Earlier this month, Brosseau held a celebration of summer and a release of its latest white blend and Pinot Noir (both excellent, by the way). I was pleased to be included in this event by my partner in wine for the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter, Janet Torelli. In addition to the new wines,we enjoyed food prepared by Executive Chef Nance’ Danner Rocha, owner of Pacific Coast Private Chefs.
We were entertained with live music by Bill and his daughter, Shaeley Brosseau on the ukelele!
Today I am presenting 5 Brosseau wines. Winery notes come from their website or the tasting sheet. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2023 Brosseau Balconies White Blend, Brosseau Vineyard Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $30 (#1790)
My Review: Golden in the glass. Honeysuckle, pear and caramel on the nose. I enjoyed this wine and wanted to take some home. August 2026
My Review: Barely a hint of pink in the glass – I mean barely! Honeysuckle and apple cider on the nose. The refreshing light yet balanced palate is followed by a distinctive, lingering thyme or rosemary herbal finish. March & August 2026
My Review: Plum and cherry on the medium palate. Tasty. I tend to like his Pinot Noir wines. August 2026
2019 Brosseau Brody Red Blend, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 14.3% ABV, $40 #1793)
Image from the Brosseau website
Winery Notes: “Scents and flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, sage, cherry, cocoa. Expansive mouthfeel, smooth tannins and vibrant acidity make for a pleasing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.”
My Review: Blueberry, cherry on the nose. Rich palate of dark plum, blackberry, dark cherry. I had purchased this wine in March without tasting it and super enjoyed it. May 2026
THE TASTING ROOM
Integrating Nature, Society, Science, and the Arts
“Brosseau Wine Studio was born out of Bill’s intrinsic motivation to unite iconic vineyard sites from our special wine region, with people who are passionate about attention to detail in farming and winemaking. The Studio offers an exploratory wine experience and more. A place to nurture and encourage personal connections and artistry in wine and beyond.
“We are located less than 1 mile from the Pacific Ocean in the cool and foggy town of Marina, CA. To reserve a tasting experience with the Brosseaus, please click the link below. We look forward to visiting with you and sharing a personalized, immersive, and unforgettable experience.”
In June, 2 of my neighbors and I decided to take a walk to A Taste of Monterey in historic Cannery Row to get in our exercise with a little fun at the destination. We each got to select the 5 wines we wanted to taste, tailoring our individual tastings to our own palates. From our seats at the bar, we had a delightful view down the water side of Canner Row to the west and north across the massive Monterey Bay. I’m excited to announce that one of the wines just has been selected for the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter’s December holiday party!
My friend enjoying their wines!
A Taste of Monterey is under relatively new management. We’ve met a few times since this tasting with owner Britt Talbert who is changing things up a bit there, expanding its wine holdings and food menu. It’s an exciting thing to see unfold. Their new marketing director Gina Martin is fabulous to work with – and the new chef Bruce Finch has elevated the culinary offerings. On another visit, we were presented a sample charcuterie board and everything on it was the finest quality and taste with a beautiful presentation.
Today I am presenting the 5 wines from my flight. They are all from Monterey County. Winery notes come from winery websites, unless otherwise noted. You can read more about each winery on its website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
NV Folktale Sparkling Rosé, Monterey County, 12% ABV, $45 (#1687)
Winery Notes: “Brilliant rose gold in color, the Rosé Brut sparkling wine opens with soft notes of watermelon, kiwi and a beautiful yeasty quality that invites you in. The palate is elegant, with cherry, floral, and a creamy texture that has a bright finish.”
My Review: I’ve presented this one before – it is just such a delicious sparkling wine from our region. Pale pink. Tiny bubbles. A touch of peach and yeast on the crisp palate. June 2026
2023 Cru Chardonnay, Smith & Lindley Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands , Monterey County, $25 (#1787)
Winery Notes: “This Chardonnay is a lovely representation of Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands. It opens with notes pineapple, peach and apricot that develop into flavors of honeydew melon and kiwi with a finish accented by vanilla and coconut. The wine is beautifully balanced with delightful acidity, mineral accents and a long, rich finish.”
My Review: Pale yellow and slightly viscous in the glass. Butter and grilled pineapple on the nose. Delicious palate of Meyer lemon, pineapple notes, very rich. June 2026
2022 Cru Pinot Noir, Smith & Lindley Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 13.9% ABV, $25 (#1788)
Winery Notes: “This lovely wine is a tribute to the Santa Lucia Highlands featuring both the earthy and fruit flavors that this region is so well known for. It opens with dark cherry, strawberry, pomegranate and cinnamon with beautifully balanced structure. It finishes with a hint of plum and chocolate on the long finish.”
