Tagged: Central Coast

Parsonage Part 2: Virginia Wine Experts Seek Decanting Monterey’s Advice!

I usually don’t do back-to-back tastings at the same winery, but I had to make an exception.  Doug Beakes, the Chair of the John Marshall Chapter (Northern Virginia) of the American Wine Society (AWS) was in town to bike with friends and wanted to know where they should taste wines. 

(Some history here: Back in the Fall of 2019, I presented Monterey wines to their AWS chapter at Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, VA.  Doug previously had seen me present our local wines at the Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar.  It was a fun venue – right among the winery’s barrels.  He says I’m invited back; maybe I’ll do it again next fall!)

Back to my story: I always ask people what kind of wines they like so I can recommend the right spots – do they like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (what Monterey is widely known for) – or are they looking for something else?  His answer was BIG REDS – and they only wanted to go to one spot. I decided to take them to Parsonage, even though I had just been there the week before. 

Doug was accompanied by Mike Wassenberg,  his AWS chapter Vice-Chair, and their biking buddy/wine drinking/nice guy friend Mark Svedlund from Sebastopol. We were unexpectedly joined by Bill Parsons, who just happened to be in the tasting room when we dropped by.  It was a warm afternoon in Carmel Valley Village and my companions were a bit wilted from their bike ride. Nice guy Mark fetched cheese and bread and Bill provided colorful narrative to the wines.

Bill Parsons holding court with our Virginia visitors. Alex Lallos from Chesebro Wines joined us at the end.

Today, I am presenting 5 Parsonage wines – 3 from our tasting that day  and 2 library wines from our personal collection which were tasted separately. Last week’s post included combined tasting notes for 3 wines we tasted with this group and our barrel tasting buddies – the 2018 Estate Syrah, the 2018 Rocco and the 2017 Xandro.  We tasted 5 other wines which I have previously presented here – they are not included! Winery notes come from their website and tasting sheet.

I’ve written about Parsonage to in many prior posts and won’t repeat “about them” here (just type “Parsonage” in the search bar to see them all). You can check out their website here:  https://www.parsonagewine.com/.                           

2018 Parsonage Estate Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $48 (#541*)

Winery Notes: “The nose promises richness with its ripe bing cherries and that rare, fully vine-ripe raspberry that you’d get at a farmer’s market. The bouquet carries a mysterious spice akin to baking spices with a trace of black tea. The red fruit shows up in a big way on the palate – very rich and dense on the long, full, and delicious finish.”

My Review: Beautiful deep ruby in color. Cherry on the nose.  Chewy palate with a touch of acidity.  Darker, richer than a typical Monterey Pinot Noir – we liked it.  October 2021

2014 Parsonage Cyrano Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $26 (#542*) Merlot, Syrah blend

My Review: From our cellar: Stunning bouquet.  Very big, jammy cherry-berry nose.  Rich, dark berries on the palate and anise on the finish.  Still drinking well. October 2021

2001 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $125 (#543*)

My Review: From our cellar: Dark ruby in the glass. Rich dark berries in the nose with prune notes (at first, sulfur, which died down to a slight cooked prunes smell.) Big mouthfeel and bursting with blackberry with cola and tobacco flavors. Still something on the finish – like cooked fruit and tobacco. This wine could go another 5 years or so. October 2021

2018 Parsonage Bixby Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15%, $80 (#544*) Petit Verdot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

My Review: Wow! Dusty on the nose. Pretty, intense dark fruit – berry and cherry on the palate and milk chocolate on the finish. I become a bigger fan of this wine each year! October 2021

2008 Parsonage “Snosrap” Cyrano Bordelaise Red Wine, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $90 (#545)

My Review: This Bordeaux blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon.  This was the last wine we tasted, so my notes are very weak.  I think Bill said “hoisin sauce.”  This wine was rather tasty and I took a bottle home! We are looking forward to tasting it again soon. October 2021

Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click here for the details.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. 

*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.    

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Parsonage: A Glimpse of the 2019 Vintage

It has been a good, long while since I have presented Parsonage here.  I’ll be making up for that with the next couple of posts! I had the opportunity to take our COVID Wine Pod plus some visiting friends to the Parsonage Village Vineyard for a barrel tasting, at the invitation of Bill Parsons himself.  Who was I to say no?  Little did we know when the date was set that they would be harvesting that day!  We did our best to stay out of the way of the action. 

