Tagged: Arroyo Seco AVA

A June Afternoon at Odonata with the Magnificant Mushu!

THE STORY

On a quiet Tuesday in June, neighbors invited me to go with them to Odonata Wines out on the Monterey Wine Trail in the Salinas Valley.  We thought this might be a good adventure for our 5-month-old, rather large puppy.  It was a big car ride for him and a lot of pup handling for us, especially when I ran out of kibble. Heh. It is one of my goals that he be a great tasting room companion – we are getting there!

We were hosted by tasting room manager Rebecca Carranza, whom I had met before when she worked at Lepe Cellars.  She treated us so well and made sure we got to taste everything we wanted – and more!

THE WINERY

From their website:

“Small lot wines with a focus on local grapes that are organic and grown sustainably.

“Odonata Wines is a small family winery owned and operated by winemaker Denis Hoey. Located on the California coast, farming vineyards around the Monterey Bay Area. Odonata produces small batches of each of their wines and focuses on local grapes that are organic and grown sustainably. Hoey works closely with local growers to ensure the highest quality wines from the vines to the glass…”

“The credo we subscribe to is blending of old world winemaking methods and attitudes with new learning and a continuous search for improvement. We always want it to be interesting and exciting when you come to the tasting room or winery.” — Winemaker Denis Hoey

THE WINES

Today I am presenting the 10 wines we tasted that lovely afternoon. Winery notes come from their website unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2021 Odonata Brut Cuvée, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 12.5% ABV, $48 (#1592)

Grapelive Review: “The 2021 Odonata Brut Cuvée is a sparkling wine produced using the traditional Methode Champenoise…” no current notes available online…

My Review: Pale with tiny bubbles in the glass. A Champagne-like yeasty finish. We liked this wine. June 2025                                                                                                                                                     

2021 Odonata Sparkling Grenache Rouge, Hook Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 12.5% ABV, $46               (#1593)

Grapelive Review: “Again I was impressed and thrilled by the new set of releases from Odonata, and I especially loved the latest Grenache Rouge Fizz, which shows off a dark ruby hue and a Champagne style mousse with a dry, but expressive palate of strawberry, plum and tart cherry fruits, a touch of lees brioche, wet stones, mineral notes, a light sense of anise and candied orange and subtle florals. The Odonata Sparkling Grenache Rouge by winemaker Denis Hoey, sourced from the Hook Vineyard that is all Tablas Creek clone Grenache set on sandy loams, is a macerated on the skins to be a red Methode Champenoise bubbly. Made from these old vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands, this unique bubbly is exciting and lively on the palate, but with an elegant mousse and a depth of flavors. Hoey employed, as noted in prior reviews, a full skin maceration and primary fermentation in stainless steel, exactly as a normal red wine would have, before going through its patient journey of lees aging and riddling in bottle to become this ruby colored and crisply dry bubbly that was lovingly hand crafted to thrill the senses.”

My Review: A beauty in the glass, this sparkling grenache is surprisingly tart on the palate, balancing out the sweetness. June 2025

2024 Cote du Denis Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.4% ABV, $32 (#1594)

My Review: Tropical nose with a lime finish. June 2025

2023 Odonata Chardonnay, Boekenoogen Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey Couunty,14.6% ABV, $36 (#1595)

Winery Notes: “Bright aromatics of sweet cream butter, with a balanced amount of toasty oak, melding with baked yellow apple. Weighty on the palate, but lightened by crisp light fruit on the entry, and ending with a long and textured finish. Think salmon or grilled chicken.”

My Review: Pale in the glass. Caramel on the nose. Pretty delicious palate. Easy to drink. June 2025

2022 Odonata Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 13.1% ABV, $42 (#1596)

Winery notes: “Bright bing cherry with subtle hints of toast allure you into the glass. Palate is broad, rich and pleasurable. The finish is long and lingering. This elegant expression of a low alcohol Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot is testament to this great region. This wine will age gracefully for a decade or more but drinks playfully and fruit forward now.”

My Review: Dark cherry on the very tasty palate. Punches above its weight. I like this pinot noir. June 2025                                                                                                                                        

2020 Odonata Sangiovese, Machado Creek Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley, 14.5% ABV, $32 (#1597)

Winery Notes: “Juicy, fresh strawberries with a hint of woodsy vanilla from the oak. This wine is smooth and enjoyable now, but if cellared, the bright fruit will mellow, allowing the herbs and spices to emerge, making it a perfect match for food.”

Edible Monterey: “The 2022 Petite-Sangio blend hails from Machado Creek in Santa Clara Valley and blends the chocolatey lushness of Petite Sirah with the youthful tease of red cherry soda from the Sangiovese, to create a pop rocks sensation in the mouth. Kind of like a truffle filled with a tangy, boozy red cherry filling.” Laura Ness

My Review: Very tasty.  Wrong on so many levels but so, so good in the glass. A favorite of the day – I took some home! June 2025

2020 Odonata Petite Sirah, Machado Creek Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley, 13.8% ABV, $32 (#1599)

Winery Notes: “Boysenberry, root beer, peachy aromatics. Dense chewy tannins, fruit is expressive yet tamed by the dark brooding nature of this varietal. Pretty little spice and long textured finish. This is our work horse wine, every day red wine that pleases with every sip. This is our 11th year working and farming at Machado Creek Vineyard, this block is all head trained (meaning no wires) and leads to a really dynamic expressive fruit.”

My Review: This came to us late in the tasting when our pup became restless, so our notes are minimal: A tasty big wine. I’ve enjoyed this wine year over year. June 2025

2021 Odonata Syrah, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 14.7% ABV, $42 (#1600)

Winery Notes: “Deep and brooding aromatics with subtle sun drenched exposed dusty rock. Notes of coriander, pink pepper corn, lavender, and black raspberry in the nose. Flavors of black olive and blackberry jam kissed with a bright and briny acidity. Finishes clean with bright floral notes lifting the palate!”

My Review: Cherry, red raspberry on the nose.  Cherry dominated the palate with orange peel on the finish. Very good for a cool climate. June 2025

2019 Odonata Cabernet Sauvignon, Prolific Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, 14.1% ABV, $49 (#1601)                                                                                                                                                                                           

Winery Notes: Winemaking:  Destemmed completely, gentle punch downs for 21 day extended fermentation, pressed to barrel. 41% New Oak, (51% French, 45% American)

My Review: Very dark fruit cooked fruit almost portlike. I think this deserves a retaste on another day. June 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Visit the Odonata Tasting Room: “Nestled at the northern edge of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA and at the beginning of the River Road wine trail lies the Odonata winery and tasting room. We hope you will stop by our tasting room and sample a selection of our current releases. We are open 7 days a week and no appointments are necessary.” Open Daily 11 am – 5 pm.  Located at 645 River Road, Salinas CA, 93908.            


© Decanting Monterey 2025

**FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Seabold Hosts an Exciting Summer Tasting for Local Wine Group!

THE STORY

American Wine Society Visits Seabold!