My Review: Ruby in color. Coca Cola on the nose. Palate of tobacco and cherry, representative of SLH, but not my style of Pinot Noir. June 2026
2021 Le Mistral Joseph’s Blend, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $50 (#1789) 61% Grenache, 39% Syrah
Le Mistral: “Raspberry, blackberry jam, clove, hay, leather, lavender, and cherry cola notes. The wine is elegant and has juicy tannins from the soft oak influence. This wine would pair well with anything from chicken, pasta, steak, or lamb.” 93 points Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Dark garnet, almost purple in the glass. Brown sugar and dark fruit one the nose. Pretty delicious. This is the wine we just selected for our holiday party. June 2026
2022 Paysan Petite Sirah, Pierce Ranch Vineyards, San Antonio Valley, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $35 (#1309)
Winery Notes: “One way to beat the fall heat spikes of 2022 is to pick before they hit. Heat is a fact of life in the San Antonio Valley and the secret is to work with well adapted varieties. Thick skinned Petite Sirah is a lovely choice and on the fractured silicate and calcareous rock of Block One it yields a wine of surprising elegance and grace. I made the wines for Pierce Ranch for several years earlier in my career, so I know the vineyard well and this is one of their premier blocks. Fermented with 30% whole cluster and aged in neutral oak for 11 months.”
My Review: Damp soil and licorice on the nose. Dried dark fruit on the dry palate. I think this is worthy of a re-taste, as it should have been much fruitier, based on my previous reviews and expectations. June 2026
THE TASTING ROOM
A Taste of Montereyis located at 700 Cannery Row, Ste. KK (head to the back of the first floor and up the staircase), Monterey, CA – 93940 Phone: (831) 646-5446. Hours: Open Sunday-Thursday 12pm-6pm; Friday-Saturday 12pm-8pm. Click herefor more information on wine tastings and food.
When we get a text or call from Summer, the tasting room manager for Parsonage, we pay attention! She told me that their annual wine and cheese pairing was already selling out! We managed to squeeze in a reservation just in time! The winery puts so much effort into matching their wines with cheeses from near and far. We were surprised to find a number of new releases at this tasting, so there are a bunch of wines to reveal today.
I was just getting ready to post a couple of Parsonage reviews about bottles aging in our cellar, so the timing of this event was perfect. Those wines were the 2018 Wildcard Red Blend (#533) and the 2014 Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (#1782). If you have either of these wines in your cellar, enjoy them!
The 2018 Wildcard is drinking well: Dark plum, blackberry, blueberry, prune on the nose. Robust full palate of dark, warm, fruit, brown sugar, baking spices, this has grown into quite a delicious wine. May 2026.
The 2014 Tanner was stellar, demonstrating the value of holding onto these wines: Dark, almost purple in the glass. Rich bouquet of cassis, farm jammy fruit, and a touch of cedar. Smooth, balanced and rich palate. One of the best wines we had this month. (Don’t tell the others.) July 2026
Today, in addition to the 2 above, I’m bringing you 4 newly-released Parsonage wines. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2024 Parsonage Chardonnay, Diamond T Vineyard, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $42 (#1782)
Winery Notes: “A tropical bouquet of pineapple and mango with subtle hints of ripe pear and white flowers. The full, round palate shows off these lovely fruit essences with a bracing and dynamic acidity.”
My Review: Pale cloudy in the glass. Pineapple and lemon on the nose. Bright yet balanced chardonnay. Acidic on the finish. August 2026
2023 Parsonage Hawk Reserve Pinot Noir, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98 (#1783)
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.”
My Review: Fruity plum on the nose and on the palate. I get the rose petals and cola. It’s got some heft to it! August 2026
2022 Parsonage Dario Reserve Merlot, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98 (#1784)
Winery Notes: “A huckleberry-loganberry fusion with hints of cassis and graphite dominate the nose enhancing the complex palate. This vintage shouts out across the sea to the Chateaux of Petrus and Le Pin… “Bring it on!!””
