Tagged: Carmel Valley AVA

Indigené Cellars: “Sip and Savor the Terroir”

Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 3

THE STORY

Still on Day One of our weekend in Paso Robles, I was on a mission to taste Monterey wines at Indigené Cellars.  We had a hard time finding them, as they are located off the alley, unlike most of the downtown wineries facing the central plaza. They are tucked away right next to Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ, where we had dinner. As a bonus, we got to meet briefly vintner Raymond Smith while we were at the winery. (For more about our Paso weekend, see all my posts here and subscribe for free to see all the upcoming installments!)

I heard about Indigené Cellars some time back and had corresponded with Raymond about finding a way to sample some of his Carmel Valley AVA wines.  I’ve tasted the Ambiente once before, but this was or chance to taste a broader portfolio of his wines.

THE WINERY

About Indigené Cellars from their website:

“Established in 2006, Indigené Cellars has astounded discerning wine lovers for more than a decade. Our small, family-run winery is dedicated to terroir-based winemaking to produce exceptional and noteworthy wines. We at Indigené invite you to experience our humble translation of art, nature, and tradition.”

About Raymond Smith:

“Raymond Smith, founder of Indigené Cellars celebrates the origin of the terroir in every bottle of wine he makes. After years of bottling and tasting both fruit off the vine and wine, Smith has found his niche making wines that, as the land, are in a constant state of evolution and known to wow visitors with every sip.

“Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Smith worked as a ship joiner and grocery clerk, relocating to Paso Robles, CA, a small town on the Central Coast in the late 1980’s. He quickly acclimated himself to the many aspects of the wine business. Shortly thereafter he helped build and eventually owned and operated a small fleet of mobile wine bottling lines, developing great relationships with growers and producers, who shared the intricacies of the wine business.  Smith chose to further challenge himself and work to create excellent growing conditions and ideal cellaring practices, focusing on distinguishing aromas, transcending earth-tone textures, a balanced, fruit-driven palate, and a well-structured tannin to create unique noteworthy varietals and elegant blends.”

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you the 5 Indigené 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 Indigené Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $30 (#1616)

Winery Notes: “Complex and Focused citrus notes brushed with light minerality. Layered tones of almond and quince frame vanilla and asian spice that fade as the medium toast expands.” 

My Review: Honeydew and white peach on the nose. Crisp palate with minerality shining through. Tasty. August 2025

2020 Indigené Ambiente (Tuscan Blend), Paso Robles AVA, 14.1% ABV, $40 (#1617)

Winery Notes: “Smooth aromas of blistered black cherry and cola show on the nose of this bottling. The palate proves to be a pleasantly down-the-middle expression of the grape, offering both cherry and an array of nutmeg and cola spices.”  Gold Medal Best in Class, Central Coast Wine Competition

Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Creamy aromas of caramel and black plum pudding make for a rich entry to the nose of this bottling. The palate is thick in mouthfeel, offering baked berry alongside allspice, pepper and more caramel flavors.” — Matt Kettmann, March 2024

My Review: Rose petal and oak on the nose. Thin dark fruit on the palate with tar and tannin. August 2025

2012 Indigené Venado Grande Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles AVA, 14% ABV, $40 (#1618)

Winery Notes: “Features an expressive mix of flavors built around dried currant, dusty, cedary oak, a gravel pit of newly crushed rock and melted black licorice.”

My Review: Fabulous nose. And a big finish. Holding up well – in its prime.  August 2025

2021 Indigené Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $50 (#1619)

Winery Notes: “Deep garnet hue with rich black cherries, cocoa and new leather nose. Cherry and ripe plum notes are wrapped beautifully in lavender, expresso powder and dark chocolate. Medium to full bodied…”

My Review: Smooth and yummy. A fine representation of wine from Cachagua, Carmel Valley. August 2025

2018 Indigené Parenthesis Syrah, Paso Robles AVA, 14.8% ABV, $50 (#1620)

Winery Notes: “Opaque purple and brilliant violet hue. Floral laced notes of black and blue fruits are medium to full Bodied. A wild herb and olive tapenade slant brings restraint to the earthy minerals and long polished tannins.”

