My quest to get the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter to every local tasting room continued this month at Seabold Cellarstasting room in Carmel Valley Village. This one took quite some time to arrange, as Eden Rift Vineyards and Seabold had a merger in 2024. (They described it as a “parent/sister” relationship; they continue to operate autonomously.) We took advantage of their offer for us to bring our own appetizers and make a little summer party out of it. Their expansive and comfy outdoor space made it a perfect spot for our group of 25. We were hosted by Dre Bejines (Eden Rift) and Cynthia D’Vincent (Seabold Tasting Room Manager), who knows everything there is to know about Seabold!
Our members enjoying being together on a summer evening!
THE WINERY
From their website:
“Seabold Cellars focuses on cool-climate organic and sustainable vineyards to produce balanced wines that showcase their origin more than their winemaking. During the year, more time is spent in vineyards than the winery. Our winemaking is as hands-off as possible, respecting traditional techniques and practices without being beholden to them. We produce non-interventionist, site-specific Burgundy and Rhône varieties, as seen through a California lens.”
“Seabold Cellars was founded in 2014 by Master Sommelier Chris Miller. Located in the small town of Marina, the winery is at the epicenter of California’s Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz wine growing regions.”
You can read more about Chris Miller and Seabold Cellarshere.
THE WINES
Today I am presenting the 4 wines we tasted that evening. Winery notes come from their tasting sheet. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites or materials. My notes today are amplified by my fellow AWS board member Erin O’Reilly, home winemaker and author of terravenos.
Winery notes: “Fresh and exuberant on the nose, with loads of pink and white grapefruit, starfruit, exotic flowers, gooseberry, honeysuckle and a core of ripe tropical fruit framed by crystalized ginger and fresh cut grass.”
My Review: Pale golden in the glass. Subtle pineapple, guava, and passion fruit on the nose. Pleasant round palate with lemon notes on the finish. It’s a very good wine – a nice warm climate. I would buy this wine! August 2025
2020 Seabold Chardonnay, Eden Rift Vineyards, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#1588)
Winery Notes: “An open and exotic nose, with butterscotch layered over dried pineapple and ripe lemon curd. Telltale Monterey Bay acidity frames the richness on the palate, giving a fresh li to counterbalance the rich and ripe fruit. Truly a bole to ‘drink or hold’, with an immediate appeal.”
My Review: Pale yellow and viscous in the glass. Buttery nose with lemon curd and golden apple. Bosc pear, white flower and just ripe yellow peach. All the fruit is ripe and rich. The nose is more interesting than the palate. I attribute that to the vintage. August 2025
2021 Seabold Pinot Noir, Eden Rift Vineyards, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.7% ABV, $40 (#1589)
Winery Notes: “From 120-year-old head-trained vines in Redwood Valley. Roasted blackberries, black currants, seared venison, black cherry compote, violets, and black olives.”
My Review: Dark ruby in the glass. Cherry, herbs, dry leaves, and bergamot tea on the nose. Medium tannins. Zippy up front with a palate of cherry, raspberry, herbs, and tea. Forest floor and a touch bitter on the back end. August 2025
Winery Notes: “On the nose, charred blueberries and plums give way to subtle undertones of grilled venison. With air, black olive tapenade, rosemary, and dried sage start to emerge. On the palate the tannins and acidity are present but seamless, showing balance in youth with a promising aging capacity.”
My Review: Dark in the glass. Warm berry jam and brown sugar on the nose. Rich palate of rather jammy fruit followed by ham hock notes and a spicy finish. This is a very nice, cooler climate Syrah. August 2025
THE TASTING ROOM
“Visit us at our tasting room, located in idyllic Carmel Valley Village. Graced with sunshine, tucked at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains, our tasting room is dog friendly and children friendly, and is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.”
Seabold tasting room’s lovely outdoor seating!
3 Pilot Road in Carmel Valley Village. Open Thursday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m. and by appointment (831-288-2730).
I met Laurel Livingston the first time at the Monterey Winemaker’s Celebration in Carmel-By-The-Sea, where I first discovered Lyndon Fog Cellars. What piqued my interest was their Syrah made from Zabala Vineyard grapes. I’m a huge fan of Zabala Vineyard fruit. Fast forward to an I Brand party in the Fall of 2024 where Laurel and Glen generously gifted me the 3 wines I am presenting today.
“We have been working and making wines on the Central Coast of California for over a decade. Since starting in the wine industry we’ve always dreamed of the day we could make our own wines that represent us and our passion and love for wine. Together we’ve started Lyndon Fog Cellars.
“These wines are a representation of us and our winemaking style. Our grapes come from vineyards we’ve worked with and believe produce the best quality grapes to make the wines in the style we want; well balanced and fruit forward allowing you to enjoy them with a variety of food or as a glass on their own.
“We are incredibly excited to share our wines with you and hope you enjoy!”
THE WINES
Today I’m bringing you 3 current releases we have tasted this year. These were all gifted to me for the purpose of review. Winery notes come from the Lyndon Fog Cellars website. My tasting notes were amplified by my Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society fellow board members, Janet Torelli and Erin O’Reilly. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2023 Lyndon Fog Chenin Blanc, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 14.3% ABV, $25 (#1585)
Winery Notes: “…fermented in neutral French Oak barrels. Following fermentation the wine aged in barrel for an additional 5 months, with 30% new French Oak. The result is a medium bodied tropical wine with a subtle brown spice from the new oak, which compliments the leading fruit flavors.”
My Review: Pale straw in the glass. Golden apple, sweet lemon curd, apricot, white blossom, pineapple, Bosc pear (maybe some papaya?) on the nose. Light tropical flavors on the palate with a tasty punch of pineapple on the finish. February 2025
2023 Lyndon Fog Grenache, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.8% ABV, $30 (#1586)
Winery Notes: “…This Grenache was aged 6 months in French Oak, 30% new French Oak. This 100% Grenache is a medium bodied red wine with aromas of ripe strawberry and baking spice.”
My Review: Cranberry with hints of cherry cola and watermelon rind on the nose. Cranberry, cherry sucker, rose petals, and plum on the palate. The fruit is so right and fresh. This wine has a tongue-coating mouthfeel. Overall, a tasty palate with a dry finish. July 2025
2023 Lyndon Fog Syrah, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.9% ABV, $35 (#1429)
Winery Notes: “…This Syrah was aged 6 months in French Oak, 30% new French Oak. This 100% Syrah is a medium-heavy bodied red wine with aromas of plum, earthy notes, black pepper and dark toast.”
My Review: Medium garnet in color, cherry, dark plum, and milk chocolate (tar, ashes, and tobacco – a classic Rhône nose) on the nose. Bright palate of cherry at its core, wrapped in Game and leather with a dark plum finish. February 2025
On a whim, we stopped by the I Brand & Family @ibrandwinery tasting room last month to discover their spring releases were available to try! Angie walked us through them all. I like to see what Ian Brand is making, as you never know what surprises might be revealed – a rare varietal or an unusual source. It is wine education in a bottle! Today’s offerings were new vintages of mostly familiar (by now) sources, some still young in the bottle – ones to cellar a bit before opening. Again, I refer to the lost vintage of 2020 reds.
Today I am presenting 6 wines we tasted in mid-February. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet, their website, or from tasting room staff. This was our last stop of the afternoon. Any errors are mine and mine alone!
