine cuttings, building a grapevine nursery, and creating an estate vineyard from scratch.” Their blends include the flagship Esprit de Tablas red and Esprit de Tablas Blanc (modeled on the Chateau de Beaucastel red and white), the Cotes de Tablas red and Cotes de Tablas Blanc (a Californian take on Rhône classics), and Patelin de Tablas red and Patelin de Tablas Blanc (a “neighborhood” wine made from 8-12 of Paso Robles’ top Rhône-style vineyards).
It was hard for us to guess the varietal of this “mystery wine!”
About the 2017 Tannat: “The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2017 Tannat is Tablas Creek’s sixteenth bottling of this traditional varietal from South-West France, known principally in the Pyrenees foothills appellation of Madiran, but originally native to the Basque region. Tannat typically has intense fruit, spice, and tannins that produce wines capable of long aging.”
My Review: Leathery on the nose, New World on the palate, juicy and strong. We liked this wine. December 2020
You can buy this wine from the winery at the link above.
*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 hope you enjoyed your holidays and tried some new wines or revisited familiar favorites. I would love to hear from you: Which Central Coast wines did you open over the holidays and how were they? Please comment below!
Our traditional dinner table had far fewer place settings than usual. We also experienced new ways to celebrate – socially distant around a beautiful, warm fire on a chilly Monterey Bay night.
We enjoyed wines from around the world – France, Italy, Washington, Napa, Carmel Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains and Paso Robles.
Here are the Central Coast wines we tasted over the holidays (reviews to come!):
In addition to some of our favorite big reds from Carmel Valley, we branched out and tried some new brands from Paso Robles and the Santa Cruz Mountains!
2011 Bernardus Marinus, Carmel Valley, with our Christmas dinner
2018 Samuel Louis Smith Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains
2007 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley on New Year’s Eve
2006 Bear Cave Cellars Reserve Syrah, Paso Robles, also on New Year’s Eve
And, once again, which Central Coast wines did you open over the holidays – what did you think of them? I look forward to hearing from you!
Back in 2019, on our “research” wine trip down the Salinas Valley’s River Road, we had a bit of a hard time finding the Smith Family tasting room at the Paraiso Estate Vineyard. With a fence and dirt roads ahead of us, we made a U-turn and found one of the most beautiful tasting room settings, with a breathtaking view of the Salinas Valley. Our first wine tasting of the day, we marched through the usual varietals – and then noticed cases of Zinfandel stacked behind us – with an awesome price. Made by the family’s son, Justin Murphy, this affordable Zinfandel could meet my wine class’ budget – so we took a case home for about $17/bottle!
The Smith Family has one of the most beautiful views, overlooking the Salinas Valley.
About Irie Wines summarized from the Gold Medal Wine Club (an excellent writeup of Justin Murphy and Irie Wines): Justin is the grandson of the Smith Family founders, who were among the pioneers who planted grapevines in the Santa Lucia Highlands and, along with the Hahn family, helped that AVA earn its designation. He took a job at Courtside Cellars which sparked his true calling as a winemaker. He moved to Sextant wines and, in 2006, began producing his own wines. He knew he had to make a distinctive Zinfandel to separate himself from the rest of the Paso Robles pack. He produced 3 wines: Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Rose. I believe he is no longer producing wines under the Irie label and is focusing on his winemaking role at Paraiso/Smith Family vineyard.
About the 2012 Irie Zinfandel: “Irie is the label chosen by winemaker-in-training Justin Murphy, grandson of the vineyard’s founders. He makes his 2012 Zinfandel from grapes grown on the west side of Paso Robles, about an hour south of Soledad. There’s also a Petite Syrah, but 2013’s bottling has sold out, and what’s in the pipeline is not available for tasting.
“We’ve tasted a lot of Zin from Paso Robles. But something happens to these grapes on their short ride north, and the Irie Zin is like no other. This wine is also a definite reflection of its terroir—gently sloping western coastal hills, surrounded by grazing pastures with dry native grasses, very hot in the daytime, with a vigorous arid afternoon wind. Aged for 16 months in 25 percent new French Oak, this Zin just been released and is a very limited production of 335 cases.”
