Tagged: Wine Blog

Catching Up with Bernardus!

THE STORY

Anticipating a wine pickup, we took our large pup to his first wine tasting at the Bernardus Winery Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village. He loved the faux grass on the edge of the tasting patio and was a pretty good boy while we tasted a few newer releases. However, my tasting notes were not up to my own standard. Some deserve a re-do on a future visit.

My last post about Bernardus is here: Happy Holidays with a Bernardus Post!

THE WINERY

I’ve written many times about founder Ben Pon’s vision to grow quality Bordeaux blends right here in Carmel Valley.  I am hopeful that Bernardus will not give up on that dream. Their Marinus Bordeaux-style blend has long been our favorite Bernardus wine. I understand the 2025 Marinus will be a field blend from the Marinus Vineyard.  After that?

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 2 Bernardus wines from this single tasting. Winery tasting notes come from their website or tasting sheets, unless otherwise indicated. You can read more about these wines on their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2024 Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.7% ABV, $28 (#1681)

Winery Notes: “Our 2024 Signature Griva bottling has aromas of lime zest and lemon curd accented by notes of grassy minerality. The palate exhibits full flavors, hints of tropical fruit with meyer lemon, grapefruit, and a rich mouthfeel are supported by refreshing acidity. This year our Griva Sauvignon Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc with no added Semillon. It was so expressive we decided to bottle it pure.”

My Review: Pale golden in the glass.  Sweet pineapple, grassy minerality and butter notes on the fragrant nose.  Full flavor on the palate of Meyer lemon, tart pineapple with grapefruit zest on the finish.  This is one of my favorite 2024 Monterey County sauvignon blancs. October 2025 and March 2026

2023 Bernardus Chardonnay, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, 14.7% ABV, $55 (#1728)

Winery Notes: “Our 2023 Soberanes Chardonnay exhibits robust flavors and aromas, highlighted by rich toasted oak and caramel notes.  The palate is intense, with hints of lees and tropical fruits, kept in balance with a delicately crisp finish. Our Soberanes Chardonnay exemplifies the flavor and quality of this special grape growing region.”

My Review: Yellow in the glass. Buttery nose, followed by tasty flavors on the lively palate. Quintissential Monterey SLH chardonnay. March 2026

THE TASTING ROOM

“Experience the Luxury of Bernardus Winery”

“Established in 1994, Bernardus opened the doors to the first-ever tasting room in Carmel Valley. We are located about 15 miles east of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach, and showcase some of the best wines in the region. Join us for a tasting on our patio, at our tasting bar, or in our newly renovated signature Pon room, perfect for private bookings.”

The Bernardus Tasting room, located at 5 West Carmel Valley Road, is open every day 11-5.

© Decanting Monterey 2026

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

2017 L’Aventure Optimus: Smooth, Rich, Delicious – a Quality Wine

THE STORY

At a recent Decanting Monterey Wine Pod tasting on our new front porch, we blind-tasted this lovely wine – the 2017 L’Aventure Optimus.

I’ve written about the Optimus several times, with the last one in 2023 here: Let’s Take Lunch to a New Level with L’Aventure.

THE WINERY

From the tech sheet:

“Stephan Asseo, owner and winemaker at L’Aventure Winery, began making wine in 1982. In that same year, Stephan established Domaine de Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinal and Chateau Robin in the Cotes de Castillion in Bordeaux. Over the next 15 years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship and gained a “maverick” reputation. His true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law would allow. In 1996, this led him, his wife Beatrice and their 3 children, on a journey to pursue his ideal as a winemaker. In 1997, after one year of research, they fell in love with a unique terroir in the west side Paso Robles. And L’Aventure began in 1998!”

THE WINE

I have just one wine to present to you today from L’Aventure. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2017 L’Aventure OPTIMUS Red Blend, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles AVA, $ (#1724) 49% Syrah, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot

This is a picture of the bottle label acquired from the tech sheet.
Image from the Tech Sheet

Winery Notes: “Optimus is the perfect introduction to our lineup. Also known as our “crazy” Paso blend, Optimus is beautifully balanced with a lot of freshness. This wine is approachable young but can be enjoyed for up to a decade.” 94 points – Jeb Dunnuck

My Review: We blind tasted this wine.The rich dark red/purple color had me declare it was a new world wine. The nose was reminiscent of a Rhone wine. I thought it was from Napa based on the smooth, rich and tasty palate. I guessed it was a Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Absolutely delicious. February 2026

THE TASTING ROOM

Explore L’Aventure:

“Discover personalized tastings on the Westside of Paso Robles. Open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM. To ensure a dedicated experience for each party, reservations are required.”