2024 La Marea Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 12.3% ABV, $25 (#1535)
Winery Notes: “Aromas of white nectarine and honeysuckle abound. Bright acidity leads on the palate framed by a redolence of underripe pineapple and stone fruit, which persist and blend with wet river rock on the finish.”
My Review:Light in the glass. Sweet floral and bubble gum (banana) nose, with a slightly sweet palate, missing some of the acidity and minerality we’ve come to expect. Worthy of a retaste, as this is usually one of our favorite wines year over year. February 2025
Winery Notes: “Initial aromas of watermelon and cantaloupe are inescapable, transitioning to trailside strawberry with a touch of air. Melons and strawberries persist on the palate, and bright red fruits continue into the finish transforming into a pleasing strawberry-basil herbaceous salinity.”
My Review: Pretty light pink in the glass. Magnolia and wet hay on the nose. Good acidity on the bright palate. Young but good. February 2025
2021 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast AVA, 14.4% ABV, $30 (#1537)
Winery Notes: “Black Plum, currants and herbaceous notes like bay laurel abound on the nose framed by subtle hints of graphite. Tree-ripened plum leads on the palate quickly revealing more subtle red fruit characteristics, including Bing cherry and strawberry with thyme. The palate transitions into more river rock and broken stone characteristics and hint toward Tellicherry peppercorn. Violets fill the mid palate and are wrapped neatly in dusty tannins.”
My Review: Bright, translucent ruby in the glass. Tobacco on the nose. Earth and light cherry on palate. Some sediment. February 2025
2023 I Brand & Family Mourvèdre, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 12.5% ABV, $45 (#1538)
Winery Notes: “Telicherry peppercorn and carraway seed lead the bouquet, evolving into spiced black plum notes. The peppery and spiced plum carries over to the palate attack and the exquisitely spicy finish for a light-to-medium-bodied and chillable red. Pronounced yet balanced tannins. Finishes with notes of California garrigue; think sagebrush, manzanita, and mugwort.”
My Review: Almost purple in color. Bing cherry on the nose. Some violet and light cherry notes with a dark finish. A lighter palate than a typical Mourvèdre. February 2025
2022 I Brand & Family Pinot Noir, Flint Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.2% ABV, $36 (#1539)
Winery Notes: “The Flint Vineyard is at the base of Mount Harlan, home to Calera, and because the cold air sinks off the mountain onto the property, it buds out late and picks about a month later than Enz and a couple of weeks later than the ‘cool climate’ Santa Lucia Highlands. The Flint Vineyard bears the signature of the special mixed granitic and calcareous soils of the Cienega combined with the darker red fruits and cherry compote character of a cool climate Pinot Noir…
“Berries were tiny in 2022 and the crop was light. Fermented uninocultated on 50% whole cluster with the balance whole berries for two and a half weeks. Aged in used French oak barrels on lees for 20 months. Our 2022 Flint Pinot Noir shows the tension of the vintage quelled by a long rest in barrique.”
My Review: Sweet fruit on the nose. Cherry and chocolate. Very smooth and drinkable. This wine makes me appreciate what Pinot Noir can be. We took some home. February 2025.
2022 I Brand & Family Syrah, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $48 (#1539)
Winery Notes: “Earthy, meaty notes of peppered beef jerky. Graphite and clay transition into a savory mix of fire-roasted tomato confit and guajillo chili, which evolve into dark fruit reminiscent of a spiced blueberry compote ending with cumin and cardamom on the finish.”
My Review: This was our last wine of the day, so the notes are a little skimpy and don’t do service to the wine – will need to try this one again. Cherry flavors on a lean palate. A tad acidic. February 2025
THE TASTING ROOM
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room, located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
Struggling to come up with a new idea for the monthly Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society First Friday WinedUP event, I pored over our master spreadsheet of tasting rooms and past events. It was time for our event to take place in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Manzoni Estate Vineyards jumped out at me: our group had never been there and they have a spacious tasting room. I gave them a call and learned that, not only would they be interested in hosting us, but they have new owners! So, we beat feet over there to meet the new owner and hear his vision for the winery.
ABOUT MANZONI ESTATE VINEYARDS – NEW OWNERS WITH A VISION
Dan Troyan and his partner Doree Speidel are the brand new owners of Manzoni Estate Vineyards. When we met with Dan in September, they had only owned the winery for about two weeks! Both Dan and Doree are from the Bay Area and Monterey County. As young 30-somethings, they had been living outside of Seattle and had dreamed of owning a winery. As they started to look, this opportunity jumped out at them and they took the leap – why not now?
Dan and Doree will be keeping many aspects of the winery the same. While the vineyards will stay in the Manzoni family’s hands, they are retaining access to the vineyards’ grapes, as well as the same winemaker and winemaking process. Being new owners with a vision, going forward, they plan to source all their grapes from Monterey County. This includes their Cuvée Louie, their Bordeaux-style blend which is currently made from grapes in the Paicines AVA, San Benito County. As an unabashed Monterey wine fan, I like that idea! They will also be making incremental updates to their tasting room décor. All in good time, my friend.
More about Manzoni Estate Vineyards from their website:
“Fine winemaking is both an art and a passion, but also requires an understanding of the science of alchemy. The Manzoni family relies on the idea of terroir. This is the time-honored method of combining soil, slope, sun exposure, with a nod to the gods of weather that let the grape varieties show their unique characteristics.
“They have chosen to grow grapes on California’s cool coastal mountains, ridges, and hillsides and benchlands. Here, they strive to give you the richest, most intense flavors with a unique and memorable character.”
THE WINES – MANZONI ESTATE VINEYARDS
Today I am presenting 7 Manzoni Estate Vineyards wines. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
Winery Notes: “Aromas of grapefruit. The palate is rich with bright tropical fruit flavors with notes of lime and grapefruit zest. Perfectly balanced with a gentle crisp refreshing acidity.”
My Review: Pale golden and viscous in glass. Light tropical flavors on the palate. September 2024
2020 Manzoni Estate Vineyards North Highlands’ Cuvée Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $38 (#1439)
Winery Notes: “The 2020 Manzoni Chardonnay is a vibrant example of the Santa Lucia Highlands in an exceptional vintage. Aromas of dense tropical fruits leap out of the glass wrapped in subtle brioche that hints towards uncommon richness and weight. In the palette, this wine is unusually nimble while maintaining the intensity and mouth-feel promised by its exotic aromatics. Flavors of mango, mandarin orange and guava are led by hard spices and vanilla into a long finish. Crisp acidity allows this wine to flow over the tongue with focus and clarity that completes the experience.”
My Review: Light golden pineapple and peach on the nose. Bright big flavors of pineapple and some butter, followed by an acidic punch. This is one big Chardonnay! September 2024
2020 Manzoni Rosé of Pinot Noir, Family Estate Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 13.9% ABV, $30 (#1440)
Winery Notes: “As this wine sits in the glass, you notice the rich hues and colors are pleasing to the eye and give hints to the aromas and flavors to come. This wine is a deep Garnet with a beautiful clarity. In the nose, rich strawberry and cream notes with hints of rose petal rise out of the glass with startling focus and intensity. On the palate, intense ripe red berry fruit is matched with and creamy, unctuous mouth-feel and balanced acidity to provide a seamless flavor profile. While certainly on the more opulent side of Rose styles, this wine is marvelously clean and nuanced in its rendering of a Rose of Pinot Noir and is a classic example of what this style has to offer the discerning wine drinker.”
