Tagged: Wine Blog

Idle Hour Generously Shares their Latest on Croatia Tour!

WINE ADVENTURES IN CROATIA – PART 3!

THE STORY

OK, one more post about our spring trip to Croatia. Today’s post is about the Idle Hour wines from California which were generously shared with us by our traveling host, winemaker and co-owner Anna Marie Dos Remedios, throughout our trip. We were able to taste these wines at restaurants and on the boat.  We were personally grateful to experience more recent vintages of wines we know, as well as some new ones sourced in the Santa Ynez AVA in Santa Barbara County. For those of us with California palates, these were a welcome break from the still strange yet wonderful Croatian wines.

I waited for Anna Marie to send me her winery notes for these wines, as they are no longer available online. And I am sure glad I did! Also, as with my other posts about our trip in Croatia, my reviews have at times been colorfully supplemented by our traveling partners, whom I have named the Decanting-Monterey-in-Croatia Wine Pod. 😊 The Malbec review was also assisted earlier by Erin of tèr·ra·ve·nos.

One of the Many Picturesque Lunch Spots During Our Trip!

I have written about Idle Hour Winery several times before, with the last major post here: Idle Hour Pop Up Tasting Room Event – A Better Way to Spend a Rainy Day.

IDLE HOUR WINERY

“In our winery, we focus on single-varietal, single vineyard designated wines from select California vineyards and make our wines with minimal intervention in the cellar. In our kitchen, we are a scratch kitchen, with house made dishes using only the freshest, local ingredients we can source from small purveyors from around California. Our food and wines are inspired by the Mediterranean with a focus on using healthier cooking methods and fresh, organic ingredients.”

Anna Marie shared this about her new Santa Barbara County wines:

“My first vintage from Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley did not disappoint.  I chose three Rhône varieties to work with from the La Presa Vineyard: Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Grenache Noir.”

IDLE HOUR WINES

2019 Idle Hour Malbec, Madera, 13.8% ABV, $32 (#915)

Winemaker’s Notes: “Bright blueberry and violet with a deep garnet color and the perfect bing cherry finish to pair with a pork tenderloin and cherry gastrique.”

My Review assisted by Erin: Inky in the glass. Violets, blueberry, cherry and raspberry with green pepper, smoke and dusty notes on the nose. Super bright and fruit forward. Medium ripe tannins, a tiny bit grippy. Slightly tart and savory, similar to one of the blueberry blend fruit juices we had in the Croatian hotel – in a good way. Pair with risotto and skirt steak. I liked this wine. December 2022 and May 2024

2021 Idle Hour Old Vine Carignan, Madera County, 13.6% ABV (#1340)

Winemaker’s Notes: ““As an homage to the beauty of the 50 years aged bush vines in Madera bearing these grapes, I wanted the purity of this fruit to shine, using only neutral barrels and picking with balance with a lighter style in mind. Red fruits of bing cherry and raspberry pay tribute to the inherent acidity of this variety with smooth tannins and a woodsy back end. Definitely a food wine! A perfect Summer wine to pair with a meal off the bbq of meats and veggies.”

AWARDS: Gold 92, 2024 Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge; Bronze, 2024 SF Chronicle International Wine Competition.

My Review: Red fruit reminiscent of macerated strawberry on the nose. Darker fruit on the full bodied, jammy palate.  Jam packed with more of a plum vs blackberry. Cherry on the finish. I liked this wine – we took one home. May 2024

2021 Idle Hour Cuvée Rouge, $32 (#1341) 60 % Petite Sirah, 40% Carignan

Winemaker’s Notes: “Once in awhile, I blend a few barrels of wines. The fruit in the Carignan tamed the structure of the Petite Sirah, giving a balance and length to the blend while still preserving the bright red fruits and smooth mid palate of the Carignan. This Petite Sirah from Madera was not overly tannic, it lends the more savory notes from aging in newer oak to the blend: cedar and an earthiness from the sur lie aging.”

My Review: Purple in color. Sweet blueberry and cranberry on the nose. Very dark fruit like blueberry and dried plums, with a tangy finish. May 2024

2022 Idle Hour Rousanne, Santa Ynez AVA, Santa Barbara County, 13.8% ABV, (#1342)

Winemaker’s Notes: “I haven’t made Roussanne since 2012.  I love the variety for the long and smooth mid palate, it is like the Petit Verdot of the white wines, most often used in blends to lengthen the body of a blend. I love mine as a single varietal wine. This vintage did not disappoint, with a full body and an herbal aromatic, think pears and honey with black tea  and ample acidity tempered by the mouthfeel.”

This is the only white wine allowed in the Rhône. It’s the “Petit Verdot of white wine.”

My Review: Sweet nose of apricot, honey and elderflower – very St Germaine. Viscous in the glass. Grapefruit and honey on the palate with a pear finish. May 2024

2022 Idle Hour Grenache Blanc, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara AVA, 14.2% ABV, $34 (#1343)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This, my second vintage of Grenache Blanc from the Central Coast, boasted a succulent mouthfeel, with floral notes of rose petals, vanilla from a tempered short aging in oak and citrusy notes. With only a short aging of 6 months for the malolactic fermentation to complete before bottling, this wine showed beautifully and sold out quickly after winning the 2023 Sunset Int’l Wine Competition Best of Class. I wish I would have made more!” SOLD OUT!

AWARDS: Best of Class 94 Gold 94  2023 Sunset International Wine Competition; Silver, 2023 International Women’s Wine Competition

My Review: Floral notes like orange blossom on the nose. A round, oaky quality is balanced by crisp acidity and minerality on the palate. June 2024

2022 Idle Hour Grenache Noir, Santa Ynez AVA, Santa Barbara County, 13.9% ABV, $ (#1344)

Winemaker’s Notes: “This wine is everything I love of California Grenache! Woodsy aromatics, a lightness to the mouthfeel and cherry all day! This was a tiny lot of 1 ton producing only 48 cases of wine!”