© Decanting Monterey 2026

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

Carol Shelton’s Barbera d’Oakley Brings a Little Bit of Italy!

THE STORY

I don’t have many Carol Shelton wines left, but we enjoyed this one in December. The vineyard story alone makes it an interesting one – which I found on Carol Shelton’s website:

“The 130-year-old Planchon Vineyard in Oakley is the source of this interesting “Italian blend” of Barbera with its companion vines of Zinfandel and Merlot. The Barbera rows are a veritable jungle of vegetation on the perimeter of the ancient Zin vines; they thrive on their own roots in this sandy soil because the phylloxera bug that kills vines from the roots up is adverse to the grit of the sand under its shell. The blend is similar in many ways to a “SuperPiedmont,” where Bordeaux varieties (here we used Merlot) add structure and elegance to the straightforward black cherry and blackberry fruit of the Barbera grape, and the Zin and Carignane chime in with their own bright raspberry and spice notes.”

We met Carol Shelton, the Queen of Zin, many years ago at a Zinfandel Advocates and Producers event in Washington DC and have been fans ever since.

THE WINERY

From her website: “Carol Shelton has been Mastering the Zen of Zin since 1978. Focusing mostly on her favorite varietal, Carol is a guru of single vineyard Zinfandel. California has been the home world class Zin for over a century, making it the benchmark varietal of American wine culture. Carol & Mitch Mackenzie, her husband and business partner, have sought out exceptional vineyards throughout California including Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, Mendocino, and the Cucamonga Valley of Southern California. Many of her vineyard sources are organically grown and decades old. She develops close partnerships with each grower to ensure her wines maintain and express the unique terroir of the vineyard.”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting just this 1 wine from Carol Shelton. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2021 Carol Shelton Barbera d’Oakley, Planchon Vineyard, Contra Costa AVA, 13.8% ABV, $30 (#1716)

Winery Notes: “Vibrant nose of tart black cherry and blackberry, with a kiss of green herbs and earth, black peppery spice and vanilla oak. Mouth shows some nice tart cherry and pomegranate, and mouthfeel is silky smooth, almost dangerous in how easy it is to drink. This wine would be delicious with tomato-sauced pastas, harder cheeses, and grilled things, especially portabello mushroom caps! Buon appétito!”

My Review: Garnet in color. A warm, mellow nose of red raspberry, plum, bubblegum, spice and a hint of red cherry. The palate is bursting with red, tart cherry and cranberry juiciness.  This wine will wake you up! December 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Carol Shelton has a relatively new tasting room in Santa Rosa, open for tastings 7 days a week from 11 – 4.  Reserve tasting fee is $20 per person each tasting fee may be waived with purchase of one bottle. You can read more on their website!

© Decanting Monterey 2026

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

2021 Stolpman Originals Syrah Delivers Quality at a Value Price!

THE STORY

I can’t say I was surprised to find another Stolpman Vineyards Originals Syrah in our wine room, but what I was surprised by was the flavor of this nicely rated, well-priced 2021 vintage!  K&L Wine Merchants steered us right once again with the value and quality of this wine.  My last writeup of a Stolpman wine was here: Santa Barbara County Syrah: Getting One Rhône Varietal Right!!  

THE VINEYARD

From the Stolpman Vineyards website:

“Oldest Syrah Vines in Ballard Canyon AVA

“The Originals Syrah vines are not only our “Original” planting, but they are the oldest vines in Ballard Canyon AVA.  The wine made from these vines in the mid 1990’s generated the Syrah-planting fervor which eventually led to the publication of Ballard Canyon AVA.  Because we withhold irrigation for months on end during our arid growing season, these vines have rooted deeply into our limestone in search of moisture.  They yield small crops of tiny, concentrated grapes.”