My Review: Dusty light orange in the glass. Bright orange candy and strawberry on the nose. Good balance of sweet and tart on the palate. Drink now. September 2024.
2020 Manzoni Pinot Noir, Family Estate Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $45 (#1441)
Winery Notes: “Aromas of dark cherries, blackberry and smoky, spicy oak rise out of the glass. Cassis and hard spices are supported by concentrated red and black berries. In the mouth, this wine has a velvety richness and fine, ripe tannins that support the dense, ripe and concentrated fruit. Red plums and berry compote are followed by firm acidity that keeps the wine fresh and balanced. The wine finishes with hard spices and fine vanilla flavors with hints of toasty oak. A great combination of New World ripeness and old word structure. Ripe tannins support a core of rich fruit in this opulent and larger framed wine. All the flavors hang together in great balance for this intensely flavored and well-heeled Pinot Noir.”
My Review: A pretty, dark ruby color. Dusty dark cherry on the nose. Spicy and good acidity on the palate. This would be good with BBQ. This wine has more depth and character than the classic SLH Pinot Noir. September 2024
2020 Manzoni Syrah, Family Estate Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $44 (#1442)
Winery Notes: “Ripe black fruit and berry aromas mingled with hints of smoky oak and vanilla. The palate follows with intense flavors of ripe red fruits, hard spices and a core of silky tannin. The finish is exceptionally long with balanced acidity bringing the combinations of fruit, spice and vanilla to a clean and satisfying resolution.”
My Review: These grapes come from a lower elevation in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Warm, fruity spice on the nose. Dark fruits and cherry on the palate. Very pleasant. One of the best SLH Syrah wines we have tried. September 2024
Winery Notes: “The Manzoni Zinfandel shows classic aromas of pure blackberry and blueberry essence supported by elegant vanilla and subtle smokiness. The color is deep, rich and dark with jewel toned hues brought on by the crisp acidity and ripe grape skins. This wine is ripe and rich, but in no way pruny or raisiny like so many other renderings. The aromatics carry through to the palette with flavors of red plums, ripe black berries and hints of hard spices that are wrapped by a core of soft, elegant tannins and bright, clean acidity. This cool climate offering of Zinfandel is a classic rendition of a varietally correct wine that allows the purity of the fruit to shine through. While many versions of Zinfandel tend towards over-ripe characters, this wine is an elegant and powerful bottling that is not only a great flavor experience, but also a wonderful translation of terroir into the bottle. This wine drinking very well at release but a further one to three years will bring out further subtly in the fruit and increase the aged aromatics.”
My Review: Pale garnet in color. Nice Zinfandel flavors on the palate – perhaps the best we have tasted from Monterey County! Baking spices and vanilla on the finish. My searches did not reveal where this vineyard is located. Any readers know where it is? September 2024
2019 Manzoni Cuvée Louie Bordeaux Blend, Pedregal Vineyard, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, 14.5% ABV, $53 (#1444)
Winery Notes: “The Cuvee Louie is the inaugural wine to celebrate the patriarch of the Manzoni Clan: Louie Manzoni. Aromas of dark berry and fruit lift lazily out of the glass followed by hard spices and well-heeled vanilla and hints of oak. They are intense and rich with real visceral weight to the experience. Rarely are the Bordeaux varietals so giving in the nose. The palate is no less joy with flavors of blueberry, darkest cherry and bright plum combining with lively acidity to provide for an intensely focused mouth-full of flavor. The complexities brought on by the combining of all five Bordeaux varietals, the cinq cepage, has both a mesmerizing and invigorating effect. Enjoy with the richest of steaks, a fine roasted joint of lamb and all of your favorite soft cheeses and roasted nuts.”
My Review: Rich dark garnet in the glass. Really pretty. Dark crushed berries. Smooth on the palate. Very tasty. We took one home. Next year, this wine will be made with Monterey County fruit. September 2024
THE MANZONI CELLARS TASTING ROOM
Located in Hampton Court on 7th Ave between San Carlos and Dolores in Carmel-by-the-Sea. In addition to a spacious interior plus a separate wine club members’ room, they also have a lovely courtyard available.
#4 Hampton Court on 7th Ave, between San Carlos & Dolores St. Open daily 12pm – 6pm. (831) 620-6541
My favorite widely-attended wine event in Monterey County happened on August 24th – the Monterey Winemakers Celebration! I like this event because these are “our” local wineries – the ones we can drive to and the tasting rooms we frequent. And this time the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association was very generous to me and comped me VIP tickets! My chance to taste some of the special wines before everyone else shows up – excellent. A huge THANK YOU for your generosity!
And we could not have had better weather for the Winemakers Celebration – it was warm and sunny – not something you can bank on in August on the Monterey Peninsula! And how fun to see so many of our winemakers in attendance including Sabrine Rodems, Ian Brand, Jack Galante,Greg Freeman, Greg Hill, Russell Joyce, and Keith Prader.
In today’s post, I’ll walk you through some of the wines we tasted – but then hone in on specific noteworthy wines.
“Join us in Carmel-by-the-Sea for the Monterey Winemakers Celebration, now in its 31st year! This year, the event has moved to late August to celebrate the beginning of the 2024 harvest. Celebrate with winemakers and growers from one of the world’s premier wine regions at this beloved street festival on Saturday, August 24, on Dolores Street (between Ocean and 7th) and 7th Street (between Dolores and San Carlos).
Please click on the event link to see all of the wineries and eateries who were there to make this a fun event!
THE EVENT ITSELF– Winemakers Celebration
My Strategy: My usual strategy at the Winemakers Celebration is to focus on wineries that were new or ones I had never presented in my blog, sample one wine, and dump the rest. But only one winery that fit that category, so we went looking for the special reserve wines! However – with a twist – my partner wanted to go through once only tasting rosé and white wines and to leave the reds for the trip back through. It was an incredibly warm day, but it meant more wines and smaller tastes to come out even!
And a few whites: Dawn’s Dream2023 Chardonnay had a buttery nose with honey and tropical notes on the palate. Scheid Vineyards 2023 Sauvignon Blanc was pale in glass with melon and pineapple on the palate – a good wine. Plus Rexford Winery’s flavorful 2022 Tondre Grapefield Dry Riesling and nicely balanced 2019 Escolle Chardonnay. Lucy Wines (by Pisoni) had an interesting 2023 blend named Pico Blanco (Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc) which was light yellow and tropical on the palate. And JL Wood Wines was back with its line of Chardonnays from Arroyo Seco – the 2022 Premier was buttery and balanced.
And then we capped off the Winemakers Celebration by tasting every single one of Shale Canyon Wines reds: 2017 Mourvèdre, 2019 GSM, 2017 Tempranillo, and we even got to taste the club-only 2019 Consortium! At that point, we were invited to the winery to help them bottle wines later in the fall. Why not?
THE CULINARY DELIGHTS– Winemakers Celebration
Before I get to today’s wines, I just wanted to mention a couple of eateries which stood out to us. We did not try them all, but we especially enjoyed the Cafe Guaraniempanadas and the The Grill on Ocean Ave. flaky triangles with artichoke dip.