My Review: Rather cassis like. I’m a huge Syrah fan and would like to try this wine again. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Come visit us at our downtown Paso Robles location.”

815 12th St Suite B. (off the alley behind the building), Paso Robles. Open Thursday – Saturday, 1 pm-9pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm.”

Check them out on Instagram here: @indigenecellarsofficial.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

2018 Boëté Cabernet Franc Revisit: Scrumptiousness in a Glass

THE STORY

We recently opened this astounding, impressive 2018 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc. After a bit of digging, I realized my initial writeup of this wine (Boëté – A Personal Milestone Celebration Inside the Winery!) was pre-release and at the end of a tasting, so I am bringing it back to you again, 4 years later.

I last wrote about Boëté Winery here: Boëté Presents Outstanding Carmel Valley Wines to the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society!

THE WINERY

Here’s a bit of their story from their website:

“…Working in the vineyard and at the winery is a family affair with sons Jesse, Sam, and Dillon working full-time alongside their dad. John makes all the vineyard and wine making decisions, with great attention to detail being paid throughout the growing season and the wine making process; from pruning to fermentation and aging, to blending and barrel selection.

“Today, more than 6,000 grapevines grow on 7 acres, producing fruit that is widely regarded as some of California’s best.”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting just one wine. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a matter of practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2018 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $52 (#336)

My Review: Dark garnet, almost purple in the glass. Blackberry, cedar, coffee, and Coca Cola on the nose, all carrying over to a cassis-driven palate with a delicious dark cherry finish. I like this wine. July 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

You can taste and purchase Boëté wines at The Barrel Room every day (closed Wednesdays), 12-5 p.m. 5 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village. 

You can read more about the winery and purchase their wines on line here: https://www.boetewinery.com/our-wines-list/Our-wines-list/#close. For more information, please call 831-625-5040 or email boetewinery@comcast.net.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Parsonage Loses Parklet and Redesigns Beautiful Interior!

THE STORY

In May, I dropped by the Parsonage tasting room and was astonished it had taken down its parklet and beautifully redesigned its interior to accommodate more guests. So nicely done! I’m sharing some of the new pictures from their website in today’s post – with the permission of the winery.

Photo reprinted with permission of Parsonage

The following week, I stopped in with my neighbors for the Spring 2025 pickup. I was surprised by the number of new releases and gladly tasted them to make my allocation adjustments. The standout wine for me was the 2021 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot with its dark berry nose and palate. The 2021 Parsonage Bixby Reserve Petit Verdot is a very close second – a powerful cellar-worthy wine. I’ve reviewed them below, along with the other new releases I tasted that day.

Photo reprinted with permission of Parsonage

This visit was also a great opportunity to add another piece of Mary Ellen Parsons’ creative art to my home collection.  We have a chicken obsession in our home, so it was easy to add this giclée to our collection of her art in our home. You can read more about her art here and you can see her art on display in the Parsonage tasting room in Carmel Valley Village.

Then we attended the Parsonage Wine and cheese pairing session this past weekend – a flight of Parsonage wines with hand-selected cheeses to pair specifically with each wine. Our winner was their 2023 Wood Reserve Cardonnay matched with the Fromage D’Affinois Brie. I also enjoyed the Midnight Moon My real favorite, though, had nothing to do with cheese: the 2021 Rocco Reserve Syrah with the Rocco-infused dark chocolate sea salt truffle from Pieces of heaven. Yum.

2025 Cheese Pairing

My last post about Parsonage was here: Happy 21st Birthday, Rocco! Let’s jump into these wines!

THE WINES:

Today I’m bringing you 4 of the new releases we tasted in May plus the 2022 Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2022 Parsonage Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $48 (#1572)

Winery Notes: “A vibrant nose of strawberry, cherry, pomegranate and wildflowers.  The gorgeous red fruit is full, round and rich on the palate with a hint of Darjeeling on the long, lovely finish.” 