THE WINE

Today I’m bringing you just this one wine. Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2021 Stolpman Vineyards Originals Syrah, Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County, 14% ABV, $30 (#1715)

Winemaker’s Notes: “A spectrum of red, blue, and black fruit pack into an opaque, luxuriously sleek mid-palate before crunchy, youthful tannin. The big, rich, coating body beckons for the savory, dry finish.  One of the densest Originals vintage in the fourteen year history of the cuvee.  The hedonistic waves begin to envelope the pronounced tannin within minutes of breathing, giving a glimmer forward to maybe 2026 when this wine will hit its next level and fall into a beautiful 10 year stride thereafter.” 94 points – Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast

My Review: Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Menthol and earth on the nose. Earthy palate of dark fruits and cotton candy.  We tasted this wine a couple of times in the Fall of 2025. 

THE TASTING ROOM

Stolpman Vineyards Tasting Room is located at 2434 ALAMO PINTADO AVE, LOS OLIVOS. Reservations are recommended.

© Decanting Monterey 2026

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

Boëté Releases its Irresistible 2019 Cheval Rouge!

THE STORY

With an out-of-town friend in tow, we stopped into The Barrel Room in Carmel Valley Village to taste Boëté wines and pick up our allocation. The guys loved the setting – there was a tv screen to view the football game no matter where you sat! And we were served by both Dillon and Jana Saunders over the course of our tasting.  Always great to see them! According to my records, the only new wine was the 2019 Boëté Cheval Rouge.  I remember when the 2018 came out during the pandemic and I participated in their hearts painting activity over a Zoom call. How far we have come since those times.

The Boëté Cheval Rouge is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and, in this particular vintage, only a touch of Merlot.  This wine has an irresistible, dark yet sweet jamminess and as my favorite of the day. We served the 2018 vintage to friends in January and it has matured in the bottle to a point of extreme deliciousness.

I last wrote about Boëté Winery here: 2018 Boëté Cabernet Franc Revisit: Scrumptiousness in a Glass.

THE WINES

Today I am presenting the five wines we tasted in December, including the newly released 2019 Cheval Rouge. The rest of these have been presented before – over the lifetime of Decanting Monterey – but all have new, updated tasting notes. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2021 Boëté Reserve Merlot, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $50 (#1560)

My Review: Garnet in color.  Plum, black currant, and eucalyptus on the nose. Medium weight on the palate with a tart cranberry, red currant finish. December 2025

2019 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $54 (#1489)

My Review: Dark garnet in color. Eucalyptus, dark fruit, alcohol and some spice on the nose. Very dark berries and eucalyptus notes on the palate. One of the very best Cabernet Francs from Monterey County. December 2025

2021 Boëté Cheval Rouge, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $50 (#1704)

My Review: Very dark in the glass. Black plum, BBQ sauce, and stems on the nose. Sweet jamminess like raspberry jam on toast on the smooth palate. This was my favorite wine of the day. December 2025

2018 Boëté Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $52 (#1490)

My Review: Prune, bacon and hints of smoke on the nose. Medium palate with tasty cherry flavors and mild acidity on the finish. December 2025 (2019 has been released since I wrote this)

2017 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Saunders Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $80 (#339)

My Review: Dark plum, blueberry and cedar on the nose. Prune, blackberry, and blueberry with balanced acidity. Drinking well. December 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

You can taste and purchase Boëté wines at The Barrel Room every day (closed Wednesdays), 12-5 p.m. 5 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village. 

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

The Newly-Released 2022 Rombi Merlot is a Beauty!

THE STORY

It was great to stop in and see Kathy in the Rombi Wines tasting room in Carmel Valley Village back in December. We were able to catch up and I delivered some holiday chocolates for Sal.  My homemade, yet professional chocolates. People say I should sell them, but that would be work. We were pleasantly surprised to find this stunning, newly released 2022 Rombi Merlot now being poured in the tasting room.  I used to have to cellar his wines for about 10 years for them to seem ready (they are so big), but this wine is pretty awesome now. I asked Sal if there was anything special about this wine or the vintage he’d like to tell me and his only comment was that he didn’t make enough of it. I highly recommend stopping by some weekend to try it out for yourself.

