Tagged: Contra Costa AVA

Eric Kent: “…making wine, discovering new art and sharing them both”

THE STORY

Always looking for a wine bargain, we discovered today’s wine – an easy-drinking Eric Kent Cabernet Sauvignon on sale for $15 at K&L Wine Merchants. You can find quite a few current and past Eric Kent wines on their website. This is the first Eric Kent wine I have posted on Decanting Monterey.

What I found equally interesting was the art on the label. The featured artist on this bottle was Hilary Williams. This particular print is from 2017 and called “Haight Street Dream.” You can find more of her work on her Instagram site @hilaryatthecircus, which is where I found the title of this print!

THE WINERY

Eric Kent Wines (@erickentwines) is a “boutique producer of hand-crafted Sonoma County wines featuring inspiring artists’ works on our labels.” The website bio for Paul Kent, partner and winemaker, shares their purpose: “…Of course this work is hard, sometimes stressful and often less glamorous than one might imagine… but it’s also fascinating, exhilarating, inspiring and rewarding like nothing else I’ve ever done. The way I see it, making wine, discovering new art and sharing them both with others is about as good as it gets. To our many customers who make this possible, I offer my most sincere thanks. I raise my glass to each and every one of you!”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting a single wine from Eric Kent. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2021 Eric Kent Cabernet Sauvignon, Contra Costa AVA, 14.5% ABV, $32 (#1568)

Winery Notes: “Bigger and bolder than our previous Appellation Series Cabernet, this vintage will please most people at the table. You’ll find plenty of sweet, ripe black cherry, black currant, framboise and plum, accented with just a touch of barrel spice. Tannins are surprisingly mild and well integrated already, adding to an overall suppleness and lush mouthfeel. Eager to please and easy to drink, here’s another no-brainer selection for casual get-togethers and summer fare off the grill.?”

My Review: Dark plum and cherry aromas on the nose. Not musty, but not fruity. Chalky on the smooth palate. Mint on the finish. Very drinkable! April 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

You can taste their wines by appointment only in Santa Rosa by going to their website or Instagram account and contacting them directly.

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

2021 Carol Shelton Grenache Noir: a Balance of the Sweet and the Savory

THE STORY

When we are looking for a wine to open, it is easy to gravitate toward a Carol Shelton. Her wines are reliably tasty and on the big side of red. This Grenache Noir brings us something a little different from her usual big Zins. 

My last post about Carol Shelton Wines is here: Zinfandel Expert Carol Shelton: the Road to Zen.I’ve written about Carol and her wines several times.  Just type Carol Shelton in the search bar. 

THE WINERY

Carol Shelton was one of the pioneer female winemakers in a man’s world.  She spent almost 2 decades as a winemaker for others until her husband urged her to start making her own wines.  You can read her full story here: THE ROAD TO ZEN.

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting 1 wine, the 2021 Carol Shelton Grenache Noir. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

THE GRAPE

“Grenache Noir is the darker-skinned member of the Grenache family, which also includes green-skinned Grenache Blanc and mauve-skinned Grenache Gris—it is often just referred to as “Grenache” (or Garnacha in Spain), although that is sort of like just saying “Pinot” instead of Pinot Noir or Pinot Blanc/Gris. In any case, the variety is clearly color challenged, but it produces such lovely delicate red fruit that we can forgive that! We selected this lot from wines destined for the Coquille Rouge blend because we fell in love with its easy-drinking vivacity—enjoy!”

2021 Carol Shelton Grenache Noir, Contra Costa AVA, Contra Costa County, 13% ABV, $28 (#1567)

Winery Notes: “Color is only a bit darker than our Rosé! Nose shows delightful ripe strawberry aromas and some peppery spice, along with a bit of black cherry fruit, and of savory leather notes in the background. Lighter bodied in mouth but super soft and creamy with a nice tangy finish. This would be fantastic with any lighter dishes with poultry or fish, or vegetarian meals, especially with lots of mushrooms! Try Chicken with Snow peas and Shiitake mushrooms, perhaps?”

My Review: Pale, tinged garnet in the glass. Sweet plum and raspberry jam on the nose. Tasty cranberry and raspberry jam on the finish. A clear exhibition of this winemaker’s touch. Not like our Monterey Grenache wines. April 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Taste the Magic

“The setting for Carol Shelton Wines may not be what wine tasters envision when planning a visit to wine country. But Zin and fine wine lovers stepping into our homey, unpretentious tasting room will find a dream come true…

“We are open for tastings 7 days a week from 11 – 4.  Reserve tasting fee is $20 per person each tasting fee may be waived with purchase of one bottle.

“Walk-ins are welcome or give us a call (707-575-3441) to make a reservation and come on by to taste our award-winning wines.”