My Review: Very dark red, yet a bit transluscent. Blackberry and pepper on the nose. Raspberry, blackberry and cassis on the palate with white pepper and a little leather on the finish. Pairs nicely with both spicy and sweet foods. August 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.
A friend of mine put me in touch with the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society. How wonderful to meet (virtually) like-minded wine aficionados! In August, they hosted a virtual wine tasting of Daou wines. It was a great event, presented by Daniel Daou himself and showcasing three of their wines.
Three terrific DAOU wines presented by Daniel Daou!
About Daniel Daou: “Daniel’s winemaking vision had one very singular focus-creating the highest possible quality Cabernet and Bordeaux wines. This mission had a critical ingredient-the Calcareous Clay soils of Bordeaux. For Daniel, there is no greater truth than the fact that great wine is made in the vineyard. His extreme focus on every detail-from the proper soil, to his proprietary planting structure that creates “total vine balance” his exacting, almost extreme, winegrowing philosophy allows for the grapes to arrive to the winery in the perfect condition to create wines that continue to rival the best in the world…Daniel was one of the first to bring Cabernet clones to Paso Robles that deliver the highest possible quality-clones from the iconic regions of the world such as Bordeaux and Napa.”
A high-end Sauvignon Blanc made in a unique process.
Winemaker Notes: “The 2019 DAOU Estate Sauvignon Blanc exemplifies how this classic Bordeaux variety excels on DAOU Mountain. The chalky soils of DAOU Mountain give this wine loads of minerality on the palate while concentrated aromas of stone fruits, guava, kiwi and citrus blossom travel through the glass to enrich your nose. A touch of Sémillon works in harmony with the Sauvignon Blanc, adding complexity and dimension. Full-bodied yet balanced, this wine provides for a complete experience with an impressively long finish.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Review – 92 Points: “The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc contains 19% Sémillon and was aged seven months in 50% new French oak. The nose opens with poached pears scents accented by beeswax, lychee, grapefruit and flowers. The medium-bodied palate has a great balance of bright fruit character and phenolic texture, and it finishes with good freshness and length.” Erin Brooks, October 2020
My Review: Pale in color (leaning toward green) with pear on the nose. Pear and bitter grapefruit on the palate with a tart finish. This is a pretty complex Sauvignon Blanc, a product of a unique process which Daniel Daou described in some detail to the group. It is not your every day Sauvignon Blanc. August 2020
A terrific example of a fine, high quality Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaker Notes: “The 2018 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a shining example of world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. This wine’s magnificent nose is quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon, offering scents of dark chocolate, licorice, blackberries and cured meats with a touch of cedar. The palate delivers an explosion of fresh, dark berry fruits. Flavors of blackberry, juicy black cherry, cassis and cocoa are underscored by lovely accents of blueberry and raspberry. A silky palate is nicely integrated with hints of toasty oak, graphite, mineral and forest floor. Ripe fruits and exotic spices linger on a generous, full-bodied finish that promises excellent age-worthiness.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Review – 91-93 Points: “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It is still in barrel and will age about 18 months in 50% new French oak. The nose opens with tar, cassis and gentle blue fruit touches with notes of dried herbs, milk chocolate and coffee beans. The medium to full-bodied palate is lushly fruited but very fresh, with lifted herbal character, bright freshness and a firm but very finely grained structure, finishing long.” Erin Brooks, October 2020
My Review: Garnet in color, almost purple. Dark jammy fruit on the nose. Very smooth and juicy, balanced and pleasant. August 2020
2017 DAOU Bodyguard, Paso Robles AVA, 14.7% ABV, $40 (#199*)
Winemaker Notes (previously captured from their website): “The 2017 DAOU Bodyguard is a sleek yet powerful blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah, displaying both opulence and structure. The 2017 vintage presents fragrant fruit aromas of blackberry, raspberry, currant and crème de cassis. Notes of cocoa, coffee, dark chocolate, licorice and sweet cherry pipe tobacco are rounded out with whispers of truffle, toffee, mocha and menthol. A juicy, fleshy palate offers bright, generous flavors of cherry, cranberry, strawberry and blueberry tinged with black raspberry and tamarind—all supported by underlying accents of dusty leather, pencil shavings, cigar box and crushed herbs. An elegantly styled and beautifully structured finish reverberates with focused energy, vibrant berry fruit and ripe, polished tannins.”