My Review: Garnet in the glass. Bouquet signals that this is a Pinot Noir, while the palate is filled with darker fruit. Finishes with brighter cherry notes reminiscent of a Jolly Rancher – in a fruity, tasty and good way! May 2025

2022 Parsonage Grenache-Syrah, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $44 (#1573) 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah

Winery Notes: “Sweet anise, strawberry, black pepper with an earthy minerality.” 

My Review: Warm brown sugar and spice on the nose.  Cinnamon carries over to the palate with a tart cranberry finish. May 2025

2021 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98 (#1574)

Winery Notes: “The Dario is our signature Merlot. Pairs perfectly with ham and pork tenderloin. Black raspberry, black cherry, anise, cocoa powder, and the Parsonage wildflower-spice terroir characterize the stunning nose of this epic beauty. All of the above form harmoniously on the the firm palate to create a wine of remarkable character.”

My Review: Rich, dark fruit on the nose.  I could smell this wine all day. Ripe plum and blackberry/dark raspberry on the palate.  Really delicious and my favorite wine of the tasting. May 2025

2021 Parsonage Bixby Reserve Petit Verdot, San Antonio Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98 (#1575)

Winery Notes: “Dark, dark fruit nose of blueberry, cassis, plum, violets, lavender, and sage. A bold melange of blueberry, dark fruit, cassis, and floral spices imposes itself in a full, well-rounded palate with an impressive finish.”

My Review: Best of both worlds – a tasty blend of bright and dark flavors, with licorice and cassis notes on the finish. This is a keeper. May 2025

2022 Parsonage Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#1591)

Winery Notes: “Made from grapes at the pinnacle of perfect ripeness, this Pinot has brilliant notes of black cherry with dried rose petals, cola, and English breakfast tea. The rich, round, muscular palate adds raspberry and currant to the dominant black cherry compote with the tea tannins driving the vibrant finish.”

My Review: Orange-rimmed garnet in the glass. Dark cherry and forest floor on the nose. Earth, cherry cola, and black pepper on the palate. A little zippy on the front palate and a little sweet. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Hooray! We are open for wine tasting daily.” 19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village

Photo reprinted with permission of Parsonage

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.” Also, check them out on Instagram here: @parsonagewinery.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Boëté Presents Outstanding Carmel Valley Wines to the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society!

THE STORY

AWS Members

The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society (AWS) had its April session on The Barrel Room’s patio where Jana Saunders of Boëté Winery introduced their wines to us.  As long-time members of their wine club, I was thrilled to finally make this happen for our members.  We were allowed to bring appetizers to share and – bonus – it was a beautiful, sunny and warm afternoon. The wines were all delicious and the hospitality, unrivaled. 

Member Steve and Chapter Chair Jacqueline

I last wrote about Boëté Winery here: Boëté Opens a New Tasting Venue Inside The Barrel Room!

AWS Board Members Janet and Damon

THE WINERY

Boëté makes such tasty wines from its Bordeaux varietals grown just beyond Carmel Valley Village. I pulled this short history from its website and encourage you to read the rest on its website:

“In the early 80’s John Saunders made wine at his Soledad Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands. At first making wine was a hobby and when his wines became popular with many of his friends in the restaurant industry, he decided to create a winery. In 1994, John and his wife Jana traded their 250-acre citrus orchard in Soledad California for 15 acres in Carmel Valley; land that had gone uncultivated due to lack of water. The first water well John drilled had gushed enough water to irrigate his vineyard forever. In early spring 1997, they planted their first vineyard on their sun-drenched hillside.”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting just one new wine, as the others we tasted are available in the post linked above. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a matter of practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2021 Boëté Merlot, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $50 (#1560)

Winery Notes: N/A

My Review: Ruby in the glass. Pleasant cherry dominates the nose. Tart palate with red cherry juice flavors. I would like to taste this new release gain – separate from an event. April 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

You can taste and purchase Boëté wines at The Barrel Room every day (closed Wednesdays), 12-5 p.m. 5 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village. 

You can read more about the winery and purchase their wines on line through their website.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Happy 21st Birthday, Rocco!