THE WINES– Winemakers Celebration
As I did with the last Monterey Wine Trade Event, today I want to highlight a few standout wines from wineries I rarely or have never covered in this blog. I did not capture detailed tasting notes at the Winemakers Celebration, so I’ve cobbled together my notes from memory. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
David Baird, winemaker at Folktale, started this label as a personal effort to make a difference for the special needs community. I encourage you to read the moving story about Common Thread Wines here: It all began in a moment.
“…My winemaking career began in 2006 while attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I’ve had the pleasure of working for some of the best winemakers in the Central Coast of California and honing my craft and style along the way. A goal of mine was to someday create wines of my own, but timing was never right. That all changed in 2021 when finally gaining the courage to take a risk and begin a wine brand of my own, and Common Thread was born. The name comes from a similar trait I share with my two boys – a single palmar crease on our left hands. This crease is one of the physical markers of Down syndrome, along with almond shaped eyes, stunted growth, etc. It is not an indication of any mutation, and can be an uncommon inherited trait that is often passed down among males. I’m proud to share this special trait with my two boys, and is my Common Thread.
“A large part of my desire to make wine is getting an opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way. I’m proud to donate 10% of proceeds to organizations that support individuals with special needs. Those individuals share a common thread with my son, and all deserve to live life to the fullest.”
2023 Common Thread Brut Rose, Central Coast AVA, 12.7% ABV, $34 (#1427) 66% Pinot Meunier, 21% Chardonnay, 13% Pinot Noir
Winemaker’s Notes: “Originally associated with royalty and wine for the gods, sparkling wine has always been made with love and care. This bottle honors the past, with a bottling of the classic varieies in traditional sparkling wine and the Méthode Champenoise. Depending on your preferences, pair this with caviar or popcorn on the couch. The individual components were hand-picked and gently pressed. The individual components fermented in Stainless-Steel before being blended and bottled for the secondary fermentation. The bottles were riddled by hand and disgorged in the fall of 2024.”
My Notes: A little cloudy in glass and very tasty. Unlike many of the bubblies at this event which were all bubbles and, if you were lucky, a touch of yeasty notes, this one actually tasted like something. I’d serve to guests. We circled back to tell him that it was our favorite sparkling wine of the event! August 2024
“De Tierra Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery producing handcrafted, award-winning wines from the California Central Coast. Owners, Jeff Meacham and Andrew Schoenfeld are dedicated to the rich history and traditions of De Tierra. “We are very fortunate for our continued close partnership with the Russell Vineyards where De Tierra’s founder planted our first varietals in 1998. The Vineyard’s location affords us favorable and unique soils lending to our consistent premium wines of superb quality. Jeff and Andrew continue De Tierra’s commitment to producing superior quality boutique wines.”
2021 De Tierra Rosé of Pinot Noir, Central Coast AVA, 14.2% ABV, $35 (#1428)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Won SILVER MEDAL at the California State Commercial Wine Competition 2023!…IN THE GLASS: Watermelon and silver tones. Fresh and bright…”
My Notes: This was one of the most flavorful rosé wines we tasted this afternoon.
This was the first time Lyndon Fog Cellars participated in this event. They are a joint venture by Laurel Livingston and Glen Caughell. She works for Ian Brand and he also works in the wine industry. They brought several wines for us to sample, including a fun “Chillable Red.” But, when she told me her Syrah grapes came from Zabala Vineyards, I needed to try no others!
2023 Lyndon Fog Syrah, Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County (#1429)
My notes: Cinnamon candy on the nose, followed by that lovely Zabala Syrah fruit. I need to get some! August 2024
“Pessagno Winery brings to life a family’s 20-year dream of producing exclusive wines from prestigious vineyards throughout the Monterey and San Benito Counties. Winemaker Stephan Pessagno left behind a legacy of extravagance for all in the industry to enjoy. His deep rooted passion and devotion elevated the Pessagno name to what it is today… Franscioni’s team of winemakers welcome all wine lovers to indulge in their exclusive product. They capture the natural flavors of the San Lucia Highlands among other local regions to give Pessagno wines their unique flavor. Come savor the tastes and aromas of our luxurious wines…”
2016 Pessagno Quattro Red Blend, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard, Paicines AVA, San Benito County, $40 (#1430)
Winery Notes: “Four Varietal Blend of 37.5% Cabernet Franc, 37.5% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec. The 2016 Quattro entices with rich aromas of spice, tobacco, oak and dark cherry. The palate is rewarded with a rich and velvety mouthfeel, flavors of leather, intense dark cherry, and hints of spice and vanilla, with a long, satisfying finish.”
My Notes: The Pessagno Quattro was one of best fruit forward red blends we tasted at this event. I would present this wine in one of my classes! August 2024
THE TASTING ROOMS
Only two of these wineries have tasting rooms. Please contact the others directly for more information.
The De Tierra Tasting Room is located at Mission and 5th in charmingCarmel-by-the-Sea.
“De Tierra provides a one of a kind tasting room experience in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Just 1½ blocks off Ocean Ave., our tasting room is located in a cozy cottage that opens up to the sights and sounds of downtown. Come visit us and experience our extensive wine portfolio which features many single varietal wines, unique blends, sparkling and dessert wines. Make it a perfect match with our available locally sourced small bites.
“The Tasting Room at De Tierra Vineyards is open to the public Mon-Thr: 1pm-6pm and Fri-Sun: 1pm -7pm. Reservations are not needed, but are encouraged. We are family and dog friendly. We can’t wait to see you at the Tasting Room – we know you’ll love it here.”
The Pessagno Tasting Room is located at 1645 River Road, Salinas, CA 93908, on the Monterey Wine Trail!
“WE’RE OPEN FOR TASTINGS – WITH AMPLE COVERED & HEATED OUTDOOR SEATING!
“We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support over the past several years. We are delighted to welcome you for on-site tastings and look forward to seeing you soon! Reservations are recommended. Please call 831-675-9463 or email info@pessagnowines.com for our River Road Winery & Tasting Room.
“Current Hours. We are currently operating with Spring Hours and are open Thursday-Monday, from 12-5pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.”
In June, we made a trip to Carmel Valley Village to taste I Brand & FamilySummer 2024 releases. We were happy to see Angie and Monica (welcome back!) in the Tasting Room and timed our visit perfectly. We were excited to get a glimpse of the 2023 vintage from Monterey County.
2023 was one of the rainiest, coolest, yet longest growing seasons experienced in recent history. Each vineyard and winemaker needed to determine for themselves how long those grapes could hang, hoping for warm enough weather the reach phenolic perfection. Some winemakers say it was the best vintage, with more ripe flavors shining through, while others have shrugged and said – wait and see. Ian is all in; I’m still in the wait-and-see category. The proof will be in the final product.
The thing I like about Ian’s approach to winemaking is his pursuit of the undiscovered and daredevil approach to bottle atypical varietals, like the Melon de Bourgogne and the Cachudo, and play around with different techniques and blends, like the Supertoothy. His adventurousness keeps us excited about what he will do next. Moreover, he spins a fascinating tale about each of these wines which makes being a member extra special. OK, and he throws a great party. I also value that he carefully prices his wine so there is something for every budget.
p.s. the Melon de Bourgogne comes from the Chalone AVA!