Wine Enthusiast Review – 92 Points: “In yet another stylishly packaged and powerful blend from the Daou brothers, this bottling combines hearty coffee, kirsch and pumice aromas with toasty vanilla and caramel on the nose. The tannic structure is soft and polished yet firm enough to uphold black-cherry, toffee and caramel flavors, which are bolstered by a black-rock minerality that lingers in the background.” Matt Kettmann, March 2020
My Review: Inky purple in color, bold flavors on the palate – really opened up into a delicious, big wine in the style I like. This is a great combination of 60% Petite Verdot and 40% Petite Sirah. August 2020
You can buy DAOU wines from their website or from retailers primarily in California and New York, with a few retailers in Michigan and Florida. They have special holiday items and packages here. DAOU is open for wine tasting with food pairings – learn more and reserve your spot here.
*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.
Justin is known for its high-end, cleverly-named Bordeaux blends, such as Isosceles and Justification. Yet it also makes more reasonably-priced, single varietal wines, including today’s wine, the 2011 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon!
About Justin Winery: “…We planted our first vineyard back in 1981 with a mission to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Since then, we’ve expanded both our knowledge of viticulture in this unique region as well as our acreage…Rich in fossilized limestone from eons of marine deposits, JUSTIN’s soil is ideally suited to creating big, Bordeaux-style reds. The limestone “stresses” the vines, producing grapes that fully express their varietal character…Paso Robles’ distinctive microclimate offers the widest day-night temperature swings of any grape-growing region in California. The hot days allow the grapes to develop intense flavor, while the cool nights create great structure and balance.”
One of our favorite Cabernet Sauvignons from the Paso Robles AVA.
Winemaker notes found on www.wine.com: “Beautifully balanced, with attractive aromas of black fruit and spice, this smooth, ready to drink Cabernet is made with the same care as the highest quality, traditionally-made Bordeaux wines. Our grapes are hand-picked and then sorted by the berry for consistent quality and flavor. Justin Cabernet Sauvignon spends more than a year in traditional small oak barrels to impart a depth and complexity to the wine that expresses the influence of the ancient limestone soils and unique climate of Paso Robles.”
The 2011 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator and 86 points by Wine Enthusiast.
From K&L Wine Merchants: “Like most producers in California in 2011, yields were down 30% at Justin. Aged for six months in 30% new 225L American oak barrels, this Cabernet shows classic Justin soft berry fruit and baking spice from oak ageing, but it also reveals a freshness, structure, and wafting aromatic quality that speak to the cool vintage – very elegant and appealing. Winemaker’s notes: “An attractive mix of red and black cherry with blackcurrant, cinnamon, cocoa, cedar and purple flowers. Palate: Medium body, with a complex mix of red and black fruit of cherries and currants, with cinnamon, a little cocoa, and classic cabernet varietal components with an unforgettable hint of violet in the background. The finish is long and crisp with red cherry, mineral and subtle floral components balanced by soft, medium tannins making this an elegant and versatile pairing wine that would be equally at home with Chateaubriand as it would with a burger or even pasta with a red sauce.” $25
My Review: Very dark in color, with dark fruit on the nose and sour cherries and cooked fruit on the palate, raisin, red currant, and cassis. We liked this wine. June 2020
This vintage would be hard to find, but the 2017 is available online for about $28. A great value.
*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.
Way back when, when we used to get down to the Paso Robles AVA for wine tasting, we “discovered” Pesenti as having some fabulous reds for reasonable prices. When my favorite Zin producer Larry Turley took them over in 2000, it gave us some acknowledgement that we were not the only ones who thought Pesenti Vineyards produced great fruit! I am presenting two Zinfandels and one Petite Sirah in this post.