THE STORY

As a diehard Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah fan, I was not about to miss the real Rocco’s 21st Birthday celebration at their tasting room in April.  This was a great opportunity to have a conversation with Rocco, his grandfather and winery owner Bill Parsons, enjoy a flight of Rocco Reserve Syrah wines, including a 2001 library Syrah made before he was even born.  All of this was accompanied by some of his favorite childhood snacks, from his grandmother’s delicious endive topped with goat cheese, pecan and honey to the highly processed Cool Ranch Doritos.  Who knew the latter would make such a great wine pairing? I lament the fact I didn’t get a picture of the cute display of Rocco’s favorite childhood snacks.

My last post about Parsonage was here: And the 2021s Keep Rolling Out at Parsonage. Let’s just jump into these wines!

THE WINES:

Today I’m bringing you 3 of the wines we tasted that day – the others previously appeared in Decanting Monterey – just search Parsonage to find them.  Winery notes come from the tasting sheet. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Parsonage Rosé of Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $38 (#1548)

Winery Notes: “The rich fragrant floral bouquet is matched by its uniquely rich copper hue. Deep palate flavors, manifest of ripe strawberries and luscious nectarines. This rosé is for big red wine lovers! The mouthfeel is like a bullet down the middle of the pallet with a vibrant and savory finish.” 

My Review: Copper/salmon in the glass. Rich in body – definitely a big rose for big red wine lovers – you won’t mistake this for a Provencal rose! 100% Syrah. April 2025

2008 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, Library Wine (#1549)

Winery Notes: “A blast of blueberry, blackberry, curry spices and cocoa on the nose. The monumental mouthfeel is layered with dark fruit, exotic spice, and French oak barrel brûlée. The signature notes of mineral and game with hints of liquor and Amarone deliver on an exceedingly long and dramatic finish.”

My Review: Dark, dense garnet in color. Dark plum and black licorice on the nose. The palate was scrumptious – a rich, delicious wine. Drinking exquisitely. Wish I had some at home. If you’ve got one in your cellar, now is the time to drink it. April 2025

2001 Parsonage Estate (Rocco) Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, Library Wine (#1550)

Winery Notes: “Deep nose of blueberry, sage, and game. Lush mouthfeel with dark berries, grilled meat and cinnamon/clove on the pallet with fine, ripe tenants and a long smooth finish.”

My Review: Dense garnet, almost purple. Prune and earth on the nose. We tasted this one after the 2008 vintage – this one has a leaner, earthier palate. I preferred the 2008! April 2025

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 2025

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

A Cellar-Worthy Massa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon by Outward Wines!

THE STORY

My partner is always on the lookout for Central Coast bargains on the K&L Wine Merchants, where he found this 2023 Outward Massa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon on sale for $30.  We picked up a couple to try now and later. It’s pretty young for trying now, but we did.  Today’s post is about Outward and this single wine. You can read my previous posts about the Durney legacy of the Massa Vineyard here.

THE WINERY

About Outward Wines: “Outward Wines is a partnership between Ryan Pace and Natalie Siddique. We produce small-lot, site-specific wines from California’s Central Coast. We currently farm about 6 acres of vines ourselves and also source grapes from vineyards along the coast. All of these vineyards are organically farmed at minimum.

“In the winery, we strive to minimize our impact in order to allow for a clear picture of what the site can provide naturally, and to give our wines a true sense of time and place.”

THE WINE

Today I am presenting 1 Outward 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.

2023 Outward Cabernet Sauvignon, Massa Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.3% ABV, $42 (#1544)

Winery Notes (2018 Vintage): “With no new oak influence, our Massa Cabernet is our ode to the old-school Cabs of California. Our 2023 Cab from this site carries a robust bouquet of aromatics with well-integrated tannins to provide body and structure. Brambly red and black fruits, notes of leather, cedar, and herbaceousness bounce from the glass, while integrated acidity and soft tannins complete the palate. This is a ready-to-drink Cabernet for any occasion—with or without food.” You can read more about this wine and the Massa Vineyard’s legacy here which also has a link to its tech sheet.

