Tagged: Joyce Wine Company

Joyce Wine Company & The Winehouse: A Carmel Valley Destination!

THE STORY

On a hunt in Carmel Valley for a local Riesling for a virtual wine class, this 2017 Joyce Wine Company Alluvial Fan Dry Riesling was recommended to me.  I found it at The Winehouse and brought it home.  I decided not to have any wine during our virtual class and tucked it away.  When it got pulled out as I cooking wine, I intervened and tried to clarify that this was not a cooking wine!  Separately, we found the 2019 The Wine House Cabernet Sauvignon in our wine room and shared it on a Sunday night.

I last wrote about Joyce Wine Co @joycewinecompany here: The Big Party Continues for Arroyo Seco Winegrowers!  

THE WINERY

About Joyce Wine Company (from their website):

“The origins of Joyce Winery trace back to when now owner and winemaker Russell Joyce’s father stumbled upon the small rural town of Carmel Valley California in 1972. Russell’s father was in search for a place where he could both practice his day job but also set up a race shop for his race cars he used to compete in his professional racing career. The close proximity of the infamous Laguna Seca raceway along with the rural feel of the area appealed to him being a small town farm boy from Wisconsin. After settling down and starting a family he was on to his next passionate endeavor – wine. In 1986 he planted the small 5 acres around the family home and Joyce Winery was born.

“Russell, born in 1986 grew up working on the small vineyard his entire childhood. From pulling weeds, hand terracing vineyard rows and pressing grapes in the small mirco-winery located on the property a passion was being provoked without him even realizing it at the time. A self taught winemaker Russell has spent his entire adult life pursuing his dream of creating Joyce Winery into a sustainable winery that he can hopefully one day share with his children. Working day jobs along the way in produce and metal fabrication in the Salinas Valley helped pay the rent but his passion for winemaking never subsided.

“The next chapter led to Russell setting up a small production winery in an industrial building in the rural Salinas Valley.  Struggling every step of the way the small winery accommodated the production from about 2006 – 2019. Strapped for space Russell and his wife Charlotte began searching for a rural piece of land, vineyard or winery they could purchase in hopes of one day developing it into a family estate. After several failed deals Russell stumbled upon the old Ventana Winery in Soledad, Ca. Familiar with the Arroyo Seco AVA from years of purchasing fruit Russell saw a great potential in this site even though it was quite run down. In 2020 a handshake deal was made with the former Ventana Winery partners and the next chapter for Joyce Winery began.

Russell Joyce 2024 Monterey Wine Trade Event

“Russell has spent years rebuilding the old winery along with developing much of the barren land around the winery to make it suitable for a new organic vineyard. He has partnered with the original Ventana Vineyard owners in developing some new plantings of gamay noir and other aromatic white wine varieties suited to the terroir. All of the long-standing contracts to purchase fruit come from neighboring family owned vineyards all within a 10 mile radius of the winery.”

About The Winehouse:

“Charlotte and Rachel Beshoff, two young sisters, along with Charlotte’s husband Russell Joyce, founded The Wine House with a shared vision: to create a welcoming space where the community could come together and enjoy the sunny ambiance of Carmel Valley in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. As owners of Joyce Wine Co., Charlotte and Russell sought a place where they could showcase some of their favorite local wines and craft beers. The building that houses The Wine House, originally the Hatton Dairy storefront, dates back to the 1950s. The Wine House officially opened its doors in December 2017, following the relocation of the Joyce Wine Co. tasting room which is right next door.

​“Focusing on artisanal California wines and small craft breweries, The Wine House offers a thoughtfully curated selection of wines, beers, and seasonal small bites. The expansive outdoor patio features two large fire pits, while cozy indoor bench seating and communal tables create a relaxed, social setting.”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting just 2 wines.  Winery notes in general come from the tasting sheet, their website, the label, or from tasting room staff. Any errors are mine and mine alone!

2017 Joyce Wine Company Alluvial Fan Dry Riesling, Monterey County, 12% ABV (#1570)

Winemaker Notes: “This Riesling was inspired by the sloped alluvial fans in which these vineyard sites reside. The well drained soils of the alluvial fans are created as water drains from the Santa Lucia Mountains down into the Salinas Valley washing down a build up of coarse-grained sediment. The strong marine influence of the Monterey Bay coupled with these soils and thoughtful, minimalistic winemaking practices allow this wine to show the natural tension and vibrancy of Monterey County Riesling.”