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Zinfandel Expert Carol Shelton: the Road to Zen

THE STORY

Sometimes you just want a good Zin, so I was delighted to find this 2019 Carol Shelton Oakley zinfandel open in our wine room. We met Carol Shelton a long time ago in Washington DC at a Zinfandel Advocated and Producers (ZAP) event and have been fans ever since.

My last post about Carol Shelton Wines is here: A Plentiful Supply of Central Coast Wines Right at Home. I’ve written about Carol and her wines several times – just type Carol Shelton in the search bar. 

ABOUT CAROL SHELTON WINES

Carol Shelton was one of the pioneer female winemakers in a man’s world.  She spent almost 2 decades as a winemaker for others until her husband urged her to start making her own wines.  You can read her full story here: THE ROAD TO ZEN. Here’s an excerpt:

“…Carol (Shelton) & Mitch Mackenzie, her husband and business partner, have sought out exceptional vineyards throughout California including Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, Fountaingrove District, Paso Robles, Lodi, Mendocino County, and the Cucamonga Valley of Southern California. Many of her vineyard sources are organically grown, dry farmed and many decades old. She develops close partnerships with each grower to ensure her wines maintain and express the unique terroir of the vineyard.”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting 1 wine, the 2019 Carol Shelton Oakley Zinfandel. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2019 Carol Shelton Oakley Zinfandel, Contra Costa AVA, Contra Costa County, 14.4% ABV, $32 (#1540)

Winery Notes: “Beautiful nose of sage, blackberry and milk chocolate, touch of caramel and cedar from the oak, bit of dusty earth. Almost Cabernet-like in its profile, from the kiss of green herbs to nicely structured tannins. Bright acidity while still creamy, and a plush, long finish.”

My Review: Dark garnet, jammy plum, blackberry, and vanilla on the nose. Finishes with a strong cassis, vanilla with some lingering tobacco notes. Reminiscent of a Amador Zin with less of the prune and more dark fruit. February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM – Taste the Magic

“The setting for Carol Shelton Wines may not be what wine tasters envision when planning a visit to wine country. But Zin and fine wine lovers stepping into our homey, unpretentious tasting room will find a dream come true.

“After tasting through luscious award-winning wines including; Rose, White Rhone, Red Rhone and single-vineyard designate Zinfandels, finishing with our magical Late Harvest; our locale—an industrial section of Santa Rosa—becomes immaterial.

“We are open for tastings 7 days a week from 11 – 4.  Reserve tasting fee is $20 per person each tasting fee may be waived with purchase of one bottle.

“Walk-ins are welcome or give us a call (707-575-3441) to make a reservation and come on by to taste our award-winning wines.”

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Turley Duarte: A Silky Zin from Contra Costa!

It’s been a long while since I’ve presented a Central Coast Turley – and this is a good one.  We got this wine when released for $32 as a Turley Mailing List Member, a bargain for the quality.

I last brought you a Contra Costa County wine – another Turley – back in January: https://decantingmonterey.com/turley-salvador-1896-now-those-are-old-vines/

About Turley: “Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by former emergency room physician Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 different wines from over 50 vineyards across California, primarily Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, with many vines dating back to the late 1800s. By farming organically and focusing on old vine vineyards of these varieties, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.”

2016 Turley Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard, Contra Costa County, 15.6% ABV, $54 (#425*)

About Duarte Vineyard from Turley.com: “This wine is an homage to Joe Duarte, a prominent grape grower in Contra Costa who first introduced Turley to the incredible vineyards of the area. The wine is comprised of fruit from the turn-of-the-century Evangehlo, Mori, and Salvador vineyards, planted between 1890 and 1960.Thanks to the sandy soils and impressive age of the vines, the wine has some of the softest, silkiest tannins we’ve ever seen in a Zinfandel.” 

Wine Advocate – 91 points: “From old vines growing in sand in Contra Costa County, the 2016 Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard offers up aromas of sweet cherries, raspberries, red fruit preserve, bay leaf and licorice. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, generous and fleshy, with rich, youthfully chewy structuring tannins and considerable concentration, depth and matter.” William Kelley 09/2018

My Review: Deep ruby, almost purple in the glass.  Huge palate bursting with blackberry and cassis with a little cocoa.  The cocoa continues into the finish, wrapping up with a touch of tobacco.  This is a fabulous Turley.  I would rate this wine 93 points. July 2021

While this vintage seems unavailable, the 2018 is available at MacArthur’s for $42. Buy and hold a little. And Robert Parker rates the 2019 (not yet released) 94 points! You can also shop online from Turley’s two tasting rooms or join its mailing list here:  https://www.turleywinecellars.com/remotepurchases.  Turley tasting rooms are open! Check it out and make a reservation here.

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

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