AWARDS: Silver, 2024 SF Chronicle International Wine Competition.

My Review: I did not capture detailed tasting notes on this wine. It was interesting and tasty, with some cherry notes on the palate. I recall liking this one better than most Central Coast Grenache wines, which can sometimes seem boring. June 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

“COME VISIT OAKHURST’S FIRST WINERY & TASTE OUR MEDITERRANEAN-INFLUENCED AND HANDCRAFTED FOOD & WINE”

“We are open for wine tasting Thursday-Saturdays from 11am until 5pm, and Sundays, 10am until 2 pm. Our Kitchen is open for lunch service as well, Thursdays-Saturdays, 12pm-4 pm, Dinner service Thursdays-Saturdays, 5pm-8pm and Sunday Brunch from 10am-2pm. Call (559) 760-9090 for more information.”

Check their Facebook page @IdleHourWine for the latest info!

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Get the Scoop Here: A Preview of Rombi New Releases!

THE STORY

A little birdie told me that Sal Rombi will be showcasing some new releases in his tasting room THIS WEEKEND (August 24-25)!  And guess what?  I had a special box in our wine room given to me by Sal with these wines! After the fun we had guessing the Mystery Wine in July, we got the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod back together to preview the Rombi new releases.  It’s a tough job – somebody’s got to do it.

ABOUT ROMBI WINES

“Since 2006, hands-on winemaking that reflects a unique sense of place”

“Wine is a gift from nature, and every bottle produced at Rombi Wines tells a story of the land, the geography, the climate, and the hands-on philosophy of one man. Salvatore Rombi takes winemaking personally, obsessing over every detail — from harvest to barrel aging — to produce a unique range of elegant yet bold and complex red wines from the Carmel Valley Appellation. Rombi’s small vineyard and intimate tasting room provide the perfect setting for an unforgettable wine journey. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a strict allegiance to sustainable farming practices, Rombi creates award-winning, limited-production vintages. As an ode to terroir — the rock and soil, but also the land and legacy, culture and commitment, time and tradition — the wines from Rombi are always bottled poetry.”

THE WINES: Rombi New Releases

Today I’m bringing you 4 wines, 3 new to this website.  Of these 4 wines, only 3 of them will be part of the Rombi new releases this weekend.  These wines were gifted to me. I will always tell you when a wine has been gifted to me. As a not-for-profit blog that I fund myself, the occasional gifted bottle means a lot to me.  Thank you, Sal.

In addition to Monday’s post on the 2011 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, I have written up Rombi Wines several times in Decanting Monterey – just type “Rombi” in the search bar.

All of these wines (except for the Petite Sirah) were opened early and single decanted. We sadly did not decant the Petite Sirah.  That makes twice we’ve tried this wine without decanting.  One must always decant or even double decant a Rombi wine! The Decanting Monterey Wine Pod collaborated on the reviews.  Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2021 Rombi Merlot, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $65 (#1424) (new release!)

My Review: Deep purple in color with cedar, blueberry, blackberry and violets on the palate.  So good: a big blue punch with graphite notes on the finish. This wine was not fruit forward, soft yet stubborn in the middle (“brooding”) with lingering tannins. Leather and cigar paper flavors on the finish, along with lingering fruit and nutmeg notes.  It reminds us of a Languedoc. “It taste like Carmel Valley smells.” Very drinkable now, but think how great this wine will be in five years! August 2024

2021 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#1425) (Sadly, this wine will not be among the new releases.  We will all have to be very patient to taste this beauty!)

My Review: This wine is so good. It’s darker red in the glass than the Merlot. Has a nose of plum and allspice with a hint of cedar and dried orange peel. The palate has notes of pepper and herbes de Provence with a round mouth feel. At this young age, the tannins leave a very dry palate. It finishes with fig and cassis flavors. This wine is stupendous. It will age into one tremendous wine. August 2024

2019 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#1426) (new release!)

My Review: The nose has a touch of barnyard (we had a debate about this descriptor), a little woody with some pepper and blackberry notes. The palate is mouth-filling with blackberry and pepper flavors and a hint of licorice. This wine is tight, but opens up into a rich wine – a classic Rombi. This will age into a really good wine. Buy now and HOLD. August 2024.

2018 Rombi Petite Sirah, Napa Valley AVA, Napa County, 14.1% ABV, $75 (#1128) (new release!)

My Review: This was the evening’s bonus wine, so it was not decanted. Always a mistake. Rombi wines must be decanted.  Late in the evening, our notes were not as extensive: Very dark purple in color. Dried fig, cigarettes and a touch of barnyard on the nose. Super rich, big palate. This wine comes off a little hot, yet is an extremely tasty wine. Next time I get my hands on one of these, we are decanting it! August 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

If you are around, be sure to stop by this weekend and taste the Rombi new releases!

Taste Award-Winning Vintages at Rombi Wines:

“At Rombi Wines, our unique tasting room provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable experience. Salvatore Rombi is most often on hand to guide you through the winemaking process and your tasting experience. Step off the beaten path and discover Rombi, where every bottle tells a story.

“Rombi Wines Tasting Room is at 1 Center St., in the charming Carmel Valley Village. We are open Saturdays and Sundays from noon–5 p.m., although appointments can be made for weekday visits.”

(831) 659-7200

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

“Mystery Wine” Stumps Wine Pod with a Sensational Rombi!