My quest to get the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter to every local tasting room continued this month at Seabold Cellars tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. This one took quite some time to arrange, as Eden Rift Vineyards and Seabold had a merger in 2024. (They described it as a “parent/sister” relationship; they continue to operate autonomously.) We took advantage of their offer for us to bring our own appetizers and make a little summer party out of it.  Their expansive and comfy outdoor space made it a perfect spot for our group of 25. We were hosted by Dre Bejines (Eden Rift) and Cynthia D’Vincent (Seabold Tasting Room Manager), who knows everything there is to know about Seabold!

Delicious food prepared by our members!

If you are interested in joining the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter on our quest to visit every Monterey County tasting room, please visit our website, join the National American Wine Society and select Monterey as your chapter! We hope to see you soon!

Our members enjoying being together on a summer evening!

THE WINERY

From their website:

“Seabold Cellars focuses on cool-climate organic and sustainable vineyards to produce balanced wines that showcase their origin more than their winemaking. During the year, more time is spent in vineyards than the winery. Our winemaking is as hands-off as possible, respecting traditional techniques and practices without being beholden to them. We produce non-interventionist, site-specific Burgundy and Rhône varieties, as seen through a California lens.”

“Seabold Cellars was founded in 2014 by Master Sommelier Chris Miller. Located in the small town of Marina, the winery is at the epicenter of California’s Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz wine growing regions.”

You can read more about Chris Miller and Seabold Cellars here.

THE WINES

Today I am presenting the 4 wines we tasted that evening. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites or materials. My notes today are amplified by my fellow AWS board member Erin O’Reilly, home winemaker and author of terravenos.

2023 BOLD Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.2% ABV, $25 (#1587)

Winery notes: “Fresh and exuberant on the nose, with loads of pink and white grapefruit, starfruit, exotic flowers, gooseberry, honeysuckle and a core of ripe tropical fruit framed by crystalized ginger and fresh cut grass.”

My Review: Pale golden in the glass. Subtle pineapple, guava, and passion fruit on the nose. Pleasant round palate with lemon notes on the finish. It’s a very good wine – a nice warm climate. I would buy this wine!  August 2025                                                                                                      

2020 Seabold Chardonnay, Eden Rift Vineyards, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#1588)

Winery Notes: “An open and exotic nose, with butterscotch layered over dried pineapple and ripe lemon curd. Telltale Monterey Bay acidity frames the richness on the palate, giving a fresh li to counterbalance the rich and ripe fruit. Truly a bole to ‘drink or hold’, with an immediate appeal.”

My Review: Pale yellow and viscous in the glass. Buttery nose with lemon curd and golden apple. Bosc pear, white flower and just ripe yellow peach. All the fruit is ripe and rich. The nose is more interesting than the palate. I attribute that to the vintage. August 2025

2021 Seabold Pinot Noir, Eden Rift Vineyards, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.7% ABV, $40 (#1589)              

Winery Notes: “From 120-year-old head-trained vines in Redwood Valley. Roasted blackberries, black currants, seared venison, black cherry compote, violets, and black olives.”

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Cherry, herbs, dry leaves, and bergamot tea on the nose. Medium tannins. Zippy up front with a palate of cherry, raspberry, herbs, and tea.  Forest floor and a touch bitter on the back end. August 2025

2021 Seabold Syrah, Rodnick Farms, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 13.3% ABV, $50 (#1590) 

Winery Notes: “On the nose, charred blueberries and plums give way to subtle undertones of grilled venison. With air, black olive tapenade, rosemary, and dried sage start to emerge. On the palate the tannins and acidity are present but seamless, showing balance in youth with a promising aging capacity.”

My Review: Dark in the glass. Warm berry jam and brown sugar on the nose. Rich palate of rather jammy fruit followed by ham hock notes and a spicy finish. This is a very nice, cooler climate Syrah. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Visit us at our tasting room, located in idyllic Carmel Valley Village. Graced with sunshine, tucked at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains, our tasting room is dog friendly and children friendly, and is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.”

Seabold tasting room’s lovely outdoor seating!

3 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village.  Open Thursday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m. and by appointment (831-288-2730).


© Decanting Monterey 2025

**FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Lyndon Fog Cellars: These Well Made Wines Impress the Palate!

THE STORY

Laurel Livingston Lyndon Fog

I met Laurel Livingston the first time at the Monterey Winemaker’s Celebration in Carmel-By-The-Sea, where I first discovered Lyndon Fog Cellars. What piqued my interest was their Syrah made from Zabala Vineyard grapes. I’m a huge fan of Zabala Vineyard fruit. Fast forward to an I Brand party in the Fall of 2024 where Laurel and Glen generously gifted me the 3 wines I am presenting today.

Laurel Livington at I Brand Vertical Tasting

My last post including Lyndon Fog Cellars was here: Highlights from the 31st Annual Monterey Wine Country Winemakers Celebration!

THE WINERY

About Lyndon Fog Cellars from their website:

“We have been working and making wines on the Central Coast of California for over a decade. Since starting in the wine industry we’ve always dreamed of the day we could make our own wines that represent us and our passion and love for wine. Together we’ve started Lyndon Fog Cellars.

“These wines are a representation of us and our winemaking style. Our grapes come from vineyards we’ve worked with and believe produce the best quality grapes to make the wines in the style we want; well balanced and fruit forward allowing you to enjoy them with a variety of food or as a glass on their own.

“We are incredibly excited to share our wines with you and hope you enjoy!”

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you 3 current releases we have tasted this year.  These were all gifted to me for the purpose of review. Winery notes come from the Lyndon Fog Cellars website. My tasting notes were amplified by my Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society fellow board members, Janet Torelli and Erin O’Reilly. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Lyndon Fog Chenin Blanc, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 14.3% ABV, $25 (#1585)

Winery Notes: “…fermented in neutral French Oak barrels. Following fermentation the wine aged in barrel for an additional 5 months, with 30% new French Oak. The result is a medium bodied tropical wine with a subtle brown spice from the new oak, which compliments the leading fruit flavors.” 

My Review: Pale straw in the glass. Golden apple, sweet lemon curd, apricot, white blossom, pineapple, Bosc pear (maybe some papaya?) on the nose. Light tropical flavors on the palate with a tasty punch of pineapple on the finish. February 2025

2023 Lyndon Fog Grenache, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.8% ABV, $30 (#1586)

Winery Notes: “…This Grenache was aged 6 months in French Oak, 30% new French Oak. This 100% Grenache is a medium bodied red wine with aromas of ripe strawberry and baking spice.” 

My Review: Cranberry with hints of cherry cola and watermelon rind on the nose. Cranberry, cherry sucker, rose petals, and plum on the palate. The fruit is so right and fresh. This wine has a tongue-coating mouthfeel. Overall, a tasty palate with a dry finish. July 2025

2023 Lyndon Fog Syrah, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.9% ABV, $35 (#1429)

Winery Notes: “…This Syrah was aged 6 months in French Oak, 30% new French Oak. This 100% Syrah is a medium-heavy bodied red wine with aromas of plum, earthy notes, black pepper and dark toast.”