Photo of the year label "2022" with the Rombi seal from the neck of the bottle

You can read my last post about Rombi Wines here: Rombi: A Preview of the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon!I’ve written about them many times – you can search on my websitefor Rombi on the search bar.

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting just this one wine.

2022 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, $65 (#1703)

My Review: Red plum, blackberry and blueberry fruits plus cinnamon on the nose. Very smooth palate.  Medium grippy tannins. Juicy, delicious, with some wood on the palate. I am impressed by this wine for its flavor, structure and quality. December 2025

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Decanting Monterey Selects Its Wine of the Year: 2020 Site Wine Co. Syrah!

Site: “Sourced from the most distinctive vineyard sites in California”

THE STORY

I never thought to name a Decanting Monterey Wine of the Year until I tasted the 2020 Site Bien Nacido Syrah. One of our many finds from K&L Wine Merchants, this wine surpassed all others for its flavor, structure and value.  We try a lot of wines in a year, from fine Bordeaux wines to grocery store bargains, but most of our wines we find right in our back yard – in Monterey County. I focus my blog on Central Coast wines with rare exception.

Because we are on K&L Wine Merchant’s Insiders mailing list, we often see bargains otherwise not available.  Through this access, we have tried Central Coast wines we might not otherwise have found. And that was the case with this wine. So we are stepping outside of Monterey County for today’s wine.

I have long been a fan of the Bien Nacido Vineyard, perhaps stemming from a 2018 trip down to Ojai, where we tasted Ojai Vineyard’s fabulous Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah. In addition, I visited Los Olivos in 2022 on the way to a high school reunion and tasted several Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrahs.  I have mentioned the Bien Nacido Vineyard or the Bien Nacido clone in 11 posts since starting Decanting Monterey in 2020.  Read this one to hear more about the legacy of the vineyard itself: Santa Maria AVA: Home to the Legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard!

I love Syrah, especially since we moved to the Central Coast, but not all Syrahs are the same. The vintage, the pick, the winemaker’s talents all play a role in making a wine great. And I worry a wine purchased without a tasting will be too earthy – or even too overdone (high alcohol), even for my preferences (not that I would turn one down!). A great wine will find that balance of flavor and structure – and a good price just makes it even better.  And today’s wine has it all.

THE WINERY

Have you heard of Site Wine Co.?  Neither had I.  Here’s what I found out from various articles but primarily their own website:

“The wines of Site come from grapes that have been sourced from the most distinctive vineyards in California. These sites promise wines that kindle our senses and intellect and leave a gut feeling of pleasure. I view each vintage with a fresh eye and an open mind. I don’t enforce a particular winemaking style but take an approach that’s nimble and dynamic and attuned solely to the vineyard and the vintage, not to a dogma.”

“Site purchases fruit from just 3 vineyards, Bien Nacido Vineyards (Syrah), Larner Vineyard (Syrah, Grenache and Viognier), and Stolpman Vineyards (Roussanne).”

“Site is managed by Jeremy Weintraub, who is winemaker at Adelaida Cellars in Paso Robles, CA. Before Adelaida, Jeremy was winemaker at Seavey Vineyard, in Napa Valley, and before that he had winemaking and grape-growing stints in Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Central Otago, Martinborough, Tuscany, and on Long Island.”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting just this one wine.  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.

2020 Site Wine Co. Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyards, Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Barbara County, 14.3% ABV, $65 ($40 from K&L) (#1692)

Winery Notes: “This wine, comprising 100% syrah grapes from the same rows of Block Z at Bien Nacido Vineyards that I’ve been receiving since 2012, offers aromas of dark fruits, white pepper, and cooking spices. The mouth is medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.” 97 points, Jeb Dunnuck

K&L Wine Notes: “Since we receive a lot of requests for ripe, concentrated wines that are great on their own as well as with food, I’m thrilled we can offer this outstanding Syrah from the Central Coast. It’s a big, dense and seamless red with lush smoky black fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Delicious.” John Downing

My Review: Beautiful, dense garnet in the glass. Saddle leather, chalk, dark cherry, cotton candy on the nose. Mouth filling, explosive rich red fruits on the palate, with cherry dominant. A delicious wine. October 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

‘Please contact the winemaker directly to schedule a tasting of his current release wines. The location, date and time will need to be agreed upon by all parties. A minimum of four guests is preferred for tastings. Email jeremy@sitewineco.com to arrange.”