My Review: Licorice and cedar on the nose. Concentrated dark fruit on the palate – needs more time in the bottle to come out of its shell. Excellent pairing with the Black Bomber white cheddar from the UK. August 2026
2021 Parsonage Tanner Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98 (#1786)
My Review: I need to come back and taste this wine on its own, not after a big wine and cheese pairing. It is still young with a dry, tannic finish. Cellar this one. It has great potential. August 2026
THE TASTING ROOM
Visit Parsonage in their Carmel Valley Tasting Room located at19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village!
They are open every day: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm. Make a reservation on line or call 831-659-7322.
They are members of the AWS Welcome Here program – show your membership card for a discount! Check them out on Instagram here: @parsonagewinery.
Plus Wine Industry Insights from the 2025 Monterey County Crop Report
THE STORY
Today marks the sixth anniversary ofDecanting Monterey, A Central Coast Wine Blog! When I envisioned this website, I wanted it to reflect my passion for exposing Monterey County wines to those who might not even know our wine growing region exists. Or for those who might only have heard of our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards and wines.
In our personal wine journey, we began exploring Monterey wines because our family lived nearby. We would occasionally stumble upon a stunning Cabernet Sauvignon (Durney) or an outstanding red blend (Bernardus Marinus). The light went on for me personally when we were referred by one tasting room to visit a vineyard and winery in Carmel Valley, showing us that Monterey, in addition to those elegant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, could produce impressive, award-worthy, full-bodied reds. That winery was Parsonage. And we discovered Mercy and Chesebro, with exceptional wines from Arroyo Seco, expanding our horizons on great wine producing regions in Monterey County. We found Ian Brand one day, when his tasting room first opened, and began to explore his paradigm-shifting winemaking. And Rombi for making perhaps the biggest, most complex reds in the county. Today we watch closely the ever-evolving wine landscape in Monterey including the emerging Carmel Coast AVA with newer wineries such as Domaine Messier.
Whether you get my weekly reviews delivered to your email (sign up today – it is free!), see them on social media (Instagram, Facebook, or CELLAR TRACKER, or discover them via Google search; I hope you are enjoying reading about our Monterey wines through my lens. I value every view, like, and comment. I write this self-funded blog out of passion for our Monterey wines, and have continued to keep this space ad-free for you. I deeply appreciate each and every one of you who is reading my posts!
A BRIEF RECAP OF THE LAST 6 YEARS
Year 1: Deep in the unvaccinated period of the pandemic in July 2020, Decanting Monterey initially was focused on wines from our own collection sampled at home, with or without our neighboring friends and our daughters, who eventually became known as the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod. I also established the @decantingmonterey Facebook page.
Testing COVID Wine Tasting Procedures Back in 2020!
During Year 2, as we became fully vaccinated and boosted, we were able to get out to more local wineries at a more deliberate pace. Most of the posts were based on event-driven or winery tastings and fewer individual, cellar-driven posts. I started the @decanting_monterey Instagram feed.
AWS Monterey Chapter Vice Chair and Me at Cabrillo College
During Year 6, I became the Chair of the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter, so my time shifted to those responsibilities while maintaining the weekly blog posts for Decanting Monterey. I organized 7 of their events, most at our local wineries and created their social media sites. I reported on one wine tasting trip to Paso Robles and attended The Perfect Pair – a Cabrillo College Culinary & Wine Showcase of Santa Cruz Mountain AVA wines.
HIGH LEVEL STATS FROM YEAR SIX
Wines Presented by California County
www.decantingmonterey.com surpassed the 43,000 “views” mark. If you are seeing my blog on social media or via email, please be sure to click the link and open it!
In its lifetime, 402 total posts and 1,780 wines.
237 wines (209 for the first time) were written up on Decanting Monterey in Year 6, including 168 reds, 55 whites, 14 rosés, including 9 sparkling wines.
Wines from 14 California counties are represented, with over 53% from Monterey and 28% from San Luis Obispo.
Wines by Monterey AVA
Wines from 6 of the 10 Monterey American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) were covered, with the most from Carmel Valley, followed closely by Arroyo Seco and then the Santa Lucia Highlands.