My Review: “Pale in the glass. Faint honeysuckle and white peach on the nose. Lime and minerality, petroleum dominate the palate. May 2025”

2019 The Wine House Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito County, 13.8% ABV (#1571)

My Review:  I didn’t get specific tasting notes on this wine. I recall it as an enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon – not as complex or voluptuous as a Napa or Carmel Valley. It passed the taste test at our house and pairs well with Sunday Night Dinner. 

THE TASTING ROOM

The Joyce tasting room is located at 1 East Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village is open.  It has a lovely outdoor setting and The Wine House is right in front of it.  You can find more information and make a reservation here.

The Winehouse: “Welcome to The Wine House, your neighborhood destination for beer and wine. Whether you’re a connoisseur or just looking to unwind, we offer a curated selection of local wines and craft beers in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. Come gather with friends, enjoy a glass, and experience the best of what our community has to offer.”

“We are located in the heart of the charming Carmel Valley Village. Our patio seating is open on a first come, first serve basis. No reservations.” Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 3-8pm; Friday & Saturday 1-8pm, Sunday 12-7pm, Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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Joyce: Exploring the Endless Potential of Monterey’s Coastal Terroir

My neighbor was in town last month and she is always game to “help” me with my wine blog.  We belong to the same winery out in Carmel Valley Village – and she was willing to check out Joyce with me.  I hadn’t been to Joyce since December 2019, when I picked up a case of James Joyce Merlot for a planned (and cancelled) wine class.  My DC area friends enjoyed that case of wine during the pandemic. In the hopes of finding another Merlot for my next class, we headed to Joyce.

We were warmly welcomed in the tasting room and headed outside to one of the very nice tables for the tasting. Our server was very knowledgeable and provided us tons of information, answering even my peskiest question.  The menu was very much focused on Monterey wines from across the county: Carmel Valley, Monterey, and Santa Lucia Highlands sub-AVAs.  While I was still on a mission to find wines for a class, the menu didn’t include their James Joyce label from San Benito County.  And no Merlot to try:  sold out.  And no industry discount.  Alas, I can’t get lucky every time!

I previously wrote about Joyce Wine Co back in December 2020.  You can read more about Joyce there https://decantingmonterey.com/joyce-wine-company-small-lot-wines-from-monterey-california-with-balance-finesse-and-focus/ and on their website https://joycewineco.com/.

Today I am presenting 5 wines we tasted at their Tasting Room in February, plus 1 I purchased for later consumption.  Unless otherwise specified, winery notes come from their website. The map below gives a good visual on the vineyards they use for their wines.

2018 Joyce Wine Co Escolle Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.3% ABV, $35 (#643*)

Winemaker Notes: “The fruit for this Chardonnay comes from Escolle Vineyard located at the Northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands. This site is impeccably farmed by the Caraccioli Family, who are incredible stewards of their land. Very low water usage translates into low yields of intense fruit full of flavor and acidity. The strong marine influence and well drained gravelly loam soils of Chular combine to deliver Chardonnay fruit that showcases both power and finesse.”

Tasting notes: “AROMA Rose hips, stone fruit, clove spice, toast/dough, river stone  FLAVOR Apple, bosc pear, wild peach, steely/mineral, brioche/lees”

My Review: Pale golden in color.  Tropical notes on the nose.  Balanced oak on the tasty and lively palate, with a touch of lime on the finish.  We liked this wine. February 2022

2019 Joyce Wine Co Gabilan Mountains Pinot Noir, Monterey, 12.6% ABV, $45 (#644*)

Winemaker’s Notes (condensed from the Tech Sheet): “The Gabilan Mountain Pinot Noir comes from a small vineyard site positioned on a soft slope located on the east side of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County. Soils consisting of decomposed granite and limestone allow for an ethereal expression of Pinot Noir. To highlight and preserve the purity of the wine, grapes were fermented using partial whole-cluster and native yeast. The resulting wine was then aged for 10 months in neutral French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. These honest winemaking practices combined with thoughful farming allow this vineyard site to show both power and finesse.” 18 barrels produced.

