Tagged: #montereycounty #wineblog

Anonymous: A Ballard Canyon Syrah for a Bargain Price

Banner with the words Anonymous Wine Collective K&L "Wines You'll Never forget - from wineries we'll never disclose" and 3 wine bottles on the side

THE STORY

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you will know that I am a sucker for Ballard Canyon AVA Syrah wines from Santa Barbara County.  When we stumbled upon an Anonymous one at a bargain price on K&L Wine Merchants website, we knew we had to give it a try.  This one was rated 94 points for only $20. For a Ballard Canyon Syrah.  Crazy, right?

We’ve been experimenting with Anonymous wines for a while now and have been very pleased.  You can try them yourselves by searching “Anonymous” on the K&L website. Love the labels – bottles wrapped in plain brown bags, reminiscent of a blind tasting.

THE WINE COLLECTIVE

From the Ryan Woodhouse’s K&L Newsletter introducing the Anonymous Wine Collective:

“The Anonymous Wine Collective is a dynamic range of wines made in collaboration between K&L and some of the most famous and critically acclaimed wineries in the biz. Some releases will be purely opportunistic, one-off wines, never to be repeated. Others will be ongoing collaborations where we work in tandem with world-class winemakers to make wines each year. Those ongoing relationships will be at the core of the project. Anonymous allows us to work with incredibly talented people and craft the wines, from vine to bottle. I’m proud to say that, with these first releases, I have personally walked in each of the vineyards from which they were sourced. The Anonymous Wine Collective isn’t about buying random, generic, soulless bulk wine. It’s about using our knowledge and long-cemented relationships to bring exceptional wines to our customers at prices that are a fraction of where these wines would typically sell. Our winery partners get an upfront commitment for the wines, often while they’re still in barrel; and in some cases while they’re still on the vine (now there’s trust for you)! In return, we get exceptional wine and phenomenal pricing, all while protecting the anonymity of the wineries behind the project.”

Image of 4 Anonymous wine bottles with labels depicting a wine bottle wrapped in a plain brown bag
Anonymous Wine Lineup – Image used with permission of K&L Wine Merchants

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 1 Anonymous wine. K&L notes come from the K&L website. Images come from anonymouswine.com, klwines.com and the back label of the bottle. Images are used with permission of K&L Wine Merchants. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites. Any other mistakes are mine and mine alone.

2024 Anonymous Envy Block Syrah, Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County, 14% ABV, $20 (#1781)

back label of wine bottle depicting wine detailes wih vineyard and winery redacted in black.
Back Label of the 2024 Anonymous Ballard Canyon Syrah

K&L Notes: “Another first for the Anonymous Wine Collective: a Syrah under our house label. And what an absolute beauty to kick things off. Sourced from one single hillside block of vines, that we’ve named “Envy Block” due to it’s reputation as the sweet spot on this estate for producing the most potent and explosive Syrah. This very block is coveted by some of the most famed cult producers on the Central Coast and has produced multiple 100-point wines. Most wines sourced from this exact parcel retail between $80 and $160, many of them exclusive mailing-list offerings. Most wines sourced from this exact parcel retail between $80 and $160, many of them exclusive mailing-list offerings. Farmed with certified organic and biodynamic methods. The nose is wonderfully expressive with wild blackberry, black raspberry, dark cherry, dried herbs, violets, and hints of dusty earth. Beneath the exuberant fruit lies a compelling savory streak of cracked peppercorn, charred meat, and toasted exotic spice. Medium-plus in body, the wine carries a mouth-filling texture layered with fine tannins that provide impressive structure and length. The whole-cluster inclusion lifts the aromatics beautifully and keeps the wine fresh, energetic, and linear through the finish. This is a remarkably classy bottle of Syrah and, at this price point, an almost unbelievable value. I think it will resonate equally with lovers of savory Northern Rhône Syrah and fans of rich yet refined California Rhône-style wines. I couldn’t be happier with how this wine turned out – I only hope we made enough once people discover just how good it is for the money.” Ryan Woodhouse, K&L

My Review: The pretty garnet in the glass gives the appearance it’s going to be fruity. I get crushed berries, Concord grapes on the nose, big palate of intense fruits. Slightly bitter with a hint of earth on the finish. Tight upon opening, but then revealed a fabulous wine. For the price, it’s exceptional. May 2026.

© Decanting Monterey 2026

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

Mark Bunter: Want to Know What’s in Your Glass?

THE STORY

Bunter Spring Winery held a members’ tasting in late May and I invited myself to attend.  We have been fans of Mark Bunter’s wines since we first discovered them many years ago.  This was a small, casual event at which everyone was made to feel like family.

Over the years we have known him he has made every type of wine, including crisp whites, fun red blends, experimental Syrahs and serious Cabernet Sauvignons. And listing every ingredient.  You need to know what you are drinking!