I’ve written before about the declining wine market as people focus more on their health and drink less. The recent release of the 2025 Monterey County Crop Report highlights this situation quite directly, with a staggering 25% drop in the value of wine grapes in the county in a single year. Since its height in 2015, the value of wine grapes has dropped 38%. It’s a worrisome trend for our vineyards and our wineries. Across the world, wine production is declining. This Forbes article contains the global picture: The Wine Industry Continues To Struggle With Production And Consumption. I don’t know how much it affects our smaller, local wineries with their loyal followings, but the shift in the marketplace needs attention, with an eye to both short-term and longer-term strategies. Is this a permanent shift? Is wine becoming passé? Here are the stats from the crop report:
Wine Grapes Have Been Steadily Decreasing over the Last Few Years
Grapes went down in ranking from 8th place in 2024, to 9th place in 2025 – behind strawberries, leaf and head lettuces, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, spinach, and nursery and flower.
Acreage of planted grapes declined from 39,600 in 2024 to 37,800 in 2025.
Grape crop valuedecreased from $152,251,000 in 2024 to $114,603,000 in 2025.
Wine Grapes Continue to Decline in Acreage and Value
ONWARD, DECANTING MONTEREY!
While I have some posts already queued up for Year 7, let me ask my mighty readers: Where should I visit next? A new winery or region? A Monterey winery I may have overlooked? Please leave me a comment on this post and let me know what some of your favorite, local places are to wine taste that I should not miss in Year 7!
And, if you have not signed up for my free, weekly blog email. I judge how well I am doing by how many views, subscribers, and comments I receive. No ads and I don’t sell your data. Please help me spread the word and feel free to comment on my posts! And follow my Facebook (@DecantingMonterey) and Instagram (@decanting_monterey) sites.
Larry Bell, Proprietor, Corral Wine Co.
I don’t want to leave today’s post without expressing my gratitude to those vintners who have comped me wine tastings, given me discounts, and especially those who have donated bottles of wine! I am grateful to Bernardus, Corral Wine Co., Lepe Cellars, Parsonage, Rombi, and Shale Canyon for their generosity this year in donated wines, steep discounts or assistance with group tastings. I am especially thankful for Sal Rombi who has repeatedly donated pre-release wines for us to taste in-depth and replacement bottles for many of the wines I have reviewed. And to my fellow board members at the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter who continue to trust me to organize their events. And, of course, the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod which makes this all tons of fun!
Fellow AWS Monterey Chapter Board Members in December 2025
So, here we go – onto Year 7! I don’t think I will ever surpass Year 4, but even coasting in this world of Monterey wines has allowed me to access and promote some of the very best California has to offer. I hope you will try some wines from Monterey County and share your experiences with me!
In December, the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter held its annual holiday party at A Taste of Monterey in historic Cannery Row, at a time of year when we could enjoy its amazing views of the Monterey Bay. At this sold-out event, 40 members and guests indulged in 5 outstanding Monterey wines, perfectly paired with delicious appetizers. This was a fun and social gathering for our group, while we learned more about Monterey wines from our venue hosts, Jasmine Hernandez and Scott. Thanks, again, Jasmine and Scott, for such a wonderful event!
Our chapter board previewed and selected the 5 wines for our tasting, which were sourced in different parts of Monterey County – from the famous Santa Lucia Highlands to the southern San Antonio Valley. The knowledgeable staff guided us through each wine. The favorite wine was the NV Folktale Sparkling Rosé. The most unique was the Russell Joyce Le Blanc, a blend of Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, from two vineyards in the Arroyo Seco AVA. Another favorite of the evening was the Tondré Grapefield Pinot Noir – a notch above the typical SLH Pinot Noir!
Today I am presenting the 5wines from this holiday tasting. They are all from Monterey County. Winery notes come from winery websites, unless otherwise noted. You can read more about each winery on its website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
NV Folktale Sparkling Rosé, Monterey County, $45 (#1687)
Winery Notes: “Brilliant rose gold in color, the Rosé Brut sparkling wine opens with soft notes of watermelon, kiwi and a beautiful yeasty quality that invites you in. The palate is elegant, with cherry, floral, and a creamy texture that has a bright finish.”
My Review: Fine bubbles with balanced acidity. Everyone enjoyed this perfect way to start our event. I have valued this wine since I first tasted it a few years back and it remains one of my top local sparkling wines. December 2025
2024 Russell Joyce Le Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA $35 (#1688)
Winery Notes: “Discover the exceptional flavors of this fine white wine from Monterey, California. Experience the delightful combination of white peach, watermelon rind, and spring flower aromas. Refresh your palate with notes of salted green apple, grapefruit, and a hint of river rock.” (Monsieur Marcel)
My Review: Sweet, floral nose. Good acidity and lots of minerality with a Meyer lemon , grapefruit zest finish. December 2025
Winery Notes: “The 2021 vintage Pinot Noir offers a captivating display of luscious red and black cherry fruit, skillfully intermingled with a delightful blend of assorted spices that perfectly embodies the essence of Tondré Grapefield and the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The palate offers a velvety texture that exudes elegance. It’s acidity is balanced complementing the moderate tannins to perfection.”