THE WINES – A Glimpse of the 2023 Vintage
I have 8 wines to present to you today from I Brand’s 3 labels: I Brand & Family, La Marea and Paysan.Winery notes are excerpts from their Summer Release newsletter – become a member to read the whole thing! Any errors are mine and mine alone. Now, for the reviews!
2023 I Brand & Family Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 11.9% ABV, $30 (#1397)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Sometimes overlooked in our expensive lineup, our Vista Verde Arneis is absolutely an oddity, but deserves to be seen more than a sidelight…Arneis, limited to the mountainous Piedmont, is highly regarded by those that know, but often falters outside its home range. The small block on Vista Verde, fortified by its calcareous soils, yield a shockingly, faithful reproduction.”
My Review: Pale in the glass, ale on the nose – hops and minerals with a slightly sweet finish. June 2024
2023 La Marea Cachudo, Pierce Ranch, San Antonio Valley AVA , Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $25 (#1398)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Our ‘Cachudo’ is 97% Arinto from the Pierce Ranch near Lake San Antonio in the Lockwood valley. Arinto is a Portuguese variety known for its highly age worthy and structured whites.…Arinto is sometimes referred to as Cachudo ostensibly for the small protrusions on the ends of its berries in Spanish. Cachudo means having horns.…our Arinto is a resilient wine. It’s a perfect match for the higher elevation valley in the lee of the Coastal Mountains. Redolent with citrus, crest stones, serenity and acid, look for this wine to add a beeswax element if you age it.…”
My Review: This Portuguese varietal was light gold in the glass. Butter and caramel and orange blossom on the nose. Pink grapefruit and minerality on the palate. We appreciate Ian bringing another varietal to light for us. This is a very tasty wine – we took some home! June 2024
2023 I Brand & Family “Supertoothy” Skin Contact White, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 12.7% ABV, $28 (#1399)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Based around the rare Savignon Gris grape from the calcareous hillside of the Vista Verde Vineyard blended with Verdelho, Pinot Gris and Chenin Blanc, our Supertoothy can be described as ‘responsible orange wine’. Neither cloudy, volatile nor particularly orange, when chilled the Supertoothy does white wine stuff with a little extra action in the back section. As it warms, the complexity and structure steps forward and pairs with more robust foods… The five days of skin contact bring depth of character to the Sauvignon Gris which is supercharged when blended. ‘Toothy’ used to mean, collectible or delicious. This is Supertoothy.…”
My Review: The color was one shade brown – with flavors of the golden and the orange. “Creamsicle,” Angie said. I got Sauvignon Blanc and bubble gum on the nose. Bubblegum and tart citrus on the palate. June 2024
2023 Paysan Jacks’ Hill Chardonnay, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13% ABV, $24 (#1400)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “This is the latest in string of banner vintages of the Jacks’ Hill Chardonnay. Compared to the last two, it shows more opulent and riper fruit earlier than the ‘21 and ‘22 vintages while carrying a structural and acid backbone similar to the ‘21.…A more joyful expression of the wind, fog and rocky soil that our Jacks’ Hill bottling.”
My Review: A little sweetness on the nose. Lemon and orange on the palate. This wine spent time in concrete, stainless steel and neutral oak. Different from the usual Jacks’ Hill. Not as tropical. June 2024
2023 I Brand & Family Melon de Bourgogne, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $36 (#1401)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “The skins were so thick and developed in 2023 that our skin contact white and gris wines took on substantially more flavor and color than in the past years, yielding a more robust, almost juicy wine. To balance the robust fruit, this vintage carries one of the highest total acid we’ve had on this wine. The result is distinctly in line with the vintage – more of everything…”
My Review: Light golden in glass. Toast on the nose. Tart on the palate. June 2024
2022 I Brand & Family Pinot Noir, Flint Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.2% ABV, $36 (#1402)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Our second vintage of the Flint Pinot Noir shows the potential of the vineyard, even in a rough vintage for Pinot Noir.… If you like our wines… it’s because, first and foremost, we make sure our vines are on the right soils…I just vastly prefer Pinot Noir on calcareous soils and there isn’t a lot of it on the West Coast.”
My Review: A little cherry and chocolate. We disagreed with each other on smell and palate. I definitely agree with Ian that some of the region’s best Pinot Noirs come from the limestone soils of Cienega Valley and, let me add, Harlan Mountain AVAs in San Benito County. June 2024
2022 Paysan Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 12.8% ABV, $27 (#1403)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “…Made from vines from the 60’s and 70’s planted in calcareous alluvial deposits on the cooler edge of Cabernet climate, fermented and open top vats with endemic yeast and aged in older casks for less than $30, even the most knowledgeable of wine merchants would be hard pressed to find anything comparable.”
My Review: Pretty garnet in glass. Cherry and dark berry notes on the nose, carrying over to the palate. I really like this bargain wine and would enjoy it as an every day wine. It doesn’t taste like the typical California Cabernet Sauvignon. June 2024
2021 I Brand & Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 13.5% ABV, $48 (#1404)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “We’re betting heavily on the Stagecoach Block at Bates Ranch…This 2021 version, the second we’ve made for our own label…shows why I’ve been trumpeting 2021 as the most age-worthy vintage I’ve worked. This wine is damn tasty unreleased and will only get better. You could pay a whole lot more for Cabernet with less pedigree and potential, but why would you?”
My Review: Cinnamon and spice on the nose. We like this wine – an age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon – a superb value. June 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
If you want a glimpse of the 2023 vintage, head on over to the I Brand & Family Tasting Room, located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
I love it when wineries enthusiastically welcome the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society for our monthly First Friday WinedUP events. And Will and Angie from the I Brand & FamilyTasting Room did just that for us in early February, sharing the latest from I Brand with our Monterey AWS group.
THE STORY – The Latest from I Brand with the Monterey AWS!
ABOUT THE MONTEREY AWS CHAPTER
The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society was founded in early 2020 – just before the pandemic. Many of its early activities had to take place over Zoom. As things reopened, it began its monthly First Friday WinedUP events, visiting a different local winery tasting room to improve its knowledge of the region and our wines. I’ve been advising them for a while now on places to go, wines to taste.
When I reached out to Will Larkin at I Brand & Family, he was immediately enthusiastic about the idea. We set the date for February 2. In a few quick emails we established the pricing and size of the event. Piece of cake!
I Brand had its A-team – Angie and Will – on tap for the event. They had prepared a special tasting menu just for our group. We started with a rose pre-wine while we waited for everyone to arrive.
Angie and Will know everything about I Brand & Family wines. Will shared with the group some facts and figures about how the have the largest portfolio of any single winery in Monterey County. He explained the single vineyard, old vines nature of the I Brand & Family label (as opposed to La Marea and Paysan, the other two labels). We discussed the news reported by Laura Ness in Edible Monterey that Ian Brand Expands into Dorcich Facility – such a fabulous opportunity for Ian Brand.
AND, SO, HOW WAS THE TASTING?
We were delighted that so many of our members turned out for the occasion. Everyone enjoyed the tasting room venue, the quality and value of the wines, the hospitality, and the ability to mingle about and socialize. As a special treat, we welcomed some new members to our group!
I have 6 wines with updated tasting notes to present to you today from I Brand’s3 labels: I Brand & Family, La Marea and P’tit Paysan.Winery notes come from their newsletters or other websites as noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Now, for the reviews!