Mark isn’t making wine anymore, but everyone was encouraging him to get back in the game.  A selfish bunch, aren’t we! 

THE WINERY

From their website:

“Bunter Spring Winery is a small family operated winery in the Coombsville AVA in the southeast corner of Napa Valley.  We also have some production in Monterey.  Most vintages we make a few hundred cases of wine, mostly for ourselves, but also for sale to friends on our mailing list, and a few restaurants and wine shops.  Why make wine?  We just don’t care for many of the wines sold today. We make the kind of wine we want to drink: balanced, interesting, made with few or no additives, and low or no sulfite. We list all ingredients, the actual sulfite level, and the actual alcohol level on every label.  Incredibly, NO OTHER WINERY DOES THAT…”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 7 Bunter Spring wines, some of which I have written up before. As always, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the winery.  Any mistakes are mine and mine alone.

2022 Bunter Spring White Wine, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, 13% ABV  $20 (#1480)

wine bottle with label for the 2022 white wine

Winemaker’s Notes: “Your basic dry white wine, like in the Southern Mediterranean. Good with fish.” 40 cases produced. 

My Review: Mark said this might be Sauvignon Blanc, but neither he nor we think so. Honey and lime on the nose. Acidic palate with a Meyer lemon finish. May 2026

2022 Bunter Spring Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Napa County (#1778)

wine bottle with label for the 2022 chardonnay

My Review:  Fresh Meyer lemon on the nose. Not like a Monterey Chardonnay at all. May 2026     

2021 Bunter Spring Pinot Noir, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#1482)

wine bottle with label for the 2021 Pinot Noir

Winemaker’s Notes: “Mostly from a famous vineyard in SLH, plus a little lower Carmel Valley fruit.  French oaky, fruity, spicy, fun.”

My Review: This wine has aged a bit since my last review.  A brown-ness in the color. Cherry, plum and leather on the nose. Dark cherry, leather on the caramel-y palate. Still a bit heftier than your typical SLH Pinot Noir. May 2026

2018 Hippie Syrah, Napa County, 14.12% ABV, $30 (#1483)

wine bottle with label for the 2018 Hippie Syrah with a peace sin and orange background

Winemaker’s Notes: “Here, the ‘wild’ yeast behaved themselves during a peaceful anti-establishment fermentation. We added a little sulfite to the one third that underwent two weeks of carbonic maceration.   For a “Hippie” wine, it’s pretty square, with spicy American oak character and Napa depth of flavor, but it does have a little dank streak  any Deadhead could love. Ingredients: Organic grapes, water, sulfite. Not filtered, not fined.  At bottling: total sulfite 37 ppm, residual sugar <0.1 g/l (dry).

My Review: Purple in the glass Dark fruit, and a little smoke on the nose. The palate is still delicious. Continues to be one of our favorites of Mark’s wines! May 2026

2017 Bunter “Natur” Syrah, Coombsville AVA, Napa County, 12.86% ABV, $30 (#1483)

wine bottle with label for the 2017 Bunter 'nature' Syrah with a black shield featuring a leaping buck

Winemaker’s Notes: “50% carbonic maceration. Subtle, delicious, complex, with superb balance and a structure that complements many foods, and never overwhelms the palate. Definitely different from Cab, but familiar enough that any red wine lover could embrace it.  Ingredients: Organic grapes, water, sulfite. Not fined, not filtered.  At bottling: total SO2 39 ppm, residual sugar <0.1 g/l (bone dry).

My Review: Caramel on the nose, followed by an acidic palate. We’ve tasted this wine several times over the years and find it interesting as it matures in the bottle.  May 2026

2017 Bunter Spring “Supernatural” Syrah, Coombsville AVA, Napa County, 13.45% ABV, $30 (#1780) Organic, No Added Sulfites

wine bottle with label for the 2019 "Supernatural" Syrah

Winemaker’s Notes: “This wine meets all criteria to be labeled “Organic”.  Nothing was added to it.  It has a distinctive earthiness and toasted nut overtone, accentuated by a bourbon-like aroma and ripe red fruit flavors. The most “natural” of all our wines. Not filtered, not fined.  At bottling: total sulfite 4 ppm, residual sugar <0.1 g/l (totally dry).

My Review: Lots of berry fruit with a touch of blue cheese or soap on the nose. The fruit carries over to the palate with a sour finish. I’d like to try this one again with food. May 2026

2014 Spring Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County (#1780)

wine bottle with label for the 2014 Spring Cabernet Sauvignon featuring a red tulip

My Review: Delicious.  Mark knows how to make great wines. Sadly, this was not available for purchase! May 2026

You can sometimes find a pop-up tasting with Mark Bunter and Margaret Spring in the back room of the Big Sur Vineyards tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. Check out the Bunter Spring Winery Facebook Page and the Bunter Spring Winery Instagram page for more information.

© Decanting Monterey 2026

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

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