My Review: Translucent bright ruby in the glass with a bright red berry nose.  Smooth on the palate with light berry flavors with subtle structure on the finish.  A pleasant wine. February 2022

2019 Joyce Wine Co Tondre Grapefield  Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, $45  (#645*)

Winemaker Notes: “Tondre Grapefield captures the soul of the Santa Lucia Highlands in the glass with dark brambly fruit, spice, light earth tones and a decedent textural mouth feel that comes from the cool climate site set of the regions sandy loams. This vintage shines with a deep garnet/ruby hue and a medium/full bodied palate of blackberry, plum and of course cherry fruits along with a touch of tea spice, lavender and soft oak. This wine gains in the glass and while youthful fresh it delivers an excellent play between lush ripe fruit and savory briar notes, this is not a vintage to miss.” 18 barrels produced.

My Review: Richer and darker in color, seemingly a tiny bit cloudy in the glass, with a richer bouquet than the previous wine.  Richer flavors on the palate, with some tartness in the balance.  February 2022

2019 Russell Joyce Grenache Syrah, Monterey, 13.7% ABV, $38 (#646*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “The special Small Lot Collection Grenache-Syrah is a blend of 70% Grenache from Cedar Lane and 30% Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah. Mostly concrete tank fermentation and aging making for a new California expression of a Southern Rhone style red in an ode to Chateaneuf-du-Pape. The ripe and dark fruited Grenache-Syrah has an intense purple/magenta hue in the glass with an incredible bouquet of wild flowers and spices that leads to a forward palate of olallieberry, racy plum, red currant and huckleberry fruits, sprigs of lavender, pepper, minty notes and a fresh tang with some delicate floral tones, savory elements and lingering kirsch. Seriously proportioned and dense without being heavy, this very limited Grenache-Sryah release, develops nicely with air and love the studied display of fruit and stony earth that comes out.”

My Review: Berry on the nose.  A nice palate of robust, smooth fruit – very appealing to my taste. February 2022

2019 Russell Joyce Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley 13.8% ABV, $60 (#647*)

Notes from the Tasting Room: The grapes for this wine come from the Joullian Vineyard in Carmel Valley.  With light oak notes, it is a more fuller representation of the fruit. 

My Review: Dense, dark ruby in the glass.  Berry notes on the nose.  A medium palate of dark berry flavors.  Pretty yummy. February 2022

2019 Joyce Wine Co Tondre Grapefield  Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 13.4% ABV, $35 (#648*)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Planted in 1997, Tondré Grapefield sits in the center of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The terroir is defined by portruding Southeast facing slopes, strong marine influences from the Monterey Bay and ancient glacial soils consisting of decomposed granite, gravel and sandy loam. To show transparency, the fruit was harvested at moderate sugars and fermented using 60% whole clusters and native yeasts. The wine was then aged for 10 months in a combination of small concrete vessels and neutral French oak barrels before being bottled infined and unfiltered. These honest winemaking practices combined with thoughtful farming allow the savory fruit and natural acidity of this cool climate Syrah to shine.” 10 barrels produced.

Tasting Notes: “AROMA Black fruits, peppercorns, dried lavender, minty herb, crushed violets, forest floor FLAVOR Black raspberry, pomegranate, damson plum, liquid violets, embers, mixed spices”

My Review: Fresh ruby in the glass.  At first, Bing cherry on the nose.  Palate of bright, tart cherry flavors a la Jolly Rancher.  As it opened up over a couple of days, the flavors balanced out, revealing a little more earth and deeper flavors. March 2022

You can buy Joyce wines from their web site or tasting room. Their tasting room is located at 1 East Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village is open.  It has a lovely outdoor setting.  You can find more information 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.    

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Joyce Wine Company: “SMALL LOT WINES FROM MONTEREY CALIFORNIA, WITH BALANCE, FINESSE AND FOCUS”

We stopped in at Joyce Vineyards’ tasting room in December 2019 on a hunt for a Merlot for my next class.  I stumbled upon a great deal for their James Joyce Merlot, as well as the 2017 Cabernet.  We lucked into some specials for both of these wines.  James is winemaker Russell Joyce’s middle name – they produced both a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with their sideways label – the label is literally sideways and a bit of a play on the movie, “Sideways.”  Watch them for different Bordeaux blends, depending on yield, especially from their tiny Carmel Valley Estate Vineyard. 