Winemaker’s Notes: “Initial aromas of watermelon and cantaloupe are inescapable, transitioning to trailside strawberry with a touch of air. Melons and strawberries persist on the palate, and bright red fruits continue into the finish transforming into a pleasing strawberry-basil herbaceous salinity.”
My Review: Pale pink in color. Slightly sweet watermelon on the nose, followed by a perfect rose palate. I would use this in a class and would drink one in the micro-climate! February 2024
2022 I Brand & Family Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 13.8% ABV, $30 (#1056)
According to Will, Arneis is a northern Italy varietal which is planted to help fight phylloxera!
Winemaker’s Notes: “This is our third vintage of Arneis from Vista Verde. We originally tried this block out because we were looking for anything white after the fires of 2020 in case the smoke taint was worse than we thought. It turns out that the Vista Verde hillside does a damn good version of this rare and resurging Piedmontese variety with textbook apricot, honey and raw almond flavors. Our wine making remains largely unchanged over the last three years: Nail the pick, press whole cluster, settle, ferment and age in the same barrels and let it rest on lees until we are ready to bottle. Every time I open a bottle, I’m happy I did.”
My Review: Light golden in the glass. Caramel and floral on the nose. Crisp and clean on the palate with honey notes and a long finish. A very nice wine. February 2024
2021 I Brand & Family Chardonnay, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $36 (#1059)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Aromatics of Meyer lemon and nutty pralines lead the way on the nose, quickly evolving into a beautiful floral bouquet of honeysuckle. Bright acidity starts things off on the palate with layers of fruit; including underripe pear and granny smith apple, rounding out with a warmth reminiscent of quince. The bright acidity blends with well-integrated tannins, finishing neatly with toasted oak.”
My Review: Hint of burnt sugar and honey on the nose. Balanced, with a slightly buttery finish. The French oak aging presents itself in a very balanced way, with the toasty notes and hint of butter. This wine is year over year perhaps the best Chardonnay made in Monterey County. February 2024
2020 La Marea Old Vines Grenache, Central Coast AVA, 14% ABV, $30 (#1060)
Winemaker’s Notes: “This blend of three ‘old vine’ Grenache vineyards from the Central Coast is a unique wine. There aren’t more than a handful of old vine Grenache vineyards on the Central Coast and we’ve gone about collecting every significant block (and some fairly tiny ones) we can because we believe in the history and future of Grenache in our region. We’ve tried bottling grenache every which way, but this three-vineyard blend is tops for depth and approachability –– it’s like everything you want from a great Pinot Noir at a third of the price. Try it with a slight chill on a warm summer evening with light fare from the grill or stash it in the cellar for a couple of years. Our experience, is our Grenaches really start showing their full potential between years 4 to 8.”
My Review: Translucent ruby in the glass. I detected cherry and caramel on the nose. The savory palate was laced with crushed berries and root beer flavors, with a touch of smoke on the finish. February 2024
2021 Paysan Le P’tit Pape, Central Coast AVA, 13.2% ABV, $25 (#1226)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “The nose begins with wet river rock and California chaparral combined with cherries and plum skin leading the way toward a meaty, teriyaki, black olive reminiscence. Composed on the palate, notes of white pepper and dried herbs – bay laurel and thyme, provide a complex complement to the fruit on the nose. A distinct umami soy/hoisin silkiness finishes with an understated balance and subtle minerality.”
My Review: Dark in the glass. Sweet and herbaceous on the nose. The “California chaparral” shines through, with cherry notes on the finish. This is drinking well – good and tasty. Excellent quality for value. February 2024
2021 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, DeRose Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 12.7% ABV, $36 (#1224)
Winemaker’s Notes: “The initial bouquet is a lovely perfume of wild raspberry and Santa Rosa plum with subtle hints of sweet tobacco and violet. Red fruit persists on the palate, incorporating a vibrancy reminiscent of Ranier cherries. Underlying the ripeness of the fruit is a bright acidity melded with pronounced tannins to create a well-integrated interpretation of the variety.”
My Review: Garnet, almost purple in the glass. Sweet plum on the nose. Plum, red and black berries and green pepper on the palate. Presents as a Cabernet Franc, light and lean. February 2024
2021 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 11.9% ABV, $48 (#1225)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “The bouquet is rich with aromas of dried red fruits and cocoa nibs. Hints of espresso and chocolate-covered cherry lead the way on the palate, rounding to strawberry. Coastal fir lingers with pronounced tannins that create a wonderful tension with the wine’s mellow acidity.”
My Review: Garnet in color. Bright, crushed fruit on the palate with cherry notes and a slightly tannic finish. Richer than the DeRose. Lovely wine. Would be great with a meal. February 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
I Brand & Family had a low key Autumn Release in November with pickups in the tasting room and not at a party at the winery. Ian explained why: harvest and crush were very late this year due to the cool spring and long growing/ripening season. Instead, he hosted a member holiday party in December, where we were able to taste verticals of their Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvèdre wines. What a treat! There was also great music by El Pecado de Juana, delicious tamales Oaxaquenos by Pedro Martinez & Family and a vegan pozole by Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Cultura.
I decided to enjoy that party and not try to take notes, as we sorted out which, if any, wines we would take home – one of each variety the 2013 La Marea Grenache, the 2017 I Brand & Family Mourvèdre, and the 2018 P’tit Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon – one of the last with the old label!
I have 7 wines to present to you today from 3 labels: I Brand & Family, La Marea and P’tit Paysan.These wines were all from that low key Autumn 2023 Release. As typical with Ian’s wines, they span a number of our local AVAs across 3 counties! Winery notes come from the winery’s tech sheets (thank you, Will!). Any errors are mine and mine alone. Now, for the reviews!
2022 La Marea Alt-Cut’ Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13.3% ABV, $30 (#1222)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Green pears, lanolin, almond blossom and brioche on the nose. Tart mango and honeysuckle lead the attack on the palate. Mild tannins balanced with mellow acidity contribute to a well-rounded white with a complex bouquet.”
My Review: Pale golden in the glass. Honeysuckle on the nose. Bright acidity on the palate – a very tasty wine. November 2023
2022 I Brand & Family Melon de Bourgogne, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 12.8% ABV, $30 (#1223)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “This wine is bursting with bright honeydew melon and white pepper on the initial nose, evolving into savory notes of saffron and tarragon. The attack on the palate is full of juicy fruit with a prevalent creamy salinity on the back reminiscent of Salazar oysters. Soft acid builds on the front and provides a distinct glycerin mouthfeel that lingers into more of a hum of soft acidity that permeates the palate.”
My Review: Hay in the glass. Honey on the nose. Baking spices and honey on the palate. Fairly sweet. November 2023.
2021 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, DeRose Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 12.7% ABV, $36 (#1224)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Location: DeRose is a 25-year-old own rooted planting of Cabernet Franc. The DeRose Vineyard is part of the old Vaché planting and is the oldest continuously producing commercial vineyard in California. It was subsequently owned by William Palmtag and Almaden Winery, at which time it housed the largest barrel storage room in the world. Soils are a mix of lime and granite. The hill above the Cabernet Franc block is occupied by a lime mine…
“Tasting Notes: The initial bouquet is a lovely perfume of wild raspberry and Santa Rosa plum with subtle hints of sweet tobacco and violet. Red fruit persists on the palate, incorporating a vibrancy reminiscent of Ranier cherries. Underlying the ripeness of the fruit is a bright acidity melded with pronounced tannins to create a well-integrated interpretation of the variety.”