My Review: Garnet in color. Fruity nose with scents of dark plum, crushed berries, and cherry. Raspberry jam with blackberry notes, chocolate and leather on the medium- weight palate, leaving you wanting more. The palate wraps with grippy tannins and lingering vanilla notes, wondering how this wine would taste if you could cellar it for a few more years. We’ll try. February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Private tastings, by appointment

“We currently offer private, by-appointment tastings at our humble winery production space located in Grover Beach. Visits are approximately 75 minutes in duration and include a tasting of 5-7 wines. Tasting fees are $40 per person.” Please visit their website here for more information.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Chesebro Releases Its 2017 Classics!

THE STORY

Usually, I catch the announcement when a new Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage is released, but the release of their latest vintage of this wine caught me by surprise. La Montagne Sauvage is one of the Monterey County wines I presented in my very first class many moons ago – it holds a special place in this aficionado’s portfolio.  I discovered the release of this wine and 2 other new releases when I stopped in to pick up a couple of bottles of their Sparkling rosé. I came back with one of my Decanting Monterey Wine Pod expert tasters to make sure I got these classics right. We were fortunate to be hosted that day by Alex Lallos, their Tasting Room Manager.

I commend Chesebro for continuing to produce exceptional wines at affordable prices – something they should be extremely proud of.

THE WINES

Today, I am presenting 3 Chesebro Wines.  I last presented their wines to you in January 2025 here: Kicking Off the New Year with a Chesebro Favorite! Winery notes come from the label, their tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted.  Any errors are mine and mine alone; however, as a general rule, I do not correct any typos from the winery’s website.

2017 Chesebro Piedras Blancas, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#1415)

Winery Notes: “A Rhone style white (85% Roussanne, 10% Vermentino, 5% Sauvignon Blanc) Our richest and most complex / ageworthy white. Don’t be afraid to put this Rhone syled white from our estate vineyard in Carmel Valley deep in your cellar. A blend of mainly Roussanne, it is modeled after the most famous white wines in Chateauneuf du Pape, France. Rich and viscous with aromas of stone fruit and flavors of baked apples and oak. A full bodied and very srious white for the true connoiseur in mind. Pair this heady white whith cream sauces, roasted fowl and sweetbreads.”

My Review: Pale, dusty gold in the glass. Light mouthfeel. Peach and melon on the nose. Mellow palate with gardenia, white peach flavors, a lot of minerality, and balanced acidity. Turns out this wine was released in Summer 2024 – but I have better tasting notes this time! February 2025

2017 Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage, CM Ranch, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $35 (#1524)

Winery Notes: “Our proprietary Rhone belnd of Syrah (80%), Grenache (15%) and Mourvedre (5%) modeled after the legendary wines of the Southern Rhone Valley in France. Grown at 1800′ elevation, this is our flagship wine and our most popular blend from a small 2.5 acre vineyard in the mountains of Carmel Valley. Rich and broading with aromas of dark blackberries, chaparral, sage and all-spice. An ageworthy and deeply profound example of what these Rhone varietals can do on the granite soils of Upper Carmel Valley. ONLY 80 Cases Produced.”

My Review: Dusty garnet in color. Jammy nose with dark cherry and spicy notes. Medium palate with dark cherry flavors and a dry finish. Tasty. This is one of my favorite wines to present in a class. We took some home. February 2025

2017 Chesebro Syrah, CM Ranch, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $38 (#1525)

Winery Notes: “Single barrel series. Only 25 cases produced. 100% single vineyard Syrah from our estate vineyard in Carmel Valley. Aromas of dark blueberry and currants, spice, sandal wood and cedar. Some deep earthy forest notes as well. Wonderfully balanced with chalky tannins, fine acidity and brambly fruit. Medium-full bodied.”

My Review: Big bright flavors on the exploding palate. A range of cherry flavors. Really delicious. Probably my favorite wine of the day. Took some home! February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Come Raise a Glass with Us! We are located at 19D East Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village.”