My Review: Cherry and forest floor on the nose. A richer than typical Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir palate. I liked this Pinot Noir. This is the one wine which was recommended by the staff as an exceptional Pinot Noir to showcase for our tasting. Way to go, Scott. December 2025
Winery Notes: “Big, full-bodied Merlot with classic Bordeaux attributes. This wine begins with a big bouquet of ripe fruit and violets. The middle is graced with raspberry, pomegranate and cherry. A long finish of cedar and frim tannins. Only 246 cases produced.” (from A Taste of Monterey website)
My Review: This was a smooth, rich, full-flavored Merlot. Packed with plum, raspberry, cranberry and cherry, this wine was smooth and tasty. December 2025
2021 Marin’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, San Antonio Valley AVA, $45 (#1691)
Winery Notes: “This Cabernet Sauvignon displays characteristics of black cherry and licorice with supple tannins on the finish. We used 15% new french oak on this wine. Only 6 barrels of this wine were produced.” (Vinoshipper website)
My Review: Coming from the most southern region of Monterey County’s winemaking, this Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the dark, riper fruits from this warmer climate. It is a full-bodied crowd-pleaser, one of the favorites of the event.
THE TASTING ROOM
A Taste of Monterey is located at 700 Cannery Row, Ste. KK (head to the back of the first floor and up the staircase), Monterey, CA – 93940 Phone: (831) 646-5446. Hours: Open Sunday-Thursday 12pm-6pm; Friday-Saturday 12pm-7pm. Click here for more information on wine tastings and food.
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.
“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
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
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
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.”
My friend and home winemaker Erin O’Reilly recently dropped off her 2023 Affatim Cabernet Sauvignon for us to try. She was “super excited” because it was awarded a Gold Medal at the Spring 2025 California State Fair Home Wine Competition! We shared it with the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod for a thorough review.
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR HOME WINE COMPETITION
From the link above:
“The California State Fair Home Wine Competition supports and promotes winemaking as a home craft and is designed to increase the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the amateur winemaker. The competition provides an opportunity for these wines to be judged in an organized and professional manner while delivering impartial evaluation feedback, and to recognize the talent of the successful home winemaker.”
Winery Notes: “Affatim means sufficient, amply, complete satisfaction. I was pleased with how this wine blend came together…The Cabernet Sauvignon 80% came from San Antonio Valley AVA, the Merlot 20% came from Almaden Valley in Santa Clara County…This is a solid wine, and I enjoyed making it and playing with blends and oak. I love how it all came together.”
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! We enjoyed this wine! April 2025
I was thumbing through past issues of Wine Spectator on their way to the recycle bin, hunting for articles and reviews of Central Coast wines. One wine kept jumping out at me – Carol Shelton’s Coquille Blanc from Paso Robles. I remembered I had the 2020 vintage to write up and thought it might be a perfect time also to share the wine we had at Thanksgiving, the 2016 Calera deVilliers Vineyard Pinot Noir from Mount Harlan in San Benito County. In addition, I’ve had the 2017 Odonata Spiketail (Santa Lucia Highlands) and the 2018 Silvestri Estate Barbera (Carmel Valley) on my list. The great thing is that all of these wines came from our own wine room. Which is why it is always nice to have a plentiful supply of our very own Central Coast wines right at home!
Today I am presenting 4 Central Coast wines. Winery notes come from their website or the tasting room, unless otherwise noted. I encourage you to feel free to comment, share what wine you had for Thanksgiving dinner, or simply “like” this post – engagement is always welcomed!
I joinedCarol Shelton’s wine club during the pandemic and we have been pleasantly surprised! We met her ages ago at a Zinfandel Advocates and Producers event in Washington, DC. Over the years, our neighbors would share her wines with me. I really don’t know why it took us so long to become part of Carol’s Bunch!