I confess I am a Turley girl – 1/5 of my wines cellar is Turley…
About Pesenti Vineyard Zinfandel: “This certified organic estate-owned vineyard was planted in the 1920’s on primarily limestone soil. Though the vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, the soil plays the most important role in distinguishing this vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles. The wines have a brightness, with chalk and floral aromas unique to the site, and to Zinfandel in general…With the calcaerous limestone and the occasional carignane vine interplanted with Zinfandel, the Pesenti Zin takes on a unique brightness leading to a “sweet-tart-esque” character.”
Winemaker Notes from wine.com: “Yields were down once again in Paso Robles, though luckily in 2016 we started to see the slightest bit of relief, rain-wise. As a result, the Pesenti Vineyard Zinfandel is deeply concentrated yet refreshing. The tart red fruits on the initial nose are present as always, followed by Pesenti’s signature bright acidity and smooth tannin. The wine has a refined yet approachable palate presence, complemented by plenty of lift from the calcareous Pesenti soils, carrying through to a long invigorating finish.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points: “From a site Turley owns in Paso Robles, the 2016 Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard exhibits a boisterous, fruit-driven bouquet of ripe raspberries, cherries and kirsch. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and generous, with tangy acids and fine structuring tannins largely concealed in a sweet core of fruit, tangy acids, light structuring tannins asserting themselves on the back end. It’s one of the most charming and immediate of this year’s single-vineyard bottlings.”
My Review: We drank this post-debate and finished the whole bottle without any difficulty. Deep garnet in the glass, blackberry and white pepper on the nose. Spicy blackberry, dark cherry and currant on the palate. A complex mix of jammy goodness with a touch of leather on the finish. There is really good fruit throughout in this wine. As it opened up, that fruit became rounder and deeper. This was a great vintage of this wine. (September 2020)
Winemaker Notes from wine.com: “Vibrant and always distinctive, the Pesenti Zinfandel makes its spring lineup debut! Fragrant red fruits, black raspberry, chalk dust, piquant spices and wild flowers all flourish on the nose. Lush yet linear on the palate, with fresh, lively acidity and profound depth. Intensely pleasurable now, and will age well.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 points: “The Pesenti vineyard was planted in the 1920s on limestone soils. Deep ruby in color, the 2017 Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard gives savory notes of charcuterie over dried brambly fruits and crushed black cherries with hints of dried soil. Medium to full-bodied, it offers savory-laced fruits in the mouth with soft, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long with pretty dried flowers notes. 2,400 cases produced.”
My Review: SweeTart on the nose with raspberry and bright fruits. This high-alcohol wine seemd a bit volatile on the palate with a bit of harshness and leather on the finish. This wine might need a bit more time in the bottle or more aeration upon opening. July 2020
AboutPesenti Vineyard Petite Syrah: “This estate-owned and certified organic vineyard was planted by the Turley team using cuttings from the 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.”
Winemaker Notes from wine.com: “If, like us, you are fans of the wines of the Northern Rhone Valley—Cornas in particular—then you’ll love the 2017 Pesenti Petite Syrah as much as we do! Lightly smoked, ripe dark fruits with fresh cracked pepper on the nose. The palate is surprisingly graceful despite its powerful heft, thanks to the excellent acidity in the soils. Dense, inky, and loaded with spice, the Pesenti Petite is a bold, deeply flavorful, and satisfying wine. We recommend giving it some time in the bottle and decanting well ahead of mealtime to best experience this powerful Petite.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 98 points: “The 2017 Petite Syrah Pesenti Vineyard was bottled three weeks before I tasted it but is nonetheless showing beautifully. It has a very deep purple-black, opaque color and nose of crème de cassis, black cherry liqueur, cracked black pepper, bacon fat, savory green and black olive, violet, lilac, perfumed earth and tons of blue fruit jam notes. Full-bodied, rich and savory, it features wonderful black and blue fruit layers with tons of floral and savory perfume, very firm, chewy tannins, great freshness and a very long, savory finish.”
My Review: Rich, dark ruby in color. Blackberry and blueberry with a little brown sugar and rosemary on the nose. Full palate of dark, jammy fruit and black pepper with a slight bitterness on the finish. Truly a favorite. August 2020
*The price above is what we paid via their mailing list. They are offering some specials to anyone on their Remote Purchases website with the following notes: “At this time, we are allowing for both shipping and appointment-based pick-up orders in our Paso Robles tasting room. Please review our Shipping & Pick-up Information in advance of your order. Note: if you are shipping outside of CA, we strongly recommend a minimum 6 bottle order, to maximize shipping efficiency, cost and safety (we can only include ice packs in 6 bottle and higher shippers).”