THE STORY -The Mystery Wine Game!

A fun, little bonus post for your Monday morning! After many spring and summer travels, the Decanting Monterey Wine Pod was finally reunited in late July. And what would a Wine Pod gathering be if we didn’t have a Mystery Wine? This is a game we play regularly.  Here’s the usual format:

  • Old World or New World?
  • Which Country or Region?
  • What varietal or blend?
  • What winery?
  • What vintage?  (yes, sometimes we can even guess the vintage)

So, on this particular evening, the Mystery Wine game went like this:

  • Old World or New World: Our friend guessed Old World and I was convinced it was New World.
  • From which region and what varietal? Our friend guessed French Bordeaux; I guessed Napa Cabernet Sauvignon or Cab blend.
  • What vintage? He guessed an older vintage and I thought it was younger than that.

Our impressions of this mystery wine were much more aligned – a fantastic nose – filled to the brim with dark fruit and lusciousness.  The palate was quite rich with forest floor and cedar, finishing with some tannins – nicely structured.We all agreed that this was an amazing wine.

The Big Reveal:  The mystery wine was the 2011 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon from the Carmel Valley AVA! We were stunned and amazed at how wonderful this wine is drinking! I often say we shouldn’t be tempted to drink Sal Rombi’s wines too early – they need to be held – and double decanted. And it was marvelous.

I’ve written up this wine twice before, but, when Sal Rombi gifted us another bottle, who could resist? Yes, I will always tell you when a wine has been gifted to me. As an all-volunteer blog that I fund myself, the occasional gifted bottle means a lot to me.  Thank you, Sal.

I have written up Rombi Wines several times in Decanting Monterey – just type “Rombi” in the search bar. The most recent post is here: Sal Rombi’s Big Reds Impress the Monterey AWS!  

ABOUT ROMBI WINES

Since 2006, hands-on winemaking that reflects a unique sense of place

“Wine is a gift from nature, and every bottle produced at Rombi Wines tells a story of the land, the geography, the climate, and the hands-on philosophy of one man. Salvatore Rombi takes winemaking personally, obsessing over every detail — from harvest to barrel aging — to produce a unique range of elegant yet bold and complex red wines from the Carmel Valley Appellation. Rombi’s small vineyard and intimate tasting room provide the perfect setting for an unforgettable wine journey. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a strict allegiance to sustainable farming practices, Rombi creates award-winning, limited-production vintages. As an ode to terroir — the rock and soil, but also the land and legacy, culture and commitment, time and tradition — the wines from Rombi are always bottled poetry.”

THE MYSTERY WINE

In today’s post I will present a single Rombi wine. I’ve written up this wine a couple of times before:  Rombi: Bold, Distinctive Fruit Wrapped in Elegance  and more recently here: At Rombi, It is More than Just the Exceptional Wine!  Any errors are mine and mine alone. Any quotes come from the winery’s website.

Sometime back, I asked Sal about the 2011 growing season.  He indicated it was a good season – one in which “nothing weird” happened.  This was also his 5th year of production, so he felt he was really hitting his stride.  He also reminded me that one must always decant his wines!

I am posting 3 different impressions/experiences of this wine – the recent one first!

2011 Rombi Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14.1% ABV, $85 (#100) (Home Library)

My Current 2024 Review: This wine was opened before the event and was decanted. We smelled cassis, stewed prunes, black pepper, Coca Cola and some tobacco on the delightful big nose of darkness. On the palate: forest floor and cedar mingle with the rich, dark fruit palate. Finishes with some tobacco – the tannins holding up to give this wine a nice structure.  We single decanted this wine and tasted it blind.  It pays to hold onto these wines!  His carefully-tended, tiny vineyard produces fabulous fruit, followed by Sal’s expert winemaking. We all thought this mystery wine was beautiful. July 2024

My July 2020 Review: Beautiful deep ruby color. After it opened up, plum and cassis backed by complex tannins on the nose.  Cherry and some tartness on the palate, with the acidity balanced out by lovely round, dark berry fruit flavors. It finishes dry, dotted with spearmint and tobacco notes. Next time, we will decant this wine as he recommends!  This is an excellent Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – delicious fruit. July 2020

My Comments from My September 2022 Tasting: Tasting notes remained the same. However, we only single decanted and aerated this wine, but it would have benefited from being double decanted and double aerated. We really had to let this wine open up before we experienced the delicious, distinctive fruit we remembered from his 2015 vintage.  Sal reminded me that one must always, always decant his wines. We should know better by now!  After it fully opened up and also on day 2, this was still drinking deliciously. September 2022

THE TASTING ROOM

Taste Award-Winning Vintages at Rombi Wines:

“At Rombi Wines, our unique tasting room provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable experience. Salvatore Rombi is most often on hand to guide you through the winemaking process and your tasting experience. Step off the beaten path and discover Rombi, where every bottle tells a story.

“Rombi Wines Tasting Room is at 1 Center St., in the charming Carmel Valley Village. We are open Saturdays and Sundays from noon–5 p.m., although appointments can be made for weekday visits.”

(831) 659-7200

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Parsonage Takes Wine Education to a New Level!

THE STORY

I enjoy being a member of a winery that takes wine education to a new level. This summer, Parsonage offered its members 3 different events to expand their knowledge of wines: a cheese pairing, a blending class, and a vineyard walk. I did the vineyard walk last year, and was excited to participate in the cheese pairing in June and the blending class with winemaker Frank Melicia in July.

The cheese pairing was so enjoyable – sip delicious wines perfectly paired with scrumptious cheeses – what’s not to love! The blending class, well, that was work – and very fun. Let me start with that!