If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Happy Holidays with a Bernardus Post!

THE STORY

While my dog was getting groomed at The Dawg House in Carmel Valley Village, I decided to pop into the Bernardus Winery Tasting Room to do a serious tasting. I got caught up on all the news Bernardus and was able to take my time with each wine.  The biggest news I learned was that long-time tasting room manager Heather Rammel has left Bernardus for Pebble Beach and regional sales manager Jeff Jung now runs the tasting room. 

We have celebrated so many holidays with a fine bottle of Bernardus Marinus or Marinus Signature, so I dedicate this holiday post to them.  I hope you enjoy the holidays with family and friends and a glass of your favorite Monterey County wine!

My last post about Bernardus is here: 2024 Bernardus Marinus Dinner – Nothing Short of Spectacular!

THE WINERY

I’ve written many times about founder Ben Pon’s vision to grow quality Bordeaux blends right here in Monterey County.  With his passing, a few things have shifted, but the consistent factor has been vineyard manager Matt Shea.  There is more on their website to read, but here is a little snippet:

Where Dutch Elegance Meets Monterey Terroir

“Built upon lasting relationships with the region’s most respected growers, Bernardus sources its fruit exclusively from Monterey County vineyards. Throughout the years, Mr. Pon, winemaker Jim McCabe and Vineyard manager Matt Shea have worked tirelessly to cultivate strong relationships with local grape growers who set aside blocks specifically dedicated for Bernardus. Their top-quality fruit is the backbone of Bernardus’ single-vineyard wines, including Griva, Rosella’s, Garys’, Sierra Mar, Soberanes and others. “All of the vineyards we work with have similar farming practices,” Shea says.”

”Bernardus has one estate vineyard — Ingrid’s, located in the western part of Cachagua and planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir — managed by Matt Shea, a champion of sustainable practices, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to ensure vine and soil health. His goal is to produce the best possible fruit while caring for the land on which it grows. All that time and attention to detail mean the best possible fruit.

“”My philosophy for farming comes from my background of spending 13 years in Oregon growing premium Pinot Noir organically, biodynamically and conventionally,” he says. “I have fused all of those types of farming into an approach that is as sustainable as possible and really tailored to this type of vineyard in Monterey County…”’

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 6 Bernardus wines from this single tasting. Winery tasting notes come from their website or tasting sheets, unless otherwise indicated. You can read more about these wines on their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

2024 Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.7% ABV, $28 (#1682)

Winery Notes: “Our 2024 Signature Griva bottling has aromas of lime zest and lemon curd accented by notes of grassy minerality. The palate exhibits full flavors, hints of tropical fruit with meyer lemon, grapefruit, and a rich mouthfeel are supported by refreshing acidity. This year our Griva Sauvignon Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc with no added Semillon. It was so expressive we decided to bottle it pure.”

My Review: Pale golden in the glass.  Sweet pineapple and butter notes on the fragrant nose.  Full flavor on the palate of Meyer lemon, tart pineapple with grapefruit zest on the finish.  This is my favorite 2024 Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc. October 2025

2022 Bernardus Chardonnay, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $55 (#1683)

Winery Notes: “Our 2022 Rosella’s Chardonnay exhibits beautiful fruit forward aromas highlighted by rich toasted oak and caramel notes.  The palate is intense, exhibiting ripe peach accented by tropical fruits. This wine is wonderfully balanced, it shows the richness and intensity of fruit grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands, while also having a nice long crisp finish to bring all the flavors into focus.”

2021 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Ingrid’s Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $80 (#1684)

My Review: Pale golden, one shade brown in color.  Mellow pineapple, banana and oak on the nose.  Citrus on the palate with a lime zest twist. October 2025

Winery Notes: “Our 2021 Ingrid’s Vineyard Pinot Noir exudes spicy, dark red fruit aromas. The wine is very intense and beautifully focused. Flavors exhibit essences of black cherry, ripe berries and subtle toasty oak notes. Our 2021 Ingrid’s Pinot Noir is very structured, allowing for several years of ageing or it can be enjoyed in its youth for its bright fruit expression.”