My Review: Medium garnet in color, cherry, dark plum, and milk chocolate (tar, ashes, and tobacco – a classic Rhône nose) on the nose. Bright palate of cherry at its core, wrapped in Game and leather with a dark plum finish. February 2025

LOCATE

You can find Lyndon Fog Cellars on their website!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

**FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Shale Canyon’s New Release: 2019 Cabernet Franc

THE STORY

I popped into the Shale Canyon Tasting Room in Carmel-by-the-Sea in February and was informed their 2019 Cabernet Franc had just been released.  Their Cabernet Franc wines are their flagship, award winning wines. I presented an earlier vintage in one of my DC wine classes and was excited to try this one.

THE WINERY

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

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

THE WINE

Today I am presenting 1 Shale Canyon wine. As usual, the winery notes come from their tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the owner. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2019 Shale Canyon Cabernet Franc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.4% ABV, $40 (#1543) 

Winery Notes (2018 Vintage): “Our 2018 Estate Cabernet Franc starts with aromas of dark fruit, slight oak and a touch of floral.  A complex wine with flavors of dark cherry, dark berry and cassis.  A finish of vanilla with a hint of leather and medium firm tannins.

“Cabernet Franc is one of the world’s top 20 most popular grape varieties. Recent DNA testing has proven it to be an ancestor to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Malbec. It is so popular that is has its own “wine” holiday, International Cabernet Day is celebrated August 30th.”

My Review: Rust in color. Cranberry leather, dark, plum eucalyptus and cassis on the nose. Juicy palate of blackberry, cherry, a touch of prune and anise on the finish. Medium to full bodied. February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

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

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Monterey AWS Chapter Wine Group Celebrates the Holidays at LadySomm!

THE STORY

The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society was seeking a place to celebrate the holidays – and I thought of LadySomm at the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel. They have interesting offerings in a great space. Fortunately, the date we were seeking just happened to be open on their calendar. They offered us some fun wine education aspects and a beautiful spread of cheeses and fruits paired with some delicious bread, making for a lovely evening. Roxanne and Tamara were great hostesses for our group that evening. Thank you, ladies! And we were very happy to meet some brand new members of our local wine group!

ABOUT LADYSOMM

From their website: “At the heart of Lady Somm are two sisters, Roxane Langer and Tamara Carver, whose passion for wine has blossomed into a mission to share it with the world. With backgrounds that span the globe and the wine spectrum, they invite you to join them on a journey of discovery, education, and enjoyment. Welcome to our world of wine.”

On their website, you can dive deeper into all of their wine education, tasting salon, travel and special events. I encourage you to take a peek! I am excited about their offerings – there is something for every budget.  They host regular wine tasting and education events, running the spectrum from informal to fancy.  It’s a fun place to explore!

THE EVENT

Our holiday celebration at LadySomm was a fun event.  How lovely to enter their space, all decorated for the holidays with the beautiful charcuterie boards on display plus the 3 wine education stations: 

  • “Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles – Taste three different sparklers that evoke the holiday spirit: Are you a prosecco fan or a method Champenoise fan, OR do you even know which you prefer? Taste three of our favorites to confirm your preference.”

This was eye opening. The prosecco from Italy upon first taste was delicious, blowing my preconceived idea that all prosecco’s are sweet. Others thought it was a tad sweet, which I discovered to be true upon a revisit. Alas. The cava from Spain was extremely bubbly, crisp, and dry – the bubbles obfuscated the flavors for me, which is one of my pet peeves in overly bubbly wines. I probably didn’t give it a fair shake and will try another one again. The Champagne (obviously from France) had the finest bubbles, the most sophisticated of the three.  I do enjoy a good Champagne! Those would have been fun to blind taste to see if we could guess which was which.

  • “Beef or Fowl for your holiday table – which wine region has you covered? Taste a “perfect for your roast turkey” white wine, a big red for your prime rib and a wine that pairs well with both all from one European wine region.”

Here, we learned how different wines pair with turkey and beef. We tasted a Domaine de Cala, Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé with the turkey – an appropriate pairing.

Then we tried the 2021 Wrath Pinot Noir, Boekenoogen Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.3 % ABV, $49 (#1484) (92 points – Wine Enthusiast) with both the turkey and the beef, showing its versatility in food pairing. This wine was fuller-bodied than the typical SLH Pinot Noir, possessing enough structure and tannins to please our palates and stand up to the beef.

Finally we tried a Tribe & Arrow Diamond Dão Proprietary Red Blend (50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot), Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley with the beef.  I didn’t see the vintage, but this is a limited production bottling by Olette Wines with individually numbered bottles. Another great pairing!

  • “Know What Your Nose Knows – Learning the Language of Wine: Learn to smell and identify common scents in three different wine varietals.”

Here they had on display a 2022 Corral Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#1088); a Val de Meigas Albariño from Spain; and a MAX Carménère Reserva from Chile. For this exercise, they put wine glasses upside down over Le Nez du Vin wine odor bottles.  Oh, is that what you are supposed to do with them – who knew? Another fun excursion for a future wine event!

First we focused on the aroma chart or what one might smell by swirling one of the white wines in the glass. Then we could pick up each glass and try to discern the odor in each glass to the chart.  I guessed all of these correctly.  The green apple wasn’t so distinctive, but wet hay was the most memorable for me. Then we had a set of cards to use to identify the odor samples typical for a Carménère. I got green pepper off the bat, and found garlic a bit harder to discern. OK, I don’t consider myself to have a very good nose or palate for detecting the multitude of aromas and flavors in a wine, but I aced them all!

VISITING LADYSOMM

LadySomm is located at 3728 The Barnyard, G-23 on the upper level in Carmel. They are open 2-7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2-5 p.m. on Sundays. Check out their website for upcoming events throughout this holiday period and beyond! 

JOIN THE MONTEREY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY!

December is the perfect month to join the American Wine Society and select Monterey, CA as your local chapter! Please join today so you can participate in our 2025 local wine education activities!

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Parsonage Releases Stunning Wines from the 2021 Vintage!

THE STORY

As soon as we go to the valley to pick up wine allocations, it never fails that we get another club notification! We live on the chilly coast, so going to Carmel Valley to taste new releases and get warm is a welcome task. In this instance, we went Parsonage Winery.

The real fun with this release is tasting 2021 The Aussie side by side with its reserve version – the Xandro.  I’m impressed with each of these 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blends, but in very different ways.  I also managed to sneak in a purchase of the yet-to-be-released 2021 Rocco Reserve Syrah and a miraculous find of the last available 2019 Rocco.  Someone is looking out for me!

In addition, Parsonage has made two 2023 Chardonnays: one 100% stainless steel and one in oak.  Read below to see which one I preferred!

THE WINERY

Since I write about Parsonage often, I’m including their latest newsletter as the update!

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you 5 new releases wines.  Winery notes come from their website, newsletters or tasting room. Some of these are so new that tasting notes aren’t even yet available! Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Parsonage Chardonnay, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#1464)

Winery Notes: “A charming nose of pear and lemon blossom with subtle hints of kiwi and hazelnut. A fully rounded out palate structure with lemongrass and tropical fruit notes.”