About This Wine: “We originally created the 2008 version of this wine to celebrate our 10th anniversary as a winery in 2010. With the exotic complexity and food friendliness of a white Rhône-style blend, it is a “red-drinker’s white,” a complex alternative to the more one-dimensional white varietal wines like Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. It is the perfect complement to its namesake shellfish, as well as chicken or pork dishes with buttery-creamy sauces. *Coquille is pronounced “ko-keel” and it is French for shellfish or scallop, like the scallop shells on the Shelton family coat of arms.” 931 cases produced – sold out!
Winery Notes: “Enticing nose of spicy pears and white peaches, almond paste/marzipan, a touch of honeysuckle perfume. Multi-dimensional (many layers), a hard-to-describe range of aromatics, intriguing, almost mysterious! In the mouth it is crisply dry yet creamy and round and full-bodied, with nice almond paste on crisp-yet-juicy pear fruit…100% barrel fermented, then stirred weekly for 5mos About 10% finished malolactic fermentation…”
My Review: Classic white Rhône nose, nectarine. Bright acidity balanced by a touch of sweetness. Nice tropical flavors of pineapple and pear on the palate, with a lime twist on the finish. Exceptional for a warm, summer day. September 2022
2016 Calera deVilliers Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mount Harlan AVA, San Benito County, 13.95% ABV, $79 (#874)
I picked up this wine in 2019 when I took my girlfriends to explore Hollister wines. We took a picnic lunch and sat outside at one of their picnic benches with our flights of wines in the 90+ degree heat. It was a very special time – we were welcomed so warmly and treated so well by the winery staff. While I am not a big Pinot Noir fan, this one blew me away.
About This Wine: “Calera’s Mt. Harlan Vineyards are located in the Gavilan Mountains 25 miles east of the Monterey Bay. The site was chosen for its limestone soils and ideal climate. At an average elevation of 2,200 feet it is among the highest and coolest vineyard sites in California.” You can read more about Mt. Harlan AVA here: https://www.calwineries.com/explore/regions/san-benito-county/mount-harlan.
Winemaker’s Notes: “Once again, de Villiers has produced one of Calera’s most voluptuous and dark-fruited expressions of Pinot Noir, with alluring aromas of blackberry, cassis and cedary cigar box. On the palate, lush dark berry and black currant flavors are supported by a firm tannic backbone that frames the fruit and carries the wine to a long, energetic finish.” Wine Advocate: 95 points.
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Hard cinnamon candies, cherry juice, pomegranate extract and a touch of balsamic vinegar combine for sharp, nose-tickling aromas on this organically grown wine from pioneering vintner Josh Jensen. The flavor-forward palate explodes with dark fruits, noticeable tannins and solid acidity, showing allspice, Vietnamese coffee and black tea elements.” Matt Kettmann, July 2015
My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Soft berry and dark plum on the nose. Nice juicy palate with some bitter tannins/tobacco on the finish. December 2022
We picked up this 2017 vintage with the rest of the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod during our first visit to Odonata in 2021 when we got their shortly before closing time. We revisited with our daughter in 2022 as the single wine tasting stop, which I would highly recommend. Eric hosted us both times and shared much information on the wines, always appreciated. You can learn more at the Odonata website.
Winery Notes: “Offering copious aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, raspberry, strawberries, licorice and roasted herbs. Bright acidity, beautiful density, and full-bodied opulence.” 120 cases produced.
My Review: Rich, dark ruby in the glass. Dark berry jam on the nose. Low key palate of jammy berry flavors – this is one delicious wine. June 2022
I picked up this wine in August 2021 while doing a birthday wine tasting afternoon with a key Decanting Monterey Wine Pod member. As I recall, they did not have it open for tasting, but I had recalled really liking this wine in the past. Their tasting room is small yet very welcoming – I miss their COVID parklet!
About This Wine: “Barbera is a red grape varietal originating from the Piedmont region of Northwestern Italy. Our small block of Barbera, which is the first planting of this varietal in Carmel Valley, was added to the vineyard to honor the Silvestri family heritage. It’s position on a warm southern facing slope allows this varietal to mature and ripen to its fullest potential before harvest. With the influence of French oak barrel fermentation and maturation our Barbera exudes a deep richness and complexity that helps balance the grape’s high acidity.” 462 cases produced.
Winery Tasting Notes: “Black cherry, dried strawberry and plum aromas blend through to like flavors and move on to full, soft tannins with sufficient acidity. A more refined yet full-flavored Barbera.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Mocha, dark berries and alcohol on the nose. Very cherry on the palate. Crushed cranberries and berries linger on the lively palate. September 2022
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