My Review: Dark ruby in the glass.  A yummy nose of cherry, forest floor and deep plum. Wow this is delicious – dark berries, a touch of earth, but so rich, smooth and drinkable right now.  I enjoy this style of Pinot Noir. October 2025

2021 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $70 (#1685)

92 points – Wine Enthusiast: “Baked black cherry, rhubarb, damp spice and dark herb aromas align on the nose of this bottling. There’s an earthy core to the palate, where black cherry, mace and chai flavors make for a spicy sip.” — Matt Kettmann, December 2023

My Review: Transluscent dark ruby in the glass.  Mellow SLH Pinot nose with a lighter palate with cherry and cranberry flavors. October 2025

2019 Bernardus Marinus Signature Red Wine, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey Caounty, 14.2% ABV, $125 (#1474)

My Review: Intense dark garnet in color.  Forest floor, vanilla and dark fruits – cherry, plum, blackberry –  on the nose.  Smooth palate of well-blended varieties not yet showing its full potential.  Right now lacking a bit of the richness that will show with age. If you must consume it now, decant it! Give this one more time to develop in the bottle.  It is going to be a good one.  October 2025.

An Earlier Review: This wine represents the “future” – it is so young and still tight. Pepperoni and black licorice on the nose. Stewed fruit with bright fruit on the back of the palate. Meaty. Needs much more time in the bottle.  It paired well with the lava cake. November 2024

2018 Bernardus Marinus Signature Red Wine, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $125 (#1447)

Winery Notes: “This 2018 vintage of our highly regarded Signature Marinus exhibits a beautiful, deep robe. The aromas are redolent with dark red fruits and dried spices. On the palate we find bright ripe-red fruit flavors and notes of cedar on a long, rich finish, promising a long life to come! A wonderful example from our estate vineyard!”

My Review: Dark garnet in the glass. Delicious jammy cassis, dark berries and oak on the nose.  The palate conveyed all the dark fruits with a tannic finish.  This is a good vintage. October 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

“Experience the Luxury of Bernardus Winery”

“Established in 1994, Bernardus opened the doors to the first-ever tasting room in Carmel Valley. We are located about 15 miles east of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach, and showcase some of the best wines in the region. Join us for a tasting on our patio, at our tasting bar, or in our newly renovated signature Pon room, perfect for private bookings.”

The Bernardus Tasting room, located at 5 West Carmel Valley Road, is open every day:

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Stikky Wine: What’s in Your Glass?

Recently I was asked to review Stikky Wine, a book by Stikky.  Have you ever heard of Stikky books? Neither had I! They are designed to teach you something and have it stick in an easy, fun, colorful way. Stikky Wine is exactly that. Whether you are a newcomer to wine or have some experience, this is a great book to have on hand. As the cover says, “Learn the six aroma families and three essential characteristics to enjoy great wine and talk like a pro – in just one hour.” At only $12, it is packed full of knowledge and would make a great stocking stuffer for that budding oenophile on your holiday gift list!

Photo of the cover of the Stikky Wine book

MY REVIEW

First off, this is such a cute, magenta/red wine colored book! It’s format is small and easy to flip through, colorful and a page-turner! Stikky Wine is a great introduction to wine appreciation which can be enjoyed by a complete novice to someone with extensive wine experience. Intimidated by wine? No longer. Just flip through this book, quickly learn and test yourself – and then practice with a real glass of wine! It doesn’t take long to learn about the aroma and palate profiles of the 6 major varietals and become your own mini expert on wine.It uses images and little quizes throughout to make the information stick.

A synopsis of the book from its website

The book is broken into two Sequences, with a stopping point at the end of each sequence to practice what you learned. It is followed by an Epilogue and Next Steps to keep your learning going.