It is always exciting to get a glimpse of the future of your favorite wines.  It is also an opportunity to get inside the head of the vintners a bit, gain insights about techniques they used to make up for the lost vintage of 2020, the detrimental impact of drought conditions on fruit production, and pandemic influences.  Bill and I have an agreement that I can write about anything he tells me – and so I will! Hope I got it all right!

Bill talked a bit about the changes implemented in reaction to the pandemic that had a positive impact, such as having outdoor space and a reservation system for wine tasting. They have a beautiful parklet with plenty of sun for us coastal dwellers to enjoy, as well as ample shade for those warmer days. On the negative side, he highlighted supply chain issues for critical supplies including bottles, foils, and corks. About the drought conditions impacting his fruit, he said, “I am a farmer.  I am at the mercy of the elements.”  The Syrah was still hanging at the time of our visit.  Shortly after our visit, we had that torrential rain – I was very worried how my beloved Syrah survived the storm.  Bill just told me this week: “Not only did the Syrah survive the inch and half drenching in five hours, but it thrived as a result. We just harvested this morning in fact!”

Today, I am presenting 10 Parsonage wines – 5 barrel tastings at the winery and 5 wines currently available in the tasting room.  I tasted a few of these wines the following week with another group of experts. I’ve melded my notes here – the rest of those wines will appear next week!

I’ve presented Parsonage to you in several prior posts and won’t repeat about them here (just type “Parsonage” in the search bar to see them all). You can check out their website here:  https://www.parsonagewine.com/.

2019 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#528*)

My Review: 100% Estate fruit. He will produce 100-120 cases.  Aged in 100% new French oak, it will be bottled in Spring 2022.  Dark ruby, purple in color. Jammy raspberry and blackberry with a touch of vanilla on the nose.  Intense berry fruit on the palate with some anise on the finish.  Delicious! I can’t wait to purchase this when it is released! Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2019 Parsonage Bixby Reserve, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#529*) ~65% Petit Verdot, ~35% Cabernet Sauvignon

My Review: “An outlier wine” loved by a select group of wine club members. Deep ruby in the glass.  Plum and cherry on the nose. Plum, herbs. leather, tobacco yet violets on the palate – not fruit forward.  Caramel notes on the finish.  Certainly more tannic than the Merlot. Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2021 Parsonage Petit Verdot, San Antonio Valley AVA, 15% ABV (#530*)

My Review: This wine is sourced from the Argyle Vineyard down in the very southern part of Monterey County. Tucked between the Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Mountains, the San Antonio Valley has a long, warm growing season, enefiting from the lake effect from Lake San Antonio.  We tasted this wine when it was only 3 weeks old – a first for me, for sure!  Vegetal on the nose.  Intense plum on the palate with green bell pepper notes.  Has a great foundation and is structurally balanced – can stand on its own and will be good blended with a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2019 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#531*)

My Review: Super dark ruby.  Deep berry and plum on the nose.  Rich dark fruits including black currant on the palate with lots of structure.  28-29 months n the barrel.  Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2019 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#532*)

My Review: Bill calls the 2019 vintage as “the greatest in winemaking history.” Inky ruby in the glass.  Smokey essense on the nose.  Super smooth on the palate with rich raspberry, blackberry, cherry, red currant and vanilla bean.  Dry on the finish.  Terrific, wonderful. Barrel Tasting – October 2021

2018 Parsonage Wild Card, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $38 (#533*)

My Review: Ruby in the glass, alcohol on the nose.  Chewy.  My experience with this wine is it needs a bit of time to settle and meld.  After all the barrel tastings, though, we probably needed a reset! Will taste again sometime with a well rested palate! October 2021

2018 Parsonage BDL, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $44 (#534*)

My Review: Transluscent ruby in the glass.  Raspberry on the nose, rich raspberry on the palate.  Tasty and drinkable now.  Would be good with garlic roasted chicken or salmon with root vegetables. October 2021

2018 Parsonage Estate Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $48 (#535*)

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass.  Dark berries with some caramel and spicy smokiness on the nose – like a cinnamon hard candy. Good fruit on the palate with spice melding with meat – “cinnamon and bacon,” with lingering finish of anise and pepper.  “Like a Cote-Roti.” Our friends bought a bottle of this wine and we enjoyed it at dinner the following evening. October 2021

2018 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#536*)