My Review: Golden in color. Grilled pineapples and white flowers on the nose. Full malolactic fermentation. Very flavorful palate, with caramel notes. Very pleasant. I preferred this Chardonnay. October 2024

2023 Parsonage Wood Reserve  Chardonnay, Diamond T Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV (#1465)

My Review: Asparagus and honey on the nose. Leaner and cleaner – a much more sophisticated wine. I confess that I had taken a medication which may have influenced some of these flavors and smells, so don’t go by me! Decide for yourself! Love the new quilt Mary Ellen Parsons made which is on this label! October 2024

2021 Parsonage The Aussie, Central Coast AVA, 15% ABV, $46 (#1466)

Winery Notes: “This 2021 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah has an uncommon level of lusciousness. The nose fairly resonates with exquisitely ripe dark fruit, the full spectrum of bramble berry, black currant, black cherry, and black raspberry with a depth of florl spicy notes.  All of that beautiful, ripe fruit explodes on the palate and prompts tears from one’s eyes on the fabulous finish.”

My Review: Fruit forward bouquet. Plum and yum with menthol and cinnamon notes. Very tasty palate – a Sharon kind of wine. But tears, really?? October 2024

2021 Parsonage Syrah, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $52 (#1467)

Winery Notes: “The nose is powerfully aromatic with a core of ripe dark fruit and a dusting of mixed spices. Chewy intensity in structure with layers of blackberry, current, plum, and blueberry with subtle notes of mocha, peppercorn and a hint of graphite on the finish.”

My Review: A darker rich color. Dark fruit and leather on the nose. Intense, concentrated dark flavor. This is one to watch. October 2024

2021 Parsonage Xandro Reserve, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98 (#1468)

Winery Notes: “Our reserve blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Nose of black and blue fruit, fig newton, earthy exotic black cardamom-nutmeg-vanillin, and Parsonage terroir perfume. Opulent palate of blackberry, black currant, black cherry, blueberry, and curry spices. Exquisitely lengthy and delicious finish!!

My Review: Dark purple in the glass. Big, rich, fruity nose and the palate will wake you up! Sophisticated, intense, a reserve for sure! We liked this wine. October 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

“Hooray! We are open for both indoor and outdoor wine tasting daily.”

19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village

Hours: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm; Last seating for wine tasting: 4:15pm.

“Reservations can be made here or by phone. Please call us at 831-659-7322 for same day reservations.”

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

An Unexpected Tasting of New Bernardus Pinot Noirs!

THE STORY

We stopped by Bernardus Winery in late October with an out of town visitor.  My goal was to re-taste the 2018 Signature Marinus to update a recent post. And we lucked into a number of new releases, including its trio of 2022 Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs, which it is selling as a package deal! We tasted these  wines without knowing their order – I guessed the Rosella’s right!

My last post about Bernardus was here: Bernardus Hosts Monterey AWS for the Very First Time!

ABOUT THE 90+ SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIRS

“Explore our single vineyard Pinot Noirs from Gary Francioni’s vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.  Each designated vineyard is expressive of its unique terroir.” $168 for the bundle (normally $240). 

  • 2022 Sierra Mar Pinot Noir- 95 points Wine Enthusiast
  • 2022 Soberanes Pinot Noir- 95 points Wine Enthusiast
  • 2022 Rosella’s Pinot Noir- 92 points Wine Enthusiast

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 5 Bernardus wines from this late October tasting. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $28 (#1459)

Winery Notes: “Our 2023 Griva bottling has tropical fruit aromas accented by grapefruit and white peach.   The palate exhibits hints of minerality with rich, lush tropical fruit flavors. With notes of guava, citrus peel, and stone fruit, this intense Sauvignon Blanc finishes with refreshing acidity.” 92 points- Wine Enthusiast.

My Review: Pale in the glass. Pineapple, grapefruit, perfume and honeydew on the nose. Bitter grapefruit zest up front, followed by Meyer lemon and grilled pineapple. October 2024

2023 Bernardus Rosé, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 12.5% ABV (#1460)

Winery Notes: (Just released – no notes available as of yet!)

My Review: Ballet slipper pink. Honeydew on the nose. Flavorful palate of marshmallow, melon, watermelon and citrus. Lingering flavors in the palate. October 2024

2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV (#1461)

Winery Notes: “Santa Lucia Highlands’ two most renowned growers, Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni, have joined forces on an exciting vineyard located next to the celebrated Garys’ Vineyard in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is called Soberanes Vineyard. We at Bernardus are honored to be among the few wineries to receive both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from this fabulous vineyard! We have chosen two Pinot clones: the celebrated Pisoni clone and Dijon clone 667.

“Our 2022 Soberanes Pinot exhibits aromas of ripe blackberry and cola. Typical of this special vineyard, the palate is full and intense with flavors of ripe, dark red fruits. The finish is long, rich and silky.”

My Review: Cherry and earth on the nose. Lighter palate of very SLH flavors but without sour cherries. Pomegranate, cranberry bright red fruit and soft spices. October 2024

2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $70 (#1462)

Winery Notes: “Sierra Mar is a superb vineyard planted by the renowned grower Gary Franscioni on a dramatic hilltop location at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands. We at Bernardus are honored to be among the few to receive both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from this SLH super star…

“Our 2022 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir exhibits seductive scents of ripe red cherries and raspberries accented with hints of spice. The palate shows bright fruit flavors of cranberry, plum and baking spice notes on a long flavorful finish.”

My Review: More purple in the glass. Darker, sweeter fruit in the nose. A much bigger palate of warm, dark plum and brown sugar with an acidic punch. October 2024

2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard,  Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.4% ABV (#1463)

Winery Notes: “The Santa Lucia Highlands are known as one of the premier Pinot Noir appellations of the world. One reason for this lofty reputation is Rosella’s Vineyard, one of the finest Pinot and Chardonnay vineyards in California. Gary Franscioni planted his home ranch, named for his lovely wife, in the heart of the Highlands. His home vineyard is planted with a selection of the best available Pinot Noir clones and farmed with unparalleled passion and attention to detail. We at Bernardus are fortunate to have access to three small blocks: 2 planted with Dijon clone 777, and a third with the celebrated Pisoni clone.

“Our 2022 Rosella’s Pinot displays beautiful aromas of ripe plums and boysenberry. The palate is very rich and full-bodied, with ripe black cherry flavors accented by subtle baking spices ending with soft tannins and a long, silky finish.”

My Review: Even a richer wine. Warm nose and big rich dark palate with a leathery, tannic finish. I like this wine the best of the 3. I have become a huge Rosella’s fan. October 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

Welcome to the Bernardus Tasting Room – The first tasting room in Carmel Valley!

“In June 1994, pioneer Ben Pon opened the doors to the first-ever tasting room in Carmel Valley, establishing a legacy that endures to this day. While in the region enjoy a scenic journey along the 17-mile drive from Pebble Beach to our Tasting Room, where you can savor some of the highest quality wines in the region. Visit us!”

Location: 5 West Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley. Open Sunday and Monday – 12:00pm to 4:00pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 11:00am to 4:00pm; Friday and Saturday- 11:00am to 5:00pm.

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Alpha Omega Collective: Spur of the Moment Tasting at LadySomm!