Sequence One is an introduction to wine and how to assess your wine by color and aroma. The WHEFF approach teaches you to stop and think about what you’re actually smelling. Is there anything weird is there? Anything herbal or earthy? What fruits do you smell? Are there any floral aromas? Once you have mastered this technique, you can improve your ability to identify or guess the varietal before you even taste it! This should enhance my skills when we play Mystery Wine at home!

images depicting the 6 categories of smells you might find in your glass of wine
The WHEFF approach to wine aromas
image of a wine glass filled with earthy things like dirt, rocks, wood and leaves.
Anything earthy in your glass?

In Sequence Two, the techniques help you dive into the wine’s profile on your palate. It instructs you how to hold a sip of the wine in your mouth to experience the tannins, the acidity and the body, providing the details of what each of these is. Then it goes further to guide you on how to order wine in a restaurant – how to ask for the kind of wine you like within your budget – and when it is okay to send the bottle back.

HOW TO ORDER

You can order this book directly at Stikky here: Stikky Wine. I think I’m going to order a few copies right now!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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

Marin’s Vineyard: A Rare Viognier from Monterey County!

THE STORY

When my DC virtual wine group picked “viognier near you” as its September theme, I was delighted – I thought it was going to easy to find one from our local wineries. One winery told me they quit making it a long time ago; I guessed I hadn’t noticed.  I spoke with Will Chesebro, winemaker at Chesebro, who informed me they grafted their viognier vines to Albariño. There was lack of demand, no buyers. Chesebro recommended Marin’s Vineyard, which took me to A Taste of Monterey, where you can find wines from our wineries with smaller production, among others. That’s where I found today’s wine.

I did some digging after making this purchase and found a few other bottlings of Monterey viognier from Scheid Vineyards and Odonata, plus there may be others I have missed or they have sold out. If you know of a Monterey County Viognier, please let me know!! Leave me a comment or email me.

According to the 2024 Monterey County Crop Report, in 2024 there were still 111 acres of viognier harvested here. Digging into past years’ reports, in 1995, Viognier started to be reported separately (vs “other whites”) starting at 26 harvested acres and ending the decade at 58 acres. From 2000 to 2010, there was tremendous growth in acres harvested, reaching 163 in 2009. In 2012 and 2014, there were 170 acres harvested, representing the peak of Viognier in Monterey County.  And in the past 6 years, it has averaged 111 acres harvested.  It’s still out there, people!

THE WINERY

From their website:

“At Marin’s Vineyard, we produce thoughtfully hand-crafted wines that reflect our grass root efforts and ranching heritage – specializing in Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec of southern Monterey County. Family owned and operated by Brenda, Duane, and Marin Wolgamott. Established in 1999. Our vineyard is located in Lockwood, CA and the newly opened tasting room is in Downtown Atascadero.”

THE WINE

Today I’m presenting just this one wine.  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.

Marin’s Vineyard 2021 Stockholder’s Reserve Viognier, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $28 (#1666)

picture of the front label of the 2021 Marin's Vineyard viognier with pretty painted cactus.

Winery Notes: “In this vintage I was playing around with how I want the aromatics to express themselves. It was a stainless steel tank fermentation and then aged in neutral oak barrels for 6 months. It’s a very classic Viognier style with lots of floral honeysuckle and an medium body finish with dried apricot.”

From the label: “…The desert cactus is stouthearted and beautiful, giving inspiration to our winemaking styles. This barrel aged Viognier displays characteristics of fresh apricot, with a round mouthfeel and rich golden color. Only 250 cases made.”

Wine Enthusiast – 89 points: Light aromas of honey, sliced apple and banana are fairly mellow on the nose of this bottling. The palate is fatter and ripe with dried peach, mango and banana flavors.” — Matt Kettmann, July 2024

My Review: Yellowish tan in the glass. Melon, peach and honeysuckle on the nose. Opened a bit tart and bitter, but mellowed into apple, pineapple, honey and floral notes on the palate, finishing with apricot. September 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Because Lockwood is so much closer to the Paso Robles wine growing region, it opened its tasting room there.

“Marin’s Vineyard is a welcoming wine tasting room at the heart of Downtown Atascadero.

“Come visit our Tasting Room!”

Hours: Thursday and Friday 4:30-8pm, Saturday 2-8pm, Sunday 1-6pm

Location: 5983 Entrada Ave, Atascadero, CA 93422

Call or Text: 831-905-2692

If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

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