My Review: Garnet, almost purple in the glass. Sweet plum on the nose. Plum, red and black berries and black pepper on the palate. Delightful. November 2023
2021 I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 11.9% ABV, $48 (#1225)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “The bouquet is rich with aromas of dried red fruits and cocoa nibs. Hints of espresso and chocolate-covered cherry lead the way on the palate, rounding to strawberry. Coastal fir lingers with pronounced tannins that create a wonderful tension with the wine’s mellow acidity.”
My Review: Garnet in color. Cinnamon on the nose. Bright, crushed fruit on the palate with a slightly tannic finish. This will age into a nice wine. November 2023.
2021 Paysan Le P’tit Pape, Central Coast AVA, 13.2% ABV, $25 (#1226)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “The nose begins with wet river rock and California chaparral combined with cherries and plum skin leading the way toward a meaty, teriyaki, black olive reminiscence. Composed on the palate, notes of white pepper and dried herbs – bay laurel and thyme, provide a complex complement to the fruit on the nose. A distinct umami soy/hoisin silkiness finishes with an understated balance and subtle minerality.”
My Review: Garnet in color. Cinnamon and plum on the nose. Cherry on the palate. Tart palate with a touch of central coast funk. November 2023.
2021 I Brand & Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Fellom Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz County, 13.9% ABV, $85 (#1227)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “The bouquet is rich with dusty, overripe plum, cedar, graphite, and hints of pine pitch resin. This translates to the palate and reveals the iron in the volcanic soil, which becomes present on the back. Super juicy acidity lingers and melds with mellow tannins creating a velvety finish.”
My Review: Almost purple in the glass. Black berries on the nose. Delicious berries on the palate. Smooth on the palate. Nice tannins. Maybe a touch vegetal on the finish. Buy this wine – it has great potential. November 2023
2021 I Brand & Family Syrah, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $45 (#1228)
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Earthy, meaty notes of peppered beef jerky. Graphite and clay transition into a savory mix of fire-roasted tomato confit and guajillo chili, which evolve into dark fruit reminiscent of a spiced blueberry compote ending with cumin and cardamom on the finish.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Rich dark berries on the nose with a touch of smoke or dirt – in a good way. Very dark palate. IMHO, this is his best Syrah to date – I took one home. November 2023
THE TASTING ROOM
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
Since the I Brand & FamilyAutumn 2023 Releases have recently become available, there is no time better than now to issue this quick catch-up post. I’ve been collecting these reviews of I Brand & Family wines we have enjoyed at home over this past year. If only I had created Catch-Up Mondays earlier in the year!
I have 5 wines to present to you today from 2 labels: I Brand & Family and P’tit Paysan.These wines were all from our home cellar and were tasted throughout 2023. 3 of these are new writeups, plus a couple we’ve had before. The wines in today’s post span a number of our local AVAs across 2 counties. This demonstrates great breadth in their continual efforts to uncover and highlight the region’s best grapes. Winery notes come from their newsletters or websites as noted. However, I seem to have a gap in my collection of tasting notes. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Now, for the reviews!
2020 I Brand & Family Melon de Bourgogne, Graff Family Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 12% ABV, $30 (#1211)
Winemaker’s Notes: N/A
My Review: Beautiful golden in the glass. Honeydew and pear on the nose. Full palate of round honeydew notes on the mid palate surrounded by a slightly bitter lemon twist. Robust yet delicate. I liked this wine. July 2023
2019 I Brand & Family Chardonnay, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, (#1212)
Winemaker’s Notes found on K&L Wine Merchants: “When Honoré Escolle purchased a summer property for his family in 1878, he established one of the most desirable benches in Monterey County. Over 130 years later, three agricultural families developed the land with the intention of carrying on the propertie’s rich tradition through quality driven vinicultural practices. The Caraccioli, Nunes and Hibino families focus on delivering a distinctive expression of northern Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.”
My Review: Beautiful dusty golden in the glass. Tropical notes of white peach, lychee and pineapple on the nose. Balanced acidity and a palate of juicy, tropical flavors. One of the best Chardonnays I’ve had lately. I can always count on Ian’s Escolle Chardonnay to be nothing short of exceptional. March 2023
2020 I Brand & Family Pinot Gris, Eden Rift Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, $30 (#741)
Winemaker’s Notes: N/A
My Review: Pale pink in the glass – balanced acidity on the palate. February 2022 Lovely light orange in the glass like an orange lollipop. Nose of citrus blossom and yellow peach. Balanced acidity with peach, melon and tart notes amplified by a lingering finish. Lovely wine for a nice May afternoon patio tasting. May 2023
2019 I Brand & Family Old Vine Mourvèdre, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley AVA, San Benito County, $43 (#1213)
Winemaker’s Notes from www.wine.com: “Planted in the late 1800’s this fruit is among some of the best Mouvedre plantings on the continent. This wine tantalizes the palate. Dark brambly fruits and rose petals open the nose. Black pepper and lush fruits balance subtle savory notes. Zesty tannins and light acidity on the finish.”
My Review: Pale purple in color. Plum, blackberry and eucalyptus on the nose. Thin cherry mid-palate, followed by a robust punch of tannic and slightly acidic flavors of cherry, blackberry, tobacco and pencil lead on the finish. April 2023
2014 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $42 (#788)
Wine Enthusiast – 89 points: “Dried herbs, elderberries, peppercorns and a strong streak of gamy meat show on the nose of this bottling, which is less dense and more nuanced in style than many other Petite Sirahs. The gamy element extends to the palate, giving complexity to the black fruits and sticky tannins. ” — Matt Kettmann June 2018
My Review: Inky purple in the glass. Red raspberry, plum and a touch of brown sugar on the nose. Cassis and dark berries on the palate. A slight tartness balances the jamminess of the fruit. We like this wine. July 2023
THE TASTING ROOM
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room is located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
I have been curious about Comanche Cellars for years, with their interesting name and trendy, downtown Monterey tasting room. I first had the chance to try one of their wines when a neighbor and I stopped into A Taste of Monterey last March. I previously brought you the 2020 Comanche Cellars Tempranillo here: Spur of the Moment Wine Experience at A Taste of Monterey. My slightly updated tasting notes say, “Almost garnet in color. Blueberry and chocolate on the nose. Spicy mouthful of berries and dark cherry. Lively palate. Updated October 2023.”
We needed a place for the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society(AWS) to hold its October First Friday WinedUP event and Comanche Cellars was gracious enough to host us. My husband and I stopped by in late September to do a little pre-taste and make sure they were ready for us. SOme of my notes are from that tasting and the rest are from the AWS event.
The Comanche Tasting Room, located at 412 Alvarado Street, was such a fun venue for our AWS Chapter. Our group likes to explore different wineries and this setting was spacious enough and decorated in such a cute way, leaning into the “Dog & Pony” theme. And they allowed us to go “off menu” and try some of their bigger reds. We were very happy for our experience and many of us went hope with bottles of their wines.
We were so fortunate that vintner/owner Michael Simons came to meet our group and shared that he had struggled to come up with a name for the winery. His kids were the ones who came up with Comanche, the name of his beloved childhood horse. In addition to Michael, we’d like to thank in particular Christina who helped us secure the date, and Gabriel and Bree who helped us go “off-menu” and were so knowledgeable about the wines. We didn’t get to try their cheese and charcuterie boards, so will have to go back another time. Michael said the winery had a great time getting to know our group and might have had even more fun than we had!