It was advertised as “Learn how to blend wines and have a great time while you’re at it! Winemaker & son-in-law, Frank Melicia, will walk you through the basics of blending and then you’ll experiment with your own blends.” What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon – pretending to be a winemaker! This was so much fun that I’d love to do it again!

I invited along my good friend Erin from tèr·ra·ve·nos.  As a true “garagista”herself and having recently earned her WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine, she was the perfect partner to give our team some confidence in what we were doing.

THE WINE BLENDING EVENT – Taking Wine Education to a New Level

The Set-Up

We walked into the Parsonage barrel room/winery and found 4 named bottles of wine on each table.  They were named John, Paul, Ringo, and George.  Hm…not only were we blending wines, but this was going to be a blind blending – we would not even know the varietals we were blending! The intent was not to let our preconceived notions of the varietal to influence our blend.  Cool!

We picked a table and were joined by Laurel and Adrien – it was nice to get to know them and they were eager to get to our task.  With a little guidance from Frank and a form on our table suggesting we should attempt 10 different blends, we got to work.

Step 1: What Are We Working With?

First we tasted the wine in each of the bottles on our table and made general notes about it – we had no real consensus on what any of them were:

  • John: Tart and dry, cranberry notes and bright in character. Cranberry makes me think of Grenache, but maybe it was a Pinot?
  • Paul:  Dark in color, this was a big wine with bacon and spices on the nose and palate.  Oaky, structured tannins and high alcohol. My guess was that this was a Syrah.
  • Ringo: Light in color, transluscent, not as strong as Paul.  Softer, yet still oaky.  My guess was Grenache but there was no consensus. Some thought it was a Pinot Noir. Whatever it was, we didn’t really like it, especially tasting it after Paul.
  • George: This was a big red, dry with peppery notes and a touch stemmy.  We thought this might be a Cabernet Sauvignon or maybe a Petit Verdot.

Step 2: Playing with Blending

The consensus at our table was that we preferred Paul and George and focused our blends primarily on those two wines.  We played with adding different amounts of the lighter John and Ringo throughout our 10 tries. I won’t go through all of them, but just the first few.

Blend #1: The first blend we tried was 50/50 Paul and George.  This made for a big wine, but the nose and the palate were dull.

Blend #2: We played it safe and lowered the blend to 45% Paul and 45% George to make room for 10% John. This wine was still a big wine, but brighter on the palate, more appealing. The tannins were more balanced and we all generally felt we would want to drink this wine.

Blends #3 & 4: We changed the ratio of Paul and George to 60/30 for Blend 3 and flipped that to 30/60 Paul and George in Blend 4, maintaining 10% John. #3 was more floral and tart, receiving an overall “eh” review.  #4 was dusty, oaky and just dropped off – a resounding NO.

Blends 5-10: We kept playing with different, even moving John and Ringo to the prominent blends, which yielded interesting results:

  • Blend 7 was 30% John, 10% Paul, 50% Ringo, and 10% George, resulting in an approachable blend with a spicy nose, cinnamon notes, and bubblegum – a good blend.
  • Blend 9 was 7% John, 45% Paul, 3% Ringo and 45% George – which yielded a very balanced, mid-palate-focused blend.

Step 3: Decision and Submission Time

We revisited #2 Blend again to ensure we still liked it the best.  We named our team The Red Ringers and our wine, the 2022 Parsonality. We proudly submitted it  – having fun with Frank Melicia. “We love it, yeah, yeah, yeah!”

THE RESULTS

The Winning Team!

Once all the wines were submitted. Frank did a quick taste of each one and declared the winner. Hard to believe it wasn’t us!  My notes are a little confusing, but I believe the winning blend was 35% John, 53% Paul and 12% George.  I think the second runner up was 5% John, 65% Paul, and 30% George. Ringo seemed universally dissed!  Congrats to the winning teams!

Second Place!!

Finally, Frank revealed the wines:

  • John was a field blend of Bordeaux grapes. (We didn’t guess that at all.)
  • Paul was indeed a Syrah from Cedar Lane Vineyard.  Of course it was. I got that one right.
  • Ringo was a Grenache – I had thought so, but not with strong confidence.
  • George was a Merlot!  None of us guessed Merlot! Of course that is why we liked it.

THE CHEESE PAIRING AND THE WINES

I am presenting 4 Parsonage wines from the cheese pairing event. You can see the delicious cheese pairing in the tasting menu below. Winery notes come from their website or the tasting menu. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a practice, I don’t correct typos from winery websites.

I’ve presented Parsonage wines to you many times.  Just type Parsonage in the search bar of any page on the Decanting Monterey website.

2021 Parsonage Rosé of Grenache, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $32 (#1417)

Winery Notes: “Another spectacular bouquet of candied violets, star anise, bubble gum, and your favorite perfume. Delicious mouthful of ripe strawberry, mulberry, red currant with a hint of orange zest in this off-dry marvel!”

My Review: I didn’t take any notes – it was a lovely wine which paired well with the cheese! We’ve enjoyed this wine a few times this summer.

2021 Parsonage The BDL, Central Coast AVA, 15% ABV, $44 (#1418)

Winery Notes: “Our Bordeax-esque beauty made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

“For you who fell in love with the 2020 BDL (and you were legion), you won’t be disappointed in the ‘21. Its nose has the same come hither effect as the exotic sultry ‘20. A unique bouquet arises in the ‘21 from a mysterious floral-spice entanglement. The luscious dark currant-plum-mulberry melange of the ‘20 is invigorated by ripe black raspberry. The elegant mouthfeel is fuller and rounder extending the satisfyingly delicious finish!”