THE STORY

Every now and then, Roxanne Langer, co-owner of LadySomm will email me about a last-minute tasting opportunity.  I asked her to text me to be sure I see it – and last Thursday she did!  We gathered the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod and drove over to the Barnyard to taste Alpha Omega Collective wines.  This was an informal gathering of about a dozen people, pretty much in the style of tasting I prefer: an efficient yet informative run down of the wines, accompanied by a few nibbles.

I thank Roxanne and Tamara for hosting this format of an informal tasting and thinking of us!

ABOUT THE ALPHA OMEGA COLLECTIVE:

On this evening, Zack Zybura, Alpha Omega Collective’s Western Regional Sales Manager, presented usd wines from their various labels. I encourage you to explore each brand by clicking on the notes below.  Sometimes I found the best information in their “trade” sections.

First, Let’s Explore the Story of Two Squared:

“Two Squared wines celebrate finding the ideal combination of grape and place. Our journey began in 2009 with a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Two Squared “Red” that showcases our discovery and collaboration with a remarkable collection of privately owned, boutique vineyards in the Napa Valley.

“Discovery and collaboration lie at the heart of Two Squared as we expand our exploration to the very best wine regions in the North and Central Coast of California in search of those perfect pairings of grape and place and work closely with growers who share our passion. The deep-seated relationships between our winemakers and each grower and their shared knowledge of grape and growing region are fundamental in crafting Two Squared wines.”

Next, Let’s Talk About Tolosa:

“Vintner Robin Baggett returned to Edna Valley almost 40 years ago with a law degree and cowboy dreams of owning a cattle ranch like his grandfather. Having graduated from Cal Poly in 1973, he knew the area.  He bought a historic ranch in the valley and began running cattle, but the cold Pacific wind and limestone soils made him realize he was on a different kind of frontier – one for world-class cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Being in a region with a grape-growing history that stretches back to the 18th century, when Franciscans at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa produced some of California’s first wines of distinction, planting wine grapes was a natural choice. Robin and his partner Bob Schiebelhut began planting vineyards in 1988, adding several other historic family ranches in the valley over time. Together with Jim Efird, now retired, they founded Tolosa in 1998. Robin’s passion for wine making was born, and his wine journey began.”

Now, Let’s Highlight Perinet:

“Perinet is located in the north of Spain’s prestigious Priorat region, an ancient wine-producing area where Garnatxa and Carinyena flourish in the Mediterranean climate perfectly suited for grape growing…

“Perinet was established in 1998 by a group of partners who painstakingly developed vineyards on vertigo-inducing terraces suited to both native and French varietals. Perinet’s estate parcels, spread over 130 acres (54 planted), and located adjacent to the ancient villages of Poboleda and Porrera, rise more than 1,500 feet into the mountains. The modern winery building features an exquisite, Gaudi-inspired barrel room, a tasting salon with majestic views of the Montsant Mountain Range and an inviting terrace to savor the estate’s wares. Perinet is considered an aesthetic gem amongst Priorat wineries.”

And, Finally, Napa-based Alpha Omega:

“Established in 2006, Alpha Omega’s mission is to create artisanal wines drawing on Old World vineyard handcrafted practices and emphasis on unique terroir driven characteristics that reveal a sense of place combined with New World technology.

“The winery, located on the Rutherford Bench in the heart of Napa Valley, exudes the utmost experience of hospitality in an authentic place reflective of the Napa Valley farming community. Presenting world-class wines in a convivial setting remains just as paramount to vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett today as when they opened the winery’s doors on July 1, 2006…

“The Baggetts’ relationships in the valley afforded them the opportunity to procure the best grapes from prized vineyards throughout the top AVAs of Napa Valley — most notably Thomas Vineyard in Rutherford, Beckstoffer To Kalon in Oakville, Beckstoffer Georges III in Rutherford, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane and Beckstoffer Las Piedras in St. Helena, Stagecoach in Atlas Peak, Drew Vineyard in Mount Veeder and Sunshine Valley in the Oak Knoll District…”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 6 wines from the Alpha Omega Collection. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. Prices listed are the prices as presented to us, which may differ from their retail prices. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2022 Two Squared Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $20 ($32 retail) (#1453)

Winery Notes: “In the captivating landscapes of Arroyo Seco, nestled at the foot of the Santa Lucia Mountains, we discovered another perfect match- Chardonnay from Monterey County. Grown in cool, windy, and diverse geograpy featuring rocky soils, this wine balances earth notes of white pepper and slate with crisp Bartlett Pear and Lodi Apple.”

93 points – Wine Enthusiast: “This label for Alpha Omega Collective presents a very satisfying take on Chardonnay in this bottling, starting with melon, ripe pear and struck stone aromas. The palate is tightly wound and bouncy with citrusy energy, as stonefruit and light pineapple flavors add depth.” — Matt Kettmann

My Review: Golden in the glass. Grilled pineapple on the nose. Very refreshing pleasant with a minerally sea salt finish. October 2024

2023 Tolosa Pinot Noir, Central Coast AVA, 14.2% ABV, $26 (#1454)

Winery Notes: “Formerly known as “Heritage” Pinot Noir, this wine is crafted from twenty-eight distinct blocks. The majority (82%) comes from Edna Ranch and other vineyards within the San Luis Obispo Coast, complemented by 12% Santa Lucia Highlands grapes and 6% Santa Maria grapes. The blend of these three regions imparts a complexity to the wine, highlighting the unique character of each region…Sight: Medium ruby red. Nose: Youthful red fruit flavor of plum, rhubarb, cherry and strawberry accent notes of red licorice, sesame, pine nut and new leather. Palate: Medium body with juicy, bright cherry and strawberry flavors that mix with black tea, white mushroom, roasted beets and citrus zest.”

My Review: Translucent ruby with a purple rim in color. Earth, cranberry and light cherry on the nose. Bright acidity on the palate, reminiscent of a Jolly Rancher. October 2024

2019 Tolosa 1772 Pinot Noir, Edna Ranch, Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County, 13.4% ABV, $49 (#1455)

Winery Notes: “…The 2019 harvest was the latest harvest I have seen since I began my career at Tolosa, and it unfolded really well. The steady, mild weather was perfect. We never had to rush any picking decisions due to how good it was…The 1772 Pinot Noir is our signature Pinot and captures what Edna Valley is on any given vintage. The elegance and freshness of the cooler 2019 year will show more earthy tones…Visual: Garnett, blush. Nose: White Pepper, cured meat, juicy cherry with rose pedals and cedar. Palate: Smooth and juicy with a medium to light body, pomegrate juice and herbal notes. Really long with lingering hay and cedar notes, rasberry.”

My Review: In contrast to the previous wine, this one is very dark garnet in the glass. Dark fruit and a little barnyard on the nose. California cherries on the palate, but more depth than a SLH Pinot. Paired well with peanuts. October 2024

2018 Perinet Merit Red Blend, Priorat, Spain, 14.5% ABV, $27 (#1456) 20% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 10% Carignane, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery Notes: “Ruby garnet with touches of Picota red cherry and mashed raspberries on the rim. On the nose, you’ll find a beautiful explosion of strawberries and violets, wild herbs, mint and sandalwood, and crushed metamorphic rocks. On the mouth is crisp and fruity, silky mid-palate with touches of wild berries. Appealing minerality, lingering acidity, and touches of dense tannins with balsamic notes and licorice.”