*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.
Everyone raves about the short ribs at Poppy Hall in Pacific Grove and one Saturday in June we decided to takeout short ribs. I noticed this $20 Cabernet Franc in the window and decided to try it. What a pleasant surprise!
About Madeleine Wines: “Madeleine was born in Belgium on March 6, 1911. Daughter of a wine merchant, she grew up developing her palate. Her whole life, she collected bottles that she would share with friends. Among them were my parents, and as a boy I had my first sip. In 2005, the first vintage of Madeleine was produced, a tribute to her life and gratitude for her inspiration.” I am presuming this is Damien Georis speaking, also the winemaker at Georis and no relation to Walter Georis – even though they come from the same small home town in Belgium! This wine is produced at Georis’ winery.
2016 Madeleine Maddie Red Wine, Central Coast, 13.5% ABV, $20 (#71*)
Deliciously paired with Poppy Hall Short Ribs!
From the Bottle: “Crafted in the “Loire Valley” style, that will perfectly complement your everyday meal. Un vin de table pour un Plaisir quotidien!”
From the Winemaker: “Opens up with scents of cherry, black olive, leather and truffle. The fruits are ripe and the mouth is full with medium tannins. The finish is dry, chalky and lingering with nuances of thyme and sage. 275 cases produced.
Review from Brix and Barrel, “This Cab Franc will remind you of cherries and truffles when it hits your nose, and the tasting notes have ripe fruit with an amazing dry finish…A lighter-bodied Cab Franc, Strawberry, and some acidity. It was aged in neutral oak, so it will be a brighter red wine that pairs great with food.”
My Review: This is a lighter red in color/density compared to the huge Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux wines we usually consume. Has a dark fruit bouquet with a touch of tobacco. Cherry and raspberry on the palate, very smooth and delicious. We decanted this wine just before consumption. Our daughter liked this wine and it paired nicely with our short ribs. I like this better than other Central Coast Cabernet Francs made in the Loire style.
Available from the winery’s webpage and at Poppy Hall for $20.
*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.
One of my local friends says she loves the Hahn GSM, which she buys at our local market, Andronico’s. We like Hahn wines and featured their SLH Pinot Noir in my Fall 2019 Northern Virginia AWS class. While we tend to avoid the widely-marketed, mass-produced wines, I wanted to give this one a try. This is another Central Coast-designated wine.
Their Estate tasting room is located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands.
From www.hahnwines.com : “Our founder, Nicky Hahn, grew up speaking German. In his native language, the word ‘Hahn’ means rooster, which is why a depiction of this bird has always graced the label of our Hahn wines. From the beginning, Nicky strove to produce exceptional varietal wines from Monterey County where Hahn’s vineyards and winery are located. (My note: The Hahns played a key role in getting the SLH AVA established in 1991.)
“This assemblage of classically-styled varietal wines—along with our GSM Rhone-inspired blend—are now under the care of second-generation vintner Philip Hahn, who proudly carries on his father’s legacy. Vintage after vintage, we style our Hahn wines to be fruit-forward, balanced and supple. Our vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco AVAs are a significant source of fruit for these wines.”
Hahn 2018 GSM, Central Coast, 14.5% ABV, $15* (#43)
A Wine Enthusiast Top Best Buy in 2020!
About the GSM from Hahn Wines: “Inspired by the Rhône blends of Southern France, our GSM combines the character of each component into rich layers of flavors and textures. Bright, fruity Grenache grown in Arroyo Seco contributes raspberry, strawberry and cherry flavors, while Syrah from the Santa Lucia Highlands lends color, tannins and hints of blueberry and black pepper. A small amount of Mourvèdre contributes richness to the mid-palate and lengthens the dry finish.”