My Review: Pretty garnet in color.  A nice nose of dark fruits. Very tasty palate of bright and dark fruits with a spearmint finish. We like this wine. Took some home and served it at a birthday celebration – it was a huge hit! I have to say that this is my favorite vintage of The BDL.  June 2024

2021 Parsonage Wild Card, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $40 (#1312)

Winery Notes: “This iteration of the beloved Wildcard, our preposterous melange of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Grenache, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir, will rock your world.

“The nose is a fragrant and seductive melange of exotic spices, wild flowers, boysenberry, and cranberry. The palate is marked by cedar notes and blueberry with a vibrant backdrop of red and black fruit in this medium-plus mouthfeel beauty….”

My Review: Cinnamon and brown sugar on the nose. Pretty tasty. Cinnamon and crushed blueberry on the palate. This wine is still young but shows great promise. June 2024

2013 Parsonage Estate Syrah (Library Wine), Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $122 (#1419)

Winery Notes: “Bright nose of brambleberries & smoked bacon. Lush mouth feel with dark fruit, plum, umami, grilled meats and an olallieberry burst on the finish.”

My Review: Deep garnet in color.  Dark fruit on the nose – really yummy. The palate is leaner than the nose. Paired very well with dark chocolate sea salt truffles from Pieces of Heaven. Thank you for sharing this library wine! June 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

Parsonage is open for tastings every day – click here for the details and to make a reservation.  Hours: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm. Last seating for wine tasting: 4:15pm. You can obtain their wines directly from the winery here or at their tasting room located at19 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. 

© Decanting Monterey 2024

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Please Vote Now for Decanting Monterey!

Best Local Blog of Monterey County!

THE STORY

Loyal Fans:  Thanks to each and every one of you, Decanting Monterey once again was nominated for Best Local Blog of Monterey County!! We are 1 of 5 finalists for this category.  I am so thankful and humbled by this nomination. 

Now I ask that you take the important next step:  Please vote now for Decanting Monterey, a labor of love to help educate others about our local vintners and their wines. For 4 years, I have been bringing you my personal experiences to broaden the world’s view of Monterey wines.

VOTING IS OPEN – Vote Now for Decanting Monterey!!

From Aug 1-Aug 21, voting is open here: Best of Monterey County MC Weekly. 

You may need to register with name, email and zip code, but you can also skip that part and just vote. 

Please click on the photo for “Around Town,” then search for Best Local Blog and vote now for Decanting Monterey. 

You will need to vote for 19 other local spots to submit your vote – please look around and make your favorite picks!  You can always ask me for suggestions!!

OTHER VOTING SUGGESTIONS

Here are some wine-related suggestions:

AGRICULTURE:

  • Best Specialty Crop: Wine grapes

  • Best Cash Crops: Wine Grapes

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE:

  • Best Winery to Visit: Your choice

  • Best Tasting Room: Your choice

  • Best Selection of Wines by the Glass: Your choice

RESTAURANTS:

  • Best Wine List: Your choice

  • Best Sommelier: Your choice

SPECIALTY FOODS:

  • Best Local White Wine: Your choice

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  • Best Local Rosé: Your choice

SHOPPING AND SERVICES:

  • Best Wine Market: Your choice

Thank you so much, again, for your nomination and your vote! I couldn’t do this without you! AND DON’T FORGET TO VOTE NOW FOR DECANTING MONTEREY – THE DEADLINE IS AUGUST 21!!

Monterey County Wines

Most Sincerely,

Central Coast Sharon

© Decanting Monterey 2024

WINE ADVENTURES IN CROATIA BY SEA – POST #2!

THE STORY

This week I am continuing our wine adventures in Croatia from my recent trip with Expanding Horizons and Idle Hour Winery & Kitchen. Please read last week’s post for more about our trip and for the wines we tasted during our first week.  I’ve heavily relied on a website called Wine and More, which is an excellent resource on Croatian wines, their unique varietals, and even planning your trip! Plus, I’ve put information on how to locate and purchase Croatian wines at the end of this post, so keep reading!

Today’s post is about the wines we tasted during our second week, after we got on our private yacht – tasted either on the boat itself or on land at wineries or restaurants. From Split, we went island hopping to Hvar, Vis, and Korčula, and finally back to the mainland to Slano, ending up in Dubrovnik. Next week, I’ll bring you the Idle Hour wines we tasted throughout our adventure. 

Once we boarded the Aurelia, our luxurious Katerina Lines yacht, our Croatian wine experiences this included wines available on the yacht, a winery tour on land, various dinners on land, and a Croatian wine tasting on board hosted by our Idle Hour host, Anna Marie Dos Remedios.

As I mentioned last week, some of the standout Croatian varietals included the white grapes of Malvazija Istarka and Graševina (at times thought to be Riesling) and the red grapes of Teran and Plavac Mali. The delicious red grape Plavac Mali (“little blue”} was long considered to be related to Zinfandel, but in fact, Kastelanski Crljenak, and Tribidrag are the true DNA relatives of California Zinfandel.  You can read more on this controversy HERE.

My Disclaimer: I’m no expert in Croatian wines, so I’m bound to get lots of facts wrong as I try to talk about our experiences and the wines.

WINE ADVENTURES IN CROATIA BY SEA – THE WINES

HVAR

Zlatan Otok: According to Vinum USA: “In 1991 Zlatan Otok winery became the second private winery in Croatia after the country declared its independence. Established by Zlatan Plenković in a picturesque fishing village called Sveta Nedjelja on the Island of Hvar, today Zlatan Otok one of the largest private wineries in Croatia.”