“My name is Michael Simons, and what started as a love affair with wine has turned into a passion for producing small lots of very handcrafted wines from neighboring vineyards. Our tiny (1,800 cases) winery is named after Comanche, my horse when I was ten years old. He was an important part of a young life, and I use his name as a loving tribute to this old friend. These days, I ride a bicycle, and since this love affair with wine turned into a full-blown obsession, finding time for riding anything can be tough. But I still think of Comanche often, and am proud that his name and shoes are on every bottle of my wine. Maybe those horseshoes will bring you some good luck!
“Comanche Cellars is on California’s Monterey Peninsula, where we take advantage of the incredible wealth of vineyards that can be found in almost every direction. All throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, San Antonio Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains AVA’s, there are winegrowers and winemakers producing incredibly beautiful wines that, we think, can and will rival the best the world has to offer. We’re happy to be in the sweet spot right now, as Wine Enthusiast recently named Monterey as one of the Top 5 winegrowing regions worldwide!
“Saddle up, come along for the ride, and see for yourself what all the buzz is about. Just give us a call or drop us an email.”
THE WINES
I have 10 wines to present to you today from Comanche Cellars. Winery notes come from their website, bottles or the tasting room, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
2022 Comanche Cellars Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc (Pet Nat), Dorcich Family Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, 11.5% ABV, $30 (#1156)
There is a story about this wine. It was supposed to be a still Sauvignon Blanc, but the sugar and the yeast got out of control and secondary fermentation occurred. It is a happy outcome and a very fun wine. They took their Sauvignon Blanc bottle and slapped a Pet Nat (Pétillant Natural) sticker on it! This is new on their tasting menu! I hope you get to try it!
Winery Notes: “N/A.”
My Review: Pale sparkly in the glass. White peach and honeydew on the nose. Crisp on the palate finishing with subtle notes of grapefruit and a touch of yeast on the finish. September 2023
2022 Comanche Cellars French Oak Chardonnay, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 14.4% ABV, $30 (#1157)
Winery Notes: David let us taste this barrel sample in the middle of active winemaking operations. My garbled notes say he considers this wine to have good complexity and an intrigue that he just loves.
My Review: Touch of oak. Butter and vanilla on the nose. Like caramel popcorn. Vanilla and butter carry over to the palate. Lots of oak. It’s a big Chardonnay with lime twist on the finish. September 2023
2021 Comanche Cellars Rosé of Pinot Noir, Gimelli Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 14.85% ABV, $30 (#1158)
Winery Notes: “This beautifully-hued rosé will quickly impress you with the aromas of candied apple leading to flavors of maraschino cherry and passionfruit. The crisp, pleasing acidity makes you want to savor each and every sip while it transports you to a French sidewalk café in the summertime.”
My Review: Very pink, intensely almost orange. Watermelon and maraschino cherry on the nose. Light palate of strawberry, like a Pinot Noir – with a fruitier twist. Not exactly fruit forward to us. I preferred this rosé to the 2022 vintage. September 2023.
2022 Comanche Cellars Rosé of Pinot Noir, Gimelli Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 13.4% ABV, (#1159)
Winery Notes: N/A
My Review: Rich pink in the glass – dustier pink than the other one. Spice on the nose. Tart and spicey on the palate. Like Asian spice – perhaps jalapeños on melon – in a good way. September 2023.
2020 Comanche Cellars Dog & Pony La Niña, Central Coast, 12.9% ABV (#1160) 65% Tempranillo, 35% Grenache
Winery Notes: “This intriguing duet of Tempranillo and Grenache brings flavors of spiced fruit compote
wrapped in a tapestry of soft tannins and juicy acidity to create a beautifully balanced, easy to enjoy wine.”
My Review: Dark purple. Deep plum and blackberry on the nose. Smoke front palate. Nice smooth palate with a smooth, tannic finish. During our pre-tasting, this was my favorite wine. September 2023.
2021 Comanche Cellars Sagrantino, Calleri Vineyard, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 11.7% ABV (#1161)
I had never heard of Sagrantino until this day – then saw it in an Umbrian Montefalco Rosse just a few days later – lots to learn about it! The tasting room told us that 3,000 acres of Sagrantino grapes are planted locally!
Winery Notes: N/A
My Review: Translucent garnet in glass. Vegetal notes with candied cherry and nutmeg on the nose. Asparagus. The nose to me is reminscent of the vegetal I get from Petit Verdot. Mouth-filling, candied cherry fruits and sour cherry finish. Wow! This is such an interesting wine. September 2023
2020 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Tres Pinos Creek, San Benito AVA, San Benito County, 12.4% ABV (#1162)
Winery Notes: N/A
My Review: Dark in the glass. Dark fruit, almost stewed prune, on the nose. Light on the palate. The nose over promises the palate. September 2023
2018 Comanche Cellars Merlot, Medeiros Family Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, 14.3% ABV, $34 (#1165)
Winery Notes: “Delicious rich berry cola on both the nose and palate layered with smooth blackberry jam. These beautiful flavors are complemented by notes of leather, cedar and licorice.”
My Review: Plum and blueberry on the nose. Add some cranberry to those and you have a nice wine! Some anise on the finish. October 2023
NV Comanche Cellars Dog & Pony Tre Zingari, Central Coast AVA, 14.2% ABV, $30 (#1166) 40% Barbera, 40% Merlot, 20% Carignane
Winery Notes: “This Old World bellezza tells the tale of three timeless gypsies; the cinnamon red
cherry pie and rose petals of Italy’s Barbera, the dark blueberry-cherry-sage of France’s Merlot and the clove tinged onion jam of Spain’s Carignane. Let fly the Romani wanderlust, if for only a short while.”
My Review Powered bytèr·ra·ve·nos: These are Erin’s notes: “Deep ruby with pronounced aromatics. Jammy black fruit, dark cherry and plum, with some orange peel. This wine has an earthy quality with black licorice and a little rose petal. Alcohol and grippy tannins on the palate, with a delightful finish of violet and black fruit. Good depth.” My favorite wine of the day. October 2023
2019 Comanche Cellars Petite Sirah, Pierce Ranch Vineyard, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $38 (#1167)
Winery Notes: “Petite Sirah has deep rich flavors and velvety tannins. New to our portfolio, this
single varietal wine is big, bold and full bodied with aromas of dark fruit, vanilla and bayleaf. It truly is a unique grape, just don’t confuse it with Syrah!”
My Review Powered by tèr·ra·ve·nos: Inky purple in color. Rich, crunchy black and blue fruits, with violet and licorice laced with alcohol on the lovely nose. Add all those flavors and a touch of prune on the palate. A good steak wine. I took one home for an upcoming class. October 2023
THE TASTING ROOM
“Join us in downtown Monterey for tasting flights, wines by the glass and our famous cheese & charcuterie boards!”
The Comanche Cellars tasting room is located at 412 Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey. 831-747-2244. Their hours (according to their website) are Tues-Thurs 4-8 pm, Fri 3-9 pm, Sat 1-9 pm, and Sun 1-6 pm. It is a popular venue and no reservations are required!
They also have fun and/or educational events such as vertical tastings and Wednesday night bingo! Check their home page for more information!
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