From the Chesebro Facebook Page, used with permission

“We are now open for tasting on Friday through Sunday from noon until 5 PM and by apointment on other days. Due to our limited capacity please make an appointment on all days so that we may better serve you. Appointments can either be set up through this page…or by contacting Alex directly at Alex@chesebrowines.com or 831-238-2618. Due to our remote location, appointments are not available for the winery itself….”

SOME SPECIALS AT WINE.COM TO SHARE WITH YOU

New Customer March Promotion

  • Promotion: $20 off $150 on your First Order at Wine.com 
  • Code: MARCH20
  • Dates Live: NOW-3/31/25
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Top Themes this Week

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Rombi’s 2018 Petite Sirah Expresses Its Napa Pedigree!

THE STORY

One of the first places I went when my Dry January ended was to see Sal Rombi @rombiwine in his Carmel Valley tasting room.  He said he had something for me. Yes, folks, February 1 and I was there! He told me he was going to be releasing his 2018 Petite Sirah this spring and he wanted me to try it. I gladly took it home. Impatient as we are, on February 2, we double decanted it (the best way to enjoy a Rombi wine!) and enjoyed it with our Sunday night dinner.

As my avid readers know, I fund this blog out of pocket.  The industry recognition for waived tasting fees and discounts on wines is greatly appreciated; and the occasional gifting of a bottle of wine (or more), even more so.  It doesn’t happen often, so I am so grateful when it does.

Grazie mille, Sal!

As I looked through my files, I realized we had tried this wine in August 2024 – but without the luxury of double decanting and at the end of a Decanting Monterey Wine Pod evening of tasting – not the best way, for sure. So today, I am happy to present both tastings together here in one place.

ABOUT ROMBI WINES

“Since 2006, hands-on winemaking that reflects a unique sense of place”

“Wine is a gift from nature, and every bottle produced at Rombi Wines tells a story of the land, the geography, the climate, and the hands-on philosophy of one man. Salvatore Rombi takes winemaking personally, obsessing over every detail — from harvest to barrel aging — to produce a unique range of elegant yet bold and complex red wines from the Carmel Valley Appellation. Rombi’s small vineyard and intimate tasting room provide the perfect setting for an unforgettable wine journey. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a strict allegiance to sustainable farming practices, Rombi creates award-winning, limited-production vintages. As an ode to terroir — the rock and soil, but also the land and legacy, culture and commitment, time and tradition — the wines from Rombi are always bottled poetry.”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting 1 wine, the 2018 Rombi Petite Sirah expected to be released soon, and my two sets of tasting notes, as explained above. 

2018 Rombi Petite Sirah, Napa Valley AVA, 14.6% ABV, $75 (#1128) (pre-release)

My New Review: This wine was gifted to me. Big jammy nose, including plum, violet, blackberry, licorice and Chinese five spice. A huge palate of jammy blue and black fruits, wrapped in Chinese five spice with a licorice and cassis finish. Definitely has the Napa pedigree. February 2025

My Previous Review: This was the evening’s bonus wine, so it was not decanted. Always a mistake. Rombi wines must be decanted.  Late in the evening, our notes were not as extensive: Very dark purple in color. Dried fig, cigarettes and a touch of barnyard on the nose. Super rich, big palate. This wine comes off a little hot, yet is an extremely tasty wine. Next time I get my hands on one of these, we are decanting it! August 2024

And so I did!

THE TASTING ROOM

Taste Award-Winning Vintages at Rombi Wines:

“At Rombi Wines, our unique tasting room provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable experience. Salvatore Rombi is most often on hand to guide you through the winemaking process and your tasting experience. Step off the beaten path and discover Rombi, where every bottle tells a story.

“Rombi Wines Tasting Room is at 1 Center St., in the charming Carmel Valley Village. We are open Saturdays and Sundays from noon–5 p.m., although appointments can be made for weekday visits.”

(831) 659-7200

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

And the 2021s Keep Rolling Out at Parsonage

THE STORY

Today’s story seems simple on the surface: a Parsonage wine pickup and more 2021 releases to taste. We enjoy our wine pickups – a chance to chat up the staff, hear what’s new, taste new releases, retry some favorites, and hand select our final allocation.  But the deeper story reflects what I am tasting and hearing at our local wineries: the impact of the missing vintage.