My Review: 30% slope hang, chalk rock. This is their flagship wine and my personal favorite.  Purple ruby in the glass.  Allspice, caramel and earth on the nose, a bit like old leather.  Intense dark berries and plum on the palate with vanilla notes. Done in a traditional, earthy Rhone style. This vintage is pretty impressive – I took a bottle home of this new release. October 2021

2017 Parsonage Xandro, Carmel Valley, 15% ABV, $90 (#537*) 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah

My Review: Bill calls the 2019 vintage as “the greatest in winemaking history.” Inky ruby in the glass.  Smokey essence on the nose.  Super smooth on the palate with rich raspberry, blackberry, cherry, red currant and vanilla bean.  Dry on the finish.  Terrific, wonderful. October 2021

Tasting Room Photo Courtesy Parsonage

Parsonage is open for tastings by reservation only every day – click here for the details.  You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. 

*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.    

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Sometimes You End Up with Grocery Store Chardonnays

I admit I am spoiled living in the heart of Chardonnay country, where we can take a short drive or simply reach into our fridge for a really delicious Chardonnay.  While we aren’t the biggest white wine fans, we do enjoy sipping a good one on our front porch on a rare warm and sunny day, like the other day when we opened a stunning I Brand & Family 2018 Chardonnay from Escolle Vineyard. This wine (reviewed here before) boasted lemon colors, tropical nose, and rambunctious tropical flavors with a pineapple overlay. But I digress…

I’ve been on the road a bit dealing with family matters.  Fortunately, I was sent with a lovely 6-pack of local big reds I love.  I visited a relative who opened one of today’s Chardonnays and I had to resort to a grocery store for the other one for a family gathering.  They both fit the Central Coast profile of this blog, so lucky me!

2019 La Crema Chardonnay, Monterey, 13.5% ABV, $20 (Wine #438*)

This is one of my Chardonnay-loving friend’s favorite Chardonnays, so I was happy to try it with my relatives. I found it rated for 89 points on wine.com.

About La Crema: “When La Crema was founded in 1979 as La Crema Viñera, meaning the Best of the Vine, the name was intended as an unabashed boast: These vineyards produced the very best grapes in the region. Today, the name has been shortened to mean, simply, the best, and La Crema’s wines represent the best grapes from preeminent cool-climate regions in California and Oregon.

“La Crema wines—inspired by Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir—are made in small lots that nurture distinct flavors and balance. The end result is elegant wines that are unswerving in quality over time.” 

Winemaker’s Notes from their website: “Aromas of baked apple, brioche, and PINEAPPLE are followed by flavors of Asian pear, LEMON-TANGERINE, and notes of MINERALITY. The 2019 vintage presents balanced acidity and a long finish.” 100% Chardonnay; 8 months in the barrel.

My Review: Buttery, tropical notes on the nose.  Butterscotch and tropical fruits on the palate – a bit sweet yet perfect for a hot Sacramento evening. Very different from the non-oaky Monterey Chardonnays I typically drink. July 2021

2019 Edna Valley Chardonnay, Central Coast, 13% ABV, $9 (Wine #439*)

When you are stuck in a small town SavMor for wine options, the selection is far from what I can find at even my local Safeway.  We know Edna Valley for its excellent wine, so this was the safest, best choice available!

About Edna Valley Vineyard: “The region now home to Edna Valley Vineyard saw its first grapes planted in the days of the California missions. In the 1800s, it was believed that the grapes in this region were of the highest quality. Today, we still hold this to be true. Following in the footsteps of our founder, pioneering vineyard developer Jack Niven, we continue to craft award-winning Chardonnay – the first variety planted in the Edna Valley. In addition to our flagship Chardonnay wine, we offer five other varietal wines nationwide: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.” 

Winemaker’s Notes from their website: “Our Chardonnay showcases grapes from some of California’s most sought-after wine regions in the Central Coast. The result is a dry, beautifully balanced, bold expression of Chardonnay with tropical aromas of toasted coconut and Tahitian vanilla. Juicy layers of white peach, split honeydew melon and ripe apricot are highlighted with hints of lemon zest and a crisp, refreshing finish.”

My Review: Pale but rich golden in the glass.  Tropical fruits, butter and bamboo on the nose.  Light and a tad sweet on the palate, balanced acidity and a touch of bitterness on the finish.  A bit less flavor and minerality than I’m used to in my Monterey Chardonnays. August 2021

*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.    

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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