My Review: Inky in the glass. Prune and old leather/licorice on the nose. Chalky up front. Herbal (bay, tarragon) and cherry Sucret mid palate. Very earthy, minerally, with petroleum/menthol notes on the finish. Wine Pod opinions differed wildly. We took some home to settle the matter later! October 2024

2021 Two Squared Red Blend, Napa Valley, Napa County, 14.3% ABV, $49 (#1457)

Winery Notes: “Our winemakers build Two Squared to drink on release, and the aim is to please from the start. Two Squared Red Wine Napa Valley 2021 is a delicious example of immediate gratification, a debut expression of pure Napa Valley fruit with lush oak accents and a broad, lingering finish. This version boasts Cabernet from some of the Valley’s most respected AVAs, with contributions from Atlas Peak, Rutherford, Oakville, Oak Knoll and Spring Mountain, and a judicious sprinkling of the other four Bordeaux varietals wraps the entire package in a tidy bow!”

My Review: Dark garnet in color with dark plum/prune notes on the nose. Big palate of intense dark fruit like prune, in a good way. Biggest wine we have had so far tonight. We would have taken some home, if they had had some available. October 2024

2021 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Napa County, 14.5% ABV, $150 (#1458)

Winery Notes: “Our winemakers blended 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Merlot to create this structured, ageable wine. The wine was fermented in 25%  French oak, 30% new and 70% two and three-year old-barriques and 75% in stainless steel tanks followed by aging for 21 months in French oak in the same barrel composition. Sight: Deep ruby red with a crimson rim. Nose: Classic fruit notes of cassis, black cherry and plum are intermixed with notes of kirsch liqueur, anise, graphite, peppercorn, baking spices and dark earth. Palate: Youthful, concentrated, full bodied flavors of blackberry and pomegranate join with impressions of cured meats, cedar and dark chocolate that evolve to a long powerful finish.

My Review: Really inky in the glass. Not much nose that we could detect at this point in the evening. Huge palate of crushed berries, with balanced acidity. Very nice. Young. October 2024

THE TASTING ROOMS

Wines from the Alpha Omega Collection can be tasted in Napa or in Paso Robles. Click here to learn more or to make a reservation. You can also visit the Perinet Winery in Priorat!

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Manzoni Estate Vineyards: New Owners with a Vision!

THE STORY

Struggling to come up with a new idea for the monthly Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society First Friday WinedUP event, I pored over our master spreadsheet of tasting rooms and past events. It was time for our event to take place in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Manzoni Estate Vineyards jumped out at me: our group had never been there and they have a spacious tasting room.  I gave them a call and learned that, not only would they be interested in hosting us, but they have new owners! So, we beat feet over there to meet the new owner and hear his vision for the winery.

My last big post about Manzoni Estate Vineyards  was here: Manzoni Vineyards: In the “Heart of the Highlands”. When I called the tasting room, they remembered that I had visited them in 2021 to write up their wines for this post.

ABOUT MANZONI ESTATE VINEYARDS – NEW OWNERS WITH A VISION

Dan Troyan and his partner Doree Speidel are the brand new owners of Manzoni Estate Vineyards. When we met with Dan in September, they had only owned the winery for about two weeks! Both Dan and Doree are from the Bay Area and Monterey County.  As young 30-somethings, they had been living outside of Seattle and had dreamed of owning a winery.  As they started to look, this opportunity jumped out at them and they took the leap – why not now?

Dan and Doree will be keeping many aspects of the winery the same.  While the vineyards will stay in the Manzoni family’s hands, they are retaining access to the vineyards’ grapes, as well as the same winemaker and winemaking process. Being new owners with a vision, going forward, they plan to source all their grapes from Monterey County. This includes their Cuvée Louie, their Bordeaux-style blend which is currently made from grapes in the Paicines AVA, San Benito County. As an unabashed Monterey wine fan, I like that idea! They will also be making incremental updates to their tasting room décor.  All in good time, my friend.

More about Manzoni Estate Vineyards from their website:

“Fine winemaking is both an art and a passion, but also requires an understanding of the science of alchemy. The Manzoni family relies on the idea of terroir. This is the time-honored method of combining soil, slope, sun exposure, with a nod to the gods of weather that let the grape varieties show their unique characteristics.

“They have chosen to grow grapes on California’s cool coastal mountains, ridges, and hillsides and benchlands. Here, they strive to give you the richest, most intense flavors with a unique and memorable character.”

THE WINES – MANZONI ESTATE VINEYARDS

Today I am presenting 7 Manzoni Estate Vineyards wines. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2021 Manzoni Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $30 (#1438)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of grapefruit. The palate is rich with bright tropical fruit flavors with notes of lime and grapefruit zest. Perfectly balanced with a gentle crisp refreshing acidity.”

My Review: Pale golden and viscous in glass. Light tropical flavors on the palate. September 2024

2020 Manzoni Estate Vineyards North Highlands’ Cuvée Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $38 (#1439)

Winery Notes: “The 2020 Manzoni Chardonnay is a vibrant example of the Santa Lucia Highlands in an exceptional vintage. Aromas of dense tropical fruits leap out of the glass wrapped in subtle brioche that hints towards uncommon richness and weight. In the palette, this wine is unusually nimble while maintaining the intensity and mouth-feel promised by its exotic aromatics. Flavors of mango, mandarin orange and guava are led by hard spices and vanilla into a long finish. Crisp acidity allows this wine to flow over the tongue with focus and clarity that completes the experience.”

My Review: Light golden pineapple and peach on the nose. Bright big flavors of pineapple and some butter, followed by an acidic punch. This is one big Chardonnay! September 2024

2020 Manzoni Rosé of Pinot Noir, Family Estate Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 13.9% ABV, $30 (#1440)

Winery Notes: “As this wine sits in the glass, you notice the rich hues and colors are pleasing to the eye and give hints to the aromas and flavors to come. This wine is a deep Garnet with a beautiful clarity. In the nose, rich strawberry and cream notes with hints of rose petal rise out of the glass with startling focus and intensity. On the palate, intense ripe red berry fruit is matched with and creamy, unctuous mouth-feel and balanced acidity to provide a seamless flavor profile. While certainly on the more opulent side of Rose styles, this wine is marvelously clean and nuanced in its rendering of a Rose of Pinot Noir and is a classic example of what this style has to offer the discerning wine drinker.”

My Review: Dusty light orange in the glass. Bright orange candy and strawberry on the nose. Good balance of sweet and tart on the palate. Drink now. September 2024.

2020 Manzoni Pinot Noir, Family Estate Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $45 (#1441)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of dark cherries, blackberry and smoky, spicy oak rise out of the glass. Cassis and hard spices are supported by concentrated red and black berries. In the mouth, this wine has a velvety richness and fine, ripe tannins that support the dense, ripe and concentrated fruit. Red plums and berry compote are followed by firm acidity that keeps the wine fresh and balanced. The wine finishes with hard spices and fine vanilla flavors with hints of toasty oak. A great combination of New World ripeness and old word structure. Ripe tannins support a core of rich fruit in this opulent and larger framed wine. All the flavors hang together in great balance for this intensely flavored and well-heeled Pinot Noir.”