The 2020 wildfires ravaged much of Monterey County’s vineyards – both the Salinas Valley and Carmel Valleys were hit hard, meaning most vintners had to completely scrap their red wines. And, since many of our wineries are quite small, this means the 2021 and 2022 red wines are being released sooner than expected. It’s something to consider when you taste these wines that probably need more time in the bottle.  I’m not referring to any of the wines in today’s post.  But it is something to keep in mind.

My last post about Parsonage was here: Parsonage: From the 2008 “Snosrap” to the Latest Rocco! Let’s just jump into these wines!

THE WINES

Today I’m bringing you just 2 new releases from Parsonage’s 2021 vintage.  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.

2021 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Central Coast AVA, 15% ABV, $32 (#1522)

Winery Notes: “The Cyrano, a blend of Merlot and Syrah, is one of our best sellers. Quite the dazzling bouquet of black, blue, and red fruit (in that order) wrapped in allspice and vanilla. Remarkably complex and delicious palate of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, currant, and exotic spices. The mouthfeel is elegantly structured with perfect acid-tannin balance.  What a beautiful finish!” 

My Review: Pretty garnet in the glass. Orange, violet, dark red plums, cranberry, red cherry, with a hint of bubblegum on the nose. Medium palate of bright cherries balanced with dried cherries, with the Syrah giving it a spicy finish. February 2025

2021 Parsonage Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#1523)

Winery Notes: “SCRUMPTIOUS!! What a crazy word to describe Pinot Noir. I also could have said yummy or delicious.  But those descriptors are so inadequate. This Hawk is a true outlier, reminiscent of the epic 2012 version, for those who remember that vintage. The 2021 is barely recognizable as Pinot Noir. The bouquet hints at Pinot with its cherry and floral essences. But there’s a mysterious opulence to this Hawk that is mystifying and compellingly addictive. In a word, scrumptious!”

My Review: Mint and cherry on the nose. Light cherry and spice on the palate. An improvement over most Central Coast Pinot Noir wines – no metallic taste! A tasty wine. February 2025

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.

Tasting Room Photo Provided Courtesy of Parsonage!

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

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Another Chink in the Legacy of Monterey Wines

(Seeing this on Instagram? Click the link in my profile to read the whole story)

THE STORY

I was eating my lunch at the kitchen table, reading the Carmel Pine Cone, as I typically do.  I opened the January 10th edition to the real estate section and found this ad on page 42:

It’s an ad for a Bernardus Vineyard consisting of “32-acres of vines comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Petite Syrah and Merlot.The wines produced from the vineyard are consistently awarded 90+ scores for their quality and structure that will age.”

I just about fell out of my chair and immediately called out to my husband. This sounded like Bernardus’ Marinus Vineyard – from which their founder Ben Pon fulfilled his dream to make a Bordeaux-style wine right here in Carmel Valley (in Monterey County). I was devastated to read this news, as the Marinus and Marinus Signature blends made from these grapes, are my favorite Bernardus wines.  We have been long-time members of their Marinus club and have enjoyed their Marinus dinners over the past few years – my favorite event of the year.

At the most recent such dinner in 2024, which I wrote about in this post 2024 Bernardus Marinus Dinner – Nothing Short of Spectacular!, we heard for the first time the full, colorful history of the founding of this vineyard and the beginnings of the winery. It is quite a moving story. Knowing this news now and looking back on that dinner, I can see why the telling of those stories was so emotional for the winery staff as well. This must have been a difficult decision to make.

The Bernardus Marinus wines are quality, age-worthy wines.  I fear this marks the end of an era, but perhaps it is simply an expression of the trends in consumption and maybe even climate.  After all, even though we might feel like these wineries are providing us a service and we may be way too attached to wines from certain vineyards, winemaking at the end of the day is a business and wineries must follow the trends and the fruit to achieve their bottom lines.