2019 Zlatan Plavac, ZOI Cental and South Dalmatia, 14% ABV, $28 US (#1382)

Winery Notes: “This is wine of dark ruby colour, nice smell and powerful taste that lasts. Wine of rich, layered aromas with notes of Dalmatian herbs, spices and dark fruits like blueberries and plums. It is complex, full-body wine with beautiful accented tannins, well-balanced freshness and alcohol. Wine of exceptional presence on the palate that leaves no one indifferent.”

My Review: We purchased this wine on the boat for enjoyment several evenings in a row.  I can’t believe we didn’t take notes! We recall it being ok.

VIS

Lipanovic Winery: On the island and town of Vis, we walked up a hill to the Lipanović winery housed in the former Yugoslav military tunnels which housed generators to fuel a secret base.  There we tasted the Croatian grapes of Vugava and Plavac Mali grown on the island.  I’ve linked the winery notes in the wine name, but they appear to be for different vintages than what we tasted. Still worth reading!

2023 Lipanović Viški Opol (Rose of Plavac Mali), Vis, Visko Vinogorje Locality Plisko Polje, 13% ABV $10 (#1383)

Winery Notes (2021): “The Vis Opol is a Dalmatian wine with rosy cheeks and a cult status. It is made from the ubiquitous plavac mali grapes. The strong fruity taste and aroma make it the best choice for opening dinners to remember. On hot summer days it glides down your throat like divine nectar so you can (and will!) sip it from brunch to bed. But don’t be fooled by its beautiful pink color as this is not a rosé wine: The Vis Opol is made by extremely short maceration, only five or six hours long!”

My Review: Despite the relatively short maceration of 4-6 hrs, it is still rather dark for a rose. Refreshing summer wine. Grapes and slight cherry notes on the nose. It tastes more alcohol than it is, a bit like a sherry. June 2024

2023 Lipanović Vugava, Vis, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 15.2% ABV, $13 (#1384)

Winery Notes (2021): “For thousands of years, Vugava Viška, the queen of wine, has thrived surrounded by the sea and sun-kissed by the Mediterranean sun, a labor of love on an island far from the Croatian mainland. It is characterized by a wonderful natural golden yellow color. Its scent is specific, varied, unobtrusive, pleasant, deep and full. This is a beautifully aged wine with fruity aromas of vineyard peaches, intermingled with the aromas of almonds and oranges, and featuring light notes of rowan, candied orange peel and roasted almonds.”

My Review: A special white wine reminiscent of a Viognier. Pears and apples on the nose. Alcohol is visible on the palate.  A dry wine, with some sweetness to it. Could use a touch of acidity. June 2024

2019 Lipanović Plavac Mali, Vis, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 16% ABV, $31 (#1385)

Winery Notes: “There are a lot of plavac wines, but you won’t find one like this anywhere. Only the plavac mali from Vis is immersed in the sandy soil with deep horizons, which enriches the grapes with the moisture from below in periods when not a drop of rain falls on the island. It is characterized by a deep ruby color, irresistibly pleasant pungency, flaming aromas of overripe dark fruit and an incredibly long finish in the mouth. Did we mention that its strength never falls below 15.1%? No wonder, for only the strong survive on an island!”

My Review: Grown in sandy soil, this wine has a deep ruby color.  Olives and spice with cherry notes and a hint of sulfur. Dry and full bodied, with pepper and earthy notes. Fruity up front and smooth. Very dry on the finish. June 2024

Lunch on the boat was always an opportunity to try some more Croatian wines!

Dvanajščak-Kozol Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir), Okrugli VRH Medimurje (#1386)

My Review: Dried cherry on the nose. Quite tart at first sip, with a little zip to it. Earthy dark plum flavors and more pronounced oak than we might typically see in a US Pinot Noir. June 2024

2018 Dom Kalebić Fameja, Otok Solta, Dalmatian Coast (#1387) Plavac Mali, Tribidrag, Dobričić

My Review: A blend of Zinfandel-related Wines. Dark in the glass. Raisiny on the nose, with stewed prunes and espresso notes. Tasty, with bitter dark chocolate, black ground pepper and mint flavors on the palate.  Very smooth, with a dry finish – a Sharon kind of wine. June 2024

MLJET

On the island of Mljet, we took the crew’s recommendation to eat at the highly rated Konoba Galija. The upstairs location added an elegance, along with amazing sunset views.  We chose one red and one white to accompany our diverse meal.

Matuško Plavac Mali, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 12.5% ABV, $20 (#1388)

My Notes: Dusty, chocolate milk on the nose with light plum flavors. Lower alcohol. June 2024

Konobu “Galija” Pošip, OPC Juko Peselj, Korčula, 13.5% ABV (#1389)

My Notes:  Honey, lemon and minerality on the nose. Full of flavor on the palate with a salt water twist at the end. June 2024

CROATIAN WINE TASTING ON THE BOAT: One evening, our host, Anna Marie, did an excellent tasting for us of four Croatian wines which she had selected and brought on the boat:

2022 Vinerija Dingač Plavac Mali, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 12.5% ABV, $20/$35 US (#1390)

Potomac Wines: “This is the most traditional wine among our offerings from the famed Dingač vineyard on the steep coast in Southern Dalmatia. No barrique (oak) was used, only the best Plavac Mali fruit fermented and matured in large barrels. The winery stopped using donkeys to haul the harvested grapes some time ago. They advanced from workers in the field to mascots on the label.”