My Review: A pretty, dark ruby color. Dusty dark cherry on the nose. Spicy and good acidity on the palate. This would be good with BBQ. This wine has more depth and character than the classic SLH Pinot Noir. September 2024

2020 Manzoni Syrah, Family Estate Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $44 (#1442)

Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit and berry aromas mingled with hints of smoky oak and vanilla. The palate follows with intense flavors of ripe red fruits, hard spices and a core of silky tannin. The finish is exceptionally long with balanced acidity bringing the combinations of fruit, spice and vanilla to a clean and satisfying resolution.”

My Review: These grapes come from a lower elevation in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Warm, fruity spice on the nose. Dark fruits and cherry on the palate. Very pleasant. One of the best SLH Syrah wines we have tried. September 2024

2021 Manzoni Zinfandel, Mainini Vineyard, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $39 (#1443)

Winery Notes: “The Manzoni Zinfandel shows classic aromas of pure blackberry and blueberry essence supported by elegant vanilla and subtle smokiness. The color is deep, rich and dark with jewel toned hues brought on by the crisp acidity and ripe grape skins. This wine is ripe and rich, but in no way pruny or raisiny like so many other renderings.  The aromatics carry through to the palette with flavors of red plums, ripe black berries and hints of hard spices that are wrapped by a core of soft, elegant tannins and bright, clean acidity. This cool climate offering of Zinfandel is a classic rendition of a varietally correct wine that allows the purity of the fruit to shine through.  While many versions of Zinfandel tend towards over-ripe characters, this wine is an elegant and powerful bottling that is not only a great flavor experience, but also a wonderful translation of terroir into the bottle.  This wine drinking very well at release but a further one to three years will bring out further subtly in the fruit and increase the aged aromatics.”

My Review: Pale garnet in color. Nice Zinfandel flavors on the palate – perhaps the best we have tasted from Monterey County! Baking spices and vanilla on the finish. My searches did not reveal where this vineyard is located.  Any readers know where it is? September 2024

2019 Manzoni Cuvée Louie Bordeaux Blend, Pedregal Vineyard, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, 14.5% ABV, $53 (#1444)

Winery Notes: “The Cuvee Louie is the inaugural wine to celebrate the patriarch of the Manzoni Clan: Louie Manzoni. Aromas of dark berry and fruit lift lazily out of the glass followed by hard spices and well-heeled vanilla and hints of oak. They are intense and rich with real visceral weight to the experience. Rarely are the Bordeaux varietals so giving in the nose. The palate is no less joy with flavors of blueberry, darkest cherry and bright plum combining with lively acidity to provide for an intensely focused mouth-full of flavor. The complexities brought on by the combining of all five Bordeaux varietals, the cinq cepage, has both a mesmerizing and invigorating effect. Enjoy with the richest of steaks, a fine roasted joint of lamb and all of your favorite soft cheeses and roasted nuts.”

My Review: Rich dark garnet in the glass. Really pretty. Dark crushed berries. Smooth on the palate. Very tasty. We took one home.  Next year, this wine will be made with Monterey County fruit. September 2024

THE MANZONI CELLARS TASTING ROOM

Located in Hampton Court on 7th Ave between San Carlos and Dolores in Carmel-by-the-Sea. In addition to a spacious interior plus a separate wine club members’ room, they also have a lovely courtyard available.

#4 Hampton Court on 7th Ave, between San Carlos & Dolores St. Open daily 12pm – 6pm. (831) 620-6541

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Highlights from the 31st Annual Monterey Wine Country Winemakers Celebration!

My favorite widely-attended wine event in Monterey County happened on August 24th – the  Monterey Winemakers Celebration! I like this event because these are “our” local wineries – the ones we can drive to and the tasting rooms we frequent.  And this time the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association was very generous to me and comped me VIP tickets!  My chance to taste some of the special wines before everyone else shows up – excellent.  A huge THANK YOU for your generosity!

And we could not have had better weather for the Winemakers Celebration – it was warm and sunny – not something you can bank on in August on the Monterey Peninsula! And how fun to see so many of our winemakers in attendance including Sabrine Rodems, Ian Brand, Jack Galante, Greg Freeman, Greg Hill, Russell Joyce, and Keith Prader.

In today’s post, I’ll walk you through some of the wines we tasted – but then hone in on specific noteworthy wines.

ABOUT THE MONTEREY WINEMAKERS CELEBRATION 2024

“Join us in Carmel-by-the-Sea for the Monterey Winemakers Celebration, now in its 31st year! This year, the event has moved to late August to celebrate the beginning of the 2024 harvest. Celebrate with winemakers and growers from one of the world’s premier wine regions at this beloved street festival on Saturday, August 24, on Dolores Street (between Ocean and 7th) and 7th Street (between Dolores and San Carlos).

“Experience incredible wines and culinary delights from renowned chefs and local food purveyors who will showcase their craft. Event proceeds will benefit the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Foundation Peter Figge Memorial Scholarship Fund.” This fund is still open for donations!

Please click on the event link to see all of the wineries and eateries who were there to make this a fun event!

THE EVENT ITSELF – Winemakers Celebration

My Strategy: My usual strategy at the Winemakers Celebration is to focus on wineries that were new or ones I had never presented in my blog, sample one wine, and dump the rest. But only one winery that fit that category, so we went looking for the special reserve wines! However – with a twist – my partner wanted to go through once only tasting rosé and white wines and to leave the reds for the trip back through.  It was an incredibly warm day, but it meant more wines and smaller tastes to come out even!

We sampled rosé wines from Dawn’s Dream Winery, Lucy Wines, Talbott Vineyards, Tira Nanza, Chalone Vineyard and De Tierra – and more!

And a few whites: Dawn’s Dream 2023 Chardonnay had a buttery nose with honey and tropical notes on the palate. Scheid Vineyards 2023 Sauvignon Blanc was pale in glass with melon and pineapple on the palate – a good wine. Plus Rexford Winery’s flavorful 2022 Tondre Grapefield Dry Riesling and nicely balanced 2019 Escolle Chardonnay. Lucy Wines (by Pisoni) had an interesting 2023 blend named Pico Blanco (Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc) which was light yellow and tropical on the palate. And JL Wood Wines was back with its line of Chardonnays from Arroyo Seco – the 2022 Premier was buttery and balanced.

There were lots of sparkling wines that were oh so bubbly: Common Thread Wines, Folktale Winery & Vineyards, Scratch Wines, Puma Road, Holman Ranch  and Caraccioli Cellars. 

And some notable reds, including Odonata Wines tasty 2020 Malbec from Paicines, Holman Ranch Syrah (drinking so well!), and newcomer Lyndon Fog Cellars  2023 Zabala Vineyard Syrah (where can I get some, please?). Plus standout red blends, including the 2021 De Tierra Coco The Rescue, 2022 Galante Vineyards Legacy, 2016 Puma Road TKO, 2016 Pessagno Wines  Quattro, and 2019 Silvestri Vineyards Eugenia.