THE SIGNS WERE THERE

We knew something was up when tons of the 2017 Marinus showed up at Costco for a fraction of their retail price (we bought as much as we could).  In addition, at the Marinus dinner, there was talk about no longer making a separate Marinus Bordeaux-style blend and just making the higher end Signature.  Now I understand why. Bernardus will still make a high-quality reserve Bordeaux-style blend, just not from that vineyard. But from where?  What fruit will match the quality and historical significance of their own estate vineyard?

And, while Bernardus was a key, early player in the Carmel Valley AVA, it is widely known for its “Monterey County” wines available nation-wide and its reputation has been soaring with its high-quality vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands. I have written about all their wines many times. You can find those posts by typing “Bernardus” in the Decanting Monterey search bar.  Those varietals are what Monterey County is more broadly known for.

Bernardus’ Vineyard-designate Trio of Pinot Noirs

I want to say up front in this post that I’m telling you this story off the top of my head – any errors are mine and mine alone – and do let me know if corrections need to be made. 

THINGS THEY BE A-CHANGING

We’ve seen so much change in our Monterey wineries and vineyards.  Often it is because the original owners have aged out or passed away and their heirs don’t want to continue to produce wine.  It’s sad. Because many of these vintners were the founders of winemaking in this region. We have seen Talbott and Hahn labels and winemaking taken over by Gallo Wines.  We saw Galante, which still produces wines, sell its vineyards and winery to newcomer Tira Nanza, who shows great promise.  We saw Joullian close and be put up for sale. The Massa Estate is also for sale – the Durney legacy vineyards of some of the most prized Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in Carmel Valley/Cachagua. Pierce Ranch Vineyards down in San Antonio Valley AVA closed its tasting room in 2023 and decided to focus on selling its fruit. And the Boekenoogen family recently chose to stop wine production, with Santa Lucia Highlands locals McIntyre Vineyards taking over its tasting room and inventory. And Manzoni has kept their vineyard, while selling its tasting room and winemaking to younger players. So much change. Most recently, and last I heard, we’ve seen a merger of newer players Seabold Cellars into San Benito’s Eden Rift.

Monterey County AVA Map from the Monterey Vintners & Growers Association

Maintaining a quality vineyard is a hard job, with the threats of fire and drought around the corner.  In some of our conversations with vineyard owners, they have no interest in bottling their own juice, as it means lots of road time to market their product.  Our Monterey County grapes are much sought after by wineries outside of Monterey County.  Having the Santa Lucia Highlands designation on a bottle means something.  Carmel Valley is less widely known, but remains my favorite AVA within Monterey (oops, I’m not supposed to have favorites).

Carmel Valley AVA Map from the Monterey Vintners & Growers Association

And then there is the overall downturn in wine consumption and climate change, affecting wineries across the globe.  Some vineyards are ripping out grapes or have left their fruit to rot on the vines.  We are at a critical juncture. As one local vintner put it, it’s the “ebb and flow” of the business.

NOW WHAT?

My first reaction about the sale of the Bernardus Marinus Vineyard was pure incredulity.  I kind of took it personally. I did communicate with the winery and I know what a tough decision this was for them. I know they will do their best to continue to produce a high-quality Bourdeaux-style blend to keep their consumers like me happy. I personally hope they can find the fruit from the Carmel Valley AVA, but I might be asking for too much.

Then I started to have crazy thoughts – like how we could pull together a consortium of wine aficionados/investors and vineyard/winemaking experts to purchase this prize property.  It’s fun to think about, but that’s a long stretch. It would be WORK. And I’ve already got a good gig – I’m retired. And as my good friend and Decanting Monterey Wine Pod member says, “The best way to make a small fortune (in winemaking) is to start with a large fortune.”  Nope, I checked…I don’t have one.

So, all I am left with is hope.  Hope that someone who cares about those quality grapevines will buy the vineyard and help preserve Ben Pon’s legacy of making a quality Bordeaux-style blend from Carmel Valley. 

That’s my think piece for today. I’ve gotten over myself. Not a single wine review in today’s post. See, anything is possible.

Heather Rammel and Jim McCabe of Bernardus Wine

Let’s all raise a toast to the Marinus Vineyard and Ben Pon’s legacy!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

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