My Notes: Arriving late from dinner, we almost missed this wine in the Croatian wine tasting.  Anyway, I enjoy a good Plavac Mali! June 2024

2021 Kastel Sikuli Kaštelanski Crljenak, ZOI Coastal Croatia, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#1391)

About Kastel Sikuli: “Kastel Sikuli is a family boutique winery that has been producing wine since 2019., ie the 2018 harvest. The winery owns a vineyard in Kaštel Novi on 13.000 square meters and two smaller vineyards in dalmatian inland with 3000 vines…”

Winery Notes (not vintage-specific): “Completely ruby ​​color. At the beginning, the aroma is dominated by spices, pepper, vanilla, prunes, later aromas of red berries, mostly blueberries, develop. In the taste of prunes and berries, dried figs in the aftertaste. The tannins are velvety, the finish is dry, medium to long. The freshness is nicely expressed. Serious wine, which will show itself in full glory with the passage of time, the potential for aging for at least 3 to 5 years.”

My Notes: This tasted the closest to an American Zinfandel of all the Croatian wines we have tasted. I liked this wine – perhaps my favorite of the entire journey. June 2024

2019 Grgić Plavac Mali, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 15.5% ABV, $49 (#1392)

Winery Notes (about the 2016 Vintage): “The grapes of this wine have been selected from the best wineyards in the well-known locations of Dingac and Postup on the Pelješac peninsula. The wine has been produced according to the methods of Miljenko Grgić and under his supervision. He is known in California and in the world as one of the best producer of Chardonnay and Zinfandel. The fermentation of the grapes has been done with naturals yeast but at a controlled temperature which help to keep much of the wine’s variety character and fruitness. After the fermentation the wine has been aging for 15 months in special oak barrels imported from France. The wine received a pleasant oak aroma from the barrels. The process has continued for two years in 0,75L bottles, where the aromas married and harmonized and flavor softened….It is with gentle tannins and pleasant blackberry and Dalmatian flowers aromas.

My Notes: Upon opening, this was a big, rough and alcoholic raisiny wine.  It readily opened up, releasing dark, jammy fruit with spearmint on the finish. For many participants, this was their favorite wine of the tasting. June 2024

2021 Rizman Tribidrag, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 13.5% ABV, $26 (#1393) 85% Tribidrag (Zinfandel) and 15% Tempranillo – a unique combo!

Winery Notes: “Forward and expressive showing an abundance of ripe dark brambly fruits, raisins and prunes as well as dried herbs and sweet spices. On the palate it is well structured, displays ripe and juicy fruit underpinned by balancing freshness, followed by lovely complexity.”

My Notes: Super dark in the glass. Licorice on the nose. Grilled peppers and fresh tobacco on the palate. Dark and smokey. We liked this wine. June 2024

AND ANOTHER BOAT LUNCH WITH CROATIAN WINES:

2022 Zlatno Brdo Graševina, Baranja, 13% ABV (#1394)

About Graševina: I encourage you to click the link to learn more about Graševina, as it is the most planted grape in Croatia and was long considered to be related to Riesling, but turns out to be yet another uniquely Croatian grape!

My Notes:  This was our introduction to the Grasevina grape – nice full bodied white grass on the nose. Lots of citrus orange and lemon with tons of minerality. June 2024

Tomić Petar Hektorović Dessert Wine, Hvar, ZOI Central and South Dalmatia, 15.5% ABV, $29 (#1395)

Winery Notes: “Tomić Prošek Hectorovich U.V. on Vivino Prošek is an authentic Croatian dessert wine, made using dried grapes of the finest indigenous Dalmatian varieties. Prošek is a natural sweet wine that originated in the coast…” Made in the same style as a Vin Santo.

My Notes: Curry and caramel on the nose, carrying over to the palate. Very interesting. Better than any other dessert wine or firewater we had on this trip. June 2024

A fun menu in Slon!

2023 Kutjevo Graševina, Slavonija, 13% ABV, $29 (#1396)

Winery Notes: “High quality graševina is the brand of the Kutjevo winery. Grape selection comes from the best apellations of the Kutjevo wine region – Hrnjevac, Vetovo and Vinkomir. Fresh, harmonious and citrus-flavored aromas with hints of green apples and a powerful minerality, long aftertaste that opens the notes of chamomile are charachteristic to this wine.”

My Notes: This was a good quality Graševina which presented more acidic with good minerality. We enjoyed this chilled wine on a hot evening before our last dinner. June 2024

WHERE TO BUY CROATIAN WINES

We had plenty of opportunities to taste Croatian liquors and brandies.

FROM CROATIA DIRECTLY:

A couple of major foreign shops which might export these wines for a fee (might be as much as $20/bottle to get them through customs!!):

Blue Lagoon
Fancy rose-infused drink presentation in Dubrovnik!

US WINE SHOPS:

My searches found a number of US shops selling Croatian wines, which they can ship to you. 1,000 Corks is also a useful resource.

  • High Times Wines in Costa Mesa has the Grgić Plavac Mali along with a number of other Croatian wines – probably the best collection in California.
  • K&L Wine Merchants carries some (for us Californians).
  • Potomac Wines carries the Vinerija Dingač Plavac Mali we had in the tasting plus a few other Croatian wines.
  • Astor Wines in NYC has a good selection and great prices.
  • I found the Zlatan Otok Plavac from Yannis winery via Vivino here!
  • And Plum Market online also has a large selection!
  • The Liquor Junction in Massachusetts has the Volarević Plavac Mali I liked so much from dinner with our friends in Split.

If anyone has any other knowledge on finding Croatian wines in the US, please leave a comment!

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Wine Adventures in Croatia – By Land and By Sea!!

When we were first approached by Anna Marie Dos Remedios, co-owner and winemaker at Idle Hour Winery & Kitchen, about going on some wine adventures in Croatia, I got pretty excited. We had a marvelous experience with Expanding Horizons once before and Croatia has looked so beautiful from the pictures of many friends. Plus, fun fact: I studied Serbo-Croatian literature in college! So I am stepping away from California’s Central Coast for the next 2 weeks to talk about another country’s coastal wines!

