Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 1
Our friends and we are members of Turley Wine Cellars and decided to attend a rare preview of the upcoming releases at their tasting room in Templeton. Since our friends hadn’t been to the region before, I planned us a diverse and ambitious weekend in Paso Robles wine country! We launched our late August trip with lunch and a tasting at Calcareous Vineyard– it was a fabulous kickoff to a great weekend.
At Calcareous Vineyard, we were seated at a large round table, where we met our server, Philly. He knew everything about the wines, which we enjoyed alongside a delightful lunch. I found their lunch menu to be one of the most diverse in the region and would repeat this experience in a heartbeat. I highly recommend an in-person visit to Calcareous – make a reservation for lunch and have a memorable experience.
I’ll be presenting the wineries we visited and wines we tasted over 9 separate posts. We were welcomed so warmly and recognized as industry at almost every place we went, with tailored tasting menus and/or industry discounts. I am grateful for that, as this blog is a labor of love to promote Central Coast Wines.
THE WINERY
About Calcareous Vineyard from their website:
“At 1,800 feet above sea level, from atop the highest peak of our Estate, the breathtaking panoramas of Paso Robles were a favorite of our founders when Calcareous Vineyard was first established. It wasn’t just the romance of this view that was captivating. It was the certainty that this place—this singular mix of soil, water, sun, and air—would impose itself on anything that grew here. Today, rows of Rhône and Bordeaux varietals now cascade down the steep, chalky, sun-drenched slopes in small blocks, interplanted to capture the most highly-focused expression of place.”
You can read more about Calcareous’ history and winemaking here.
THE WINES
Today I’m bringing you the 5 Calcareous wines we tasted. The notes are amplified by the “Decanting Monterey Wine Pod North. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the bottle or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2023 Calcareous Estate Chardonnay, Paso Robles AVA, 13.4% ABV, $42 (#1603)
Winery Notes: “Perhaps the greatest testament to our unique soils is our Estate grown Chardonnay. The warm, dry climate of Calcareous does not at first appear to be a suitable place to grow this Burgundian varietal. But the soil allows the grapes to maintain incredible acidity, the structural back bone of world class Chardonnay, and we can achieve perfectly ripened fruit that maintains clarity and purity.”
My Review: Pale golden in the glass. Honeysuckle and lime zest on the nose. A creamy palate finishing with lemon notes and lots of minerality. August 2025
2022 Calcareous Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles AVA, 14.8% ABV, $60 (#1604)
Winery Notes: “Calcareous Vineyard was founded upon the idea, first and foremost, of growing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. The perfect combination of soil and climate allow our site to play to both the fruit and structural elements of the varietal, allowing us to produce one of our regions great examples of this most noble cultivar.”
My Review: Dark garnet almost purple. Crushed berry and plum on the nose. Not fruit-forward, yet a yummy palate of plum, blackberry and blueberry, with a caramelized finish. A little sweet, yet has an edge to it. Very tasty. I like this wine. August 2025
2022 Calcareous Devil’s Canyon Syrah, Paso Robles AVA, 14.8% ABV, $75 (#1605)
Winery Notes: “The warmest, steepest, and driest part of our Estate Vineyard is “lovingly” called Devil’s Canyon by those that farm it. The Syrah grown there is a profound statement on the effects of our climate and soil upon the grapes we grow. This wine embodies why we feel our site is such an incredibly unique place to grow and make wine.”
My Review: Beautiful deep garnet in the glass. Deep fruits on the nose with a delicious dark fruit palate. A slightly tough finish for me. Very, very tasty. My partner liked it. August 2025
2022 Calcareous The Messer, Paso Robles AVA, 15.1% ABV, $75 (#1606) 70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Franc
Winery Notes: “Forged by the Messer family, Calcareous Vineyard and its unique terroir excel with a surprising range of varietals, including our blending favorites Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Named after a 14th-century sword and meaning “knife” in German, this wine honors the Messer legacy, embodying all the balance, strength, and elegance of a perfectly wrought blade.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Dark chocolate, smoke and dark fruit on the nose. Very dark intense palate like a cherry chocolate cordial. August 2025
2023 Calcareous Très Violet, Paso Robles AVA, 14.7% ABV, $75 (#1607) 46% Mourvèdre, 39% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Winery Notes: “Très Violet is our Estate’s take on a traditional Rhône-style red wine. By combining the depth and richness of Syrah, spice, and leather from Mourvèdre with the bright fruit elegance of Grenache, we can produce a multifaceted yet cohesive wine. In this way, the Très Violet is perhaps the fullest expression of our Estate.
“Shows a slight mocha cast up front, mixing in wild thyme and kirsch notes. Gives way to a gravel-accented core of blackberry and damson plum that deftly balances vibrancy and tannic structure, lending a certain engaging energy to the finish that makes this accessible now but built for cellaring. The finish is long, plush and filled with berry flavors. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2040. 1,190 cases made.” Aaron Romano, Senior Editor | 95pts Wine Spectator.
My Review: Almost purple in the glass. Earth, dark plum and cherry with a touch of celery on the nose. A huge, delicious palate. August 2025
THE TASTING ROOM
“Perched atop the property at 1,500 feet above the expansive Salinas Valley, our tasting room provides an unbelievable setting in which to experience the beauty of Paso Robles. A journey to taste here will offer you award-winning wines, breathtaking views, and a beautifully landscaped outdoor seating area. The experienced tasting room staff will guide you through the wines, and you can discover why we are so passionate about the wines produced here.” Check them out on Instagram here: @calcareouswine.
Open 10:00am – 5:00pm Daily at 3430 Peachy Canyon Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 239-0289
© Decanting Monterey 2025
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