And then we capped off the Winemakers Celebration by tasting every single one of  Shale Canyon Wines reds: 2017 Mourvèdre, 2019 GSM, 2017 Tempranillo, and we even got to taste the club-only 2019 Consortium! At that point, we were invited to the winery to help them bottle wines later in the fall.  Why not?

THE CULINARY DELIGHTS – Winemakers Celebration

Before I get to today’s wines, I just wanted to mention a couple of eateries which stood out to us.  We did not try them all, but we especially enjoyed the Cafe Guarani empanadas and the The Grill on Ocean Ave. flaky triangles with artichoke dip.

THE WINES – Winemakers Celebration

As I did with the last Monterey Wine Trade Event, today I want to highlight a few standout wines from wineries I rarely or have never covered in this blog.  I did not capture detailed tasting notes at the Winemakers Celebration, so I’ve cobbled together my notes from memory. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

This post focuses on Common Thread Wines, De Tierra, Lyndon Fog Cellars, and Pessagno Wines . Each is worthy of a future visit and a full tasting. Any winery notes are from their websites or from the presenters at this event. 

ABOUT COMMON THREAD WINES:

David Baird, winemaker at Folktale, started this label as a personal effort to make a difference for the special needs community. I encourage you to read the moving story about Common Thread Wines here: It all began in a moment.

“…My winemaking career began in 2006 while attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  I’ve had the pleasure of working for some of the best winemakers in the Central Coast of California and honing my craft and style along the way.  A goal of mine was to someday create wines of my own, but timing was never right.  That all changed in 2021 when finally gaining the courage to take a risk and begin a wine brand of my own, and Common Thread was born.  The name comes from a similar trait I share with my two boys – a single palmar crease on our left hands.  This crease is one of the physical markers of Down syndrome, along with almond shaped eyes, stunted growth, etc.  It is not an indication of any mutation, and can be an uncommon inherited trait that is often passed down among males.  I’m proud to share this special trait with my two boys, and is my Common Thread.

“A large part of my desire to make wine is getting an opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way.  I’m proud to donate 10% of proceeds to organizations that support individuals with special needs.  Those individuals share a common thread with my son, and all deserve to live life to the fullest.”

2023 Common Thread Brut Rose, Central Coast AVA, 12.7% ABV, $34 (#1427) 66% Pinot Meunier, 21% Chardonnay, 13% Pinot Noir

Winemaker’s Notes: “Originally associated with royalty and wine for the gods, sparkling wine has always been made with love and care. This bottle honors the past, with a bottling of the classic varieies in traditional sparkling wine and the Méthode Champenoise. Depending on your preferences, pair this with caviar or popcorn on the couch. The individual components were hand-picked and gently pressed. The individual components fermented in Stainless-Steel before being blended and bottled for the secondary fermentation. The bottles were riddled by hand and disgorged in the fall of 2024.”

My Notes:  A little cloudy in glass and very tasty. Unlike many of the bubblies at this event which were all bubbles and, if you were lucky, a touch of yeasty notes, this one actually tasted like something. I’d serve to guests. We circled back to tell him that it was our favorite sparkling wine of the event! August 2024

ABOUT DE TIERRA:

“De Tierra Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery producing handcrafted, award-winning wines from the California Central Coast. Owners, Jeff Meacham and Andrew Schoenfeld are dedicated to the rich history and traditions of De Tierra. “We are very fortunate for our continued close partnership with the Russell Vineyards where De Tierra’s founder planted our first varietals in 1998. The Vineyard’s location affords us favorable and unique soils lending to our consistent premium wines of superb quality. Jeff and Andrew continue De Tierra’s commitment to producing superior quality boutique wines.”

2021 De Tierra Rosé of Pinot Noir, Central Coast AVA, 14.2% ABV, $35 (#1428)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Won SILVER MEDAL at the California State Commercial Wine Competition 2023!…IN THE GLASS: Watermelon and silver tones. Fresh and bright…”

My Notes: This was one of the most flavorful rosé wines we tasted this afternoon. 

ABOUT LYNDON FOG CELLARS:

This was the first time Lyndon Fog Cellars participated in this event. They are a joint venture by Laurel Livingston and Glen Caughell. She works for Ian Brand and he also works in the wine industry.  They brought several wines for us to sample, including a fun “Chillable Red.” But, when she told me her Syrah grapes came from Zabala Vineyards, I needed to try no others!

2023 Lyndon Fog Syrah, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County (#1429)

My notes: Cinnamon candy on the nose, followed by that lovely Zabala Syrah fruit.  I need to get some! August 2024

ABOUT PESSAGNO WINES:

“Pessagno Winery brings to life a family’s 20-year dream of producing exclusive wines from prestigious vineyards throughout the Monterey and San Benito Counties. Winemaker Stephan Pessagno left behind a legacy of extravagance for all in the industry to enjoy. His deep rooted passion and devotion elevated the Pessagno name to what it is today… Franscioni’s team of winemakers welcome all wine lovers to indulge in their exclusive product. They capture the natural flavors of the San Lucia Highlands among other local regions to give Pessagno wines their unique flavor. Come savor the tastes and aromas of our luxurious wines…”

2016 Pessagno Quattro Red Blend, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, $40 (#1430)

Winery Notes: “Four Varietal Blend of 37.5% Cabernet Franc, 37.5% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec. The 2016 Quattro entices with rich aromas of spice, tobacco, oak and dark cherry. The palate is rewarded with a rich and velvety mouthfeel, flavors of leather, intense dark cherry, and hints of spice and vanilla, with a long, satisfying finish.”

My Notes: The Pessagno Quattro was one of best fruit forward red blends we tasted at this event. I would present this wine in one of my classes! August 2024

THE TASTING ROOMS

Only two of these wineries have tasting rooms.  Please contact the others directly for more information.

De Tierra Tasting Room:

The De Tierra Tasting Room is located at Mission and 5th in charming Carmel-by-the-Sea.

“De Tierra provides a one of a kind tasting room experience in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Just 1½ blocks off Ocean Ave., our tasting room is located in a cozy cottage that opens up to the sights and sounds of downtown. Come visit us and experience our extensive wine portfolio which features many single varietal wines, unique blends, sparkling and dessert wines. Make it a perfect match with our available locally sourced small bites.

“The Tasting Room at De Tierra Vineyards is open to the public Mon-Thr: 1pm-6pm and Fri-Sun: 1pm -7pm. Reservations are not needed, but are encouraged. We are family and dog friendly. We can’t wait to see you at the Tasting Room – we know you’ll love it here.”

Pessagno Tasting Room:

The Pessagno Tasting Room is located at 1645 River Road, Salinas, CA 93908, on the Monterey Wine Trail!

“WE’RE OPEN FOR TASTINGS – WITH AMPLE COVERED & HEATED OUTDOOR SEATING!

“We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support over the past several years. We are delighted to welcome you for on-site tastings and look forward to seeing you soon! Reservations are recommended. Please call 831-675-9463 or email info@pessagnowines.com for our River Road Winery & Tasting Room.

“Current Hours. We are currently operating with Spring Hours and are open Thursday-Monday, from 12-5pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.”

© Decanting Monterey 2024

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