These December 2019 prices were bargains for such nice quality wines.

About Joyce Wine Company: “Joyce Wine Company is the result of family interest in Monterey Country’s diverse terroir.  With minimalistic cellar practices and on-site production, our goal is to produce wines with balance, finesse and focus while exploring the endless potential of the coastal terroir in Monterey County…Joyce Vineyards began as a chance planting by Francis Joyce in 1989 on a steep hillside in Carmel Valley. Joyce Wine Company now tells the stories of Monterey County’s unique terroir through Francis’ son Russell Joyce, a second generation winemaker who grew up working amongst the vines at the family’s estate. Russell showcases the area’s premier AVAs in a classic and minimal approach to winemaking. He utilizes this approach to create wines of purity and elegance while focusing on the local varietals grown in Monterey County and its surroundings.”

Joyce Wine Company produces about 8,000 cases annually in the same Salinas industrial park as Ian Brand, and sources grapes from some of our best known vineyards across the Central Coast, primarily Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, and San Benito AVAs. 

“San Benito County lies along the San Andreas Fault just beneath the Gabilan Mountain Range; neighboring Monterey County. The calcareous soils combined with warm days and mild nights provide the ideal growing conditions for Bordeaux varietals. The Teague Vineyard uses minimal irrigation, producing grapes with great intensity and concentration.”

2017 James Joyce Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito AVA, 14.2% ABV, $30  80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec (#20*)

The distinctive “Sideways” label for their 2017 James Joyce Cabernet!

Winemaker Notes (website):  The 2017 James Joyce Cabernet comes from the Teague Vineyard, planted against the Diablo Mountain Range.  The soil is heavy clay and loam.  With minimal irrigation, the roots are stressed to dig deep for water.  Bordeaux varietals grow well in this climate of warm days and mild nights.   For this Cabernet, the “grapes were 100% destemmed and left on the skins with minimal extended maceration 7 days past dryness and full fermentation.” The Cabernet Sauvignon took longer to ferment.  “The wine was aged on heavy leas for 16 months and no new French oak was used.  Never fined or filtered.” 1000 cases of this wine were produced. 

According to www.wine.com, the winemaker described this wine as: “In addition to the blackberry base, minty herbs and leather, this offers a strong woody character and pine needle aromas. The very dry black-currant fruit is awash in flavors of dill, savory black pepper and black olive.” 

My Review: “Classic!” my daughter says. This wine is very dark ruby in color, with a mocha-plum nose and a refreshing and smooth plum and cassis on the palate.  It is a nice wine one could enjoy every day. 

2016 James Joyce Merlot, Central Coast, 13.9% ABV, $25 (181*)  90% Merlot 5% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Cabernet Franc

My DC friends got to enjoy this case of wine I had purchased for my Fall 2020 wine class, indefinitely postponed!

Winemaker’s Notes (condensed from the Tech Sheet): The Merlot grapes were harvested by hand, “…destemmed, and placed in small open top fermenters where they were cold soaked for 4-5 days before fermentation began naturally.  Primary fermentation lasted between 14-18 days before the wine was drained and the must gently pressed.  The wine was then transferred to 100% neutral French oak barrels where it finished malolactic fermentation.  Once this fermentation was completed, a small sulfur addition was made and the wine was left to age sur lie for 16 months before being bottled un-fined and unfiltered.” 850 cases produced.

Tasting Notes from The Cave: “Aromatics: Plum, Black Cherry, Baking Spice. Palate: Lush & Supple, Bright Acidity, Velvety Tannins”

My Review: Deep, rich ruby in color. Cherry and a hint of caramel on the nose. Rich and bright, juicy cherry-berry on the palate, smooth tannins with lingering licorice and a touch of spearmint.

The Joyce Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village is open – make a reservation here.

You can buy Joyce wines from their web site, tasting room, and commercially marketed at www.wine.com and other websites and local markets. 

*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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