Winemaker’s Notes (same link above): “Enticing aromas of strawberry, black cherry, white pepper and cinnamon. On the palate, notes of raspberry, a hint of cinnamon spice, along with strawberry and black cherry. Finishing with a smooth and luscious mouthfeel.”
Wine Enthusiast Review – 90 Points and #43 of Top 100 Best Buys in 2020: “Aromas of dark red berry and crumpled hibiscus make for a delicious entry to the nose of this blend of 69% Grenache, 29% Syrah and 2% Mourvèdre. The palate is lively in acidity and texturally engaging, carrying flavors of dark berry, licorice and star anise.” Matt Kettmann, 11/2020
My Review: Deep red in color, with a mellow berry and currant on the nose. Smooth cherry and cedar on the palate, with a slightly leathery, tobacco finish. This opened up to be a very drinkable and enjoyable wine. It is such a great value and taste – hard to believe such a great wine came from my grocery store.
I purchased this for $11 at Andronico’s. You can find some Hahn wines at Pearson’s in Washington DC.
Hahn Tasting Rooms are located a their estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, as well as in Carmel Plaza. They are open by reservation only – you can find more information here.
*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 mentioned previously that I took some of my new girlfriends to Hollister in San Benito County to explore their wines back in August 2019. The drive out was on a rough and windy road (funny, we don’t remember that coming back…). We started out at Calera, where we had our picnic lunches outside in 90-degree heat (really sweltering for us Central Coast gals). The wines were presented in flight stemware servers. The wines were great and the experience, special!
We enjoyed our August 2019 visit to Calera – for most of us, our first exposure to their wines.
Calera, part of the Duckhorn family of wines, is known primary for its Pinot Noirs from Mt. Harlan, but today’s wine is a Chardonnay, so I am focusing on that story. From www.calerawine.com: “Josh Jensen’s winemaker mentors in Burgundy were adamant that pinot noir and chardonnay must be grown in limestone-rich soils…to make great wines. Upon his return from France in 1971 he spent two years searching throughout California to find limestone…In early 1974, Josh Jensen purchased a high-elevation parcel with a limestone deposit of several million tons. Located 100 miles south of San Francisco and about 37 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the limestone-rich parcel is found near Mt. Harlan in San Benito County. Its elevation at 2,200 feet above sea level makes it one of the highest and coolest vineyard properties in California.” “Calera” is the Spanish word for “limekiln.”
Calera 2016 Chardonnay, Central Coast, 14.2% ABV, $25 (#64*)
The 2016 Chardonnay: golden in color, with aromas of peach and pear, and pineapple notes.
About the 2016 vintage: “After five years of drought, we welcomed a return to normal winter rainfall in 2016…After a warm spring led to an early budbreak, summer seemed to arrive quickly on the Central Coast. While, we had abundant warmth in July and August, cool evenings allowed the grapes to mature perfectly, and harvest commenced in mid-August. While the grapes were small and dense, good-sized clusters delivered yields close to our annual averages…”
The 2016 Chardonnay is truly a “Central Coast” wine.
The Calera 2016 Central Coast Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay, aged 10 months in 90% neutral French oak. The grapes come from San Benito, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties, making it truly “Central Coast.” From the winemaker: “Vibrant and inviting, this wine captures the essence of Chardonnay grown on the cool, windswept Central Coast. Aromas of jasmine, vanilla bean and passion fruit rise from the glass revealing this wine’s youthful charm. On the beautifully fruit-driven palate, layers of green apple, grapefruit and pineapple are framed by subtle oak and a refreshing acidity that carry the flavors to a bright, focused finish.”
Wine Enthusiast Review – 91 points: “The nose of this wine is sharp and precise in tones of chalk, tangerine cream, dried lemon and crushed nuts. There’s a strong mineral quality through the entire palate that accents flavors of lemon juice and yellow pear.” MATT KETTMANN
My Review: The wine is a golden color, with aromas of peach and pear, and pineapple notes. It is a big, delicious, mouthfilling, a little bit oaky Chardonnay, with a little bitter lemon-lime on the finish. We enjoyed this Chardonnay very much, both back at last August’s tasting and during our Shelter-in-Place. This is a keeper.
You can purchase the current vintage (2018) for $25 on their webpage here.
*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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