I didn’t know much about Croatian wines, but we were so pleasantly surprised by the quality and diversity of the exceptional wine experiences we encountered during our two-week trip. We spent one week traveling by bus to the Plešivica wine region, the Plitvice Lakes National Park, and the Istrian Peninsula before making our way down the coast to Zadar and Split. From there, we boarded the Aurelia, our private Katerina Lines yacht, island hopping to Hvar, Vis, Korčula, back to the mainland at Slano, and finally ending up in Dubrovnik.

I found a couple of good overview articles about Croatian wine: A Top to Bottom Tour of Croatia’s Wine-Soaked Coastline and Croatian Wine – Everything You Need to Know. The second reference is for a website called Wine and More, which is an excellent resource on Croatian wines, their unique varietals, and even planning your trip!

Although we got to know Croatian wines during our trip, but we got to know them them fairly well during our visit. I’m bound to get lots of facts wrong as I try to talk about our experiences and the wines. My reviews have at times been colorfully supplemented by our traveling partners, whom I have named the Decanting-Monterey-in-Croatia Wine Pod. 😊

Some of the standout varietals included the white grapes of Malvazija Istarka and Graševina, and the red grapes of Teran and Plavac Mali. The delicious red grape Plavac Mali (“little blue”) was long considered to be related to Zinfandel, but in fact, Kastelanski Crljenak, and Tribidrag are the true DNA relatives of California Zinfandel.  You can read more on this controversy HERE.

Sadly, we learned that many Croatian wines are not exported to the US and it seems the wineries do not directly ship here. Thank you, COVID. There are a couple of overseas websites where you can order directly, but they will have to add on about $20/bottle for shipping and US customs!  But, if you hunt hard enough (I did!), you will find several US wine shops that carry and ship Croatian wines, thus saving you some of the added cost. Be sure to read next week’s post where I’ll tell you all about it!

I’ll be breaking this experience into 3 posts:  Wines we consumed while on the mainland, ones we tasted after we got on the yacht, and the Idle Hour wines from California we tasted throughout our adventure. I will include links to the wineries where I can find them. To save space, I’ll try to provide links where you can find the winery descriptions of their wines. ZOI is the abbreviation for Zaštićena oznaka izvornoti (Protected mark originality – the wine region it is from). I found this informative map of the major Croatian wine regions on Wine Folly:

Here we go!

WINE ADVENTURES IN CROATIA – BY LAND

ZAGREB

Our friends who joined us on this trip had traveled far and wide to end up in Zagreb the Le Premier Hotel. Since none of us live close to each other, we decided to meet up in the hotel bar for a kick-off celebration before dinner.

Tomac Diplomat Extra Brut, ZOI Plešivica, 12.5% ABV, $37 (#1361) 100% Chardonnay

My Review: Tiny bubbles in the glass.  Pink grapefruit up front with a square body. Very balanced in flavors with a slightly yeasty finish. May 2024

Our first group dinner was at the restaurant Kapitolska Klet, where we enjoyed these wines:

2019 Korlat Syrah, ZOI Dalmatian Hinterland, 13.5% ABV, $15 (#1362)

My Review: Inky in the glass. Crushed berries on the nose. Dark flavors on the palate with prune and stem notes. Smooth tannins on the finish. A very dark wine. May 2024

2019 Matuško Dingač, ZOI Peljesac Peninsula, Central and South Dalmatia, 14.5% ABV  $21 (#1363)

2019 Matuško Dingač

My Review: Berries including strawberry on the nose.  This wine elicited a “wow” from our table. Tons of heavy dark fruit, vanilla and maple on the finish.  Has some dessert wine qualities – in a good way. Tastes high alcohol. May 2024

2023 Kozlović Muškat Momjanski, ZOI West Istria, 12% $16 (#1364) Semisweet

My Review: Pale in the glass. Lychee on the nose. A touch of sweetness and vaguely citrusy on the palate.  Not cloying and presented slightly fizzy. Could be more acidic and colder. May 2024

KORAK FAMILY ESTATE

Our first winery visit was Korak Family Estate, outside of Zagreb along the Pleševice Wine Road.  They make elegant Burgundian varietals which can be sampled along with a Michelin Star lunch! That was such a great start to our trip.  The setting was lovely and the small winery produced delicious wines. I would highly recommend this experience if you are near Zagreb. You can find winery notes for these wines here.

NV Korak Family Estate Brut Nature, Laškovec i Križevac, ZOI Plešivica, 12.5% ABV, $27 (#1365) 50% Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir) & 50% Chardonnay

My Review: Fine bubbles crisp and delicious. Graphite, mineral, not a lot of distinctive flavor. Served with sourdough bread, sourdough bread chips, fresh cheese, butter and cured meat. May 2024

2023 Korak Rajnski Rizling (Rhine Riesling), Laškovec, ZOI Plešivica 12.5% ABV, $24 (#1366)

My Review: Pale golden. A slightly sweet nose of pear and honeysuckle. Surprisingly acidic. Made in a style to be very fresh. As it warmed up, lemon curd. The wine was nicely paired with a green bean/prosciutto dish with a bitter orange cream sauce. May 2024

2022 Korak Sur Lie Chardonnay, Laškovec, ZOI Plešivica, 14% ABV, $29 (#1367)

My Review: Golden and viscous in the glass. Candied pineapple, melon, pear, and oak on the fresh nose. Lemon-infused butterscotch. Sweet pineapple and pop rocks on the palate with a long finish. A lot going on. Very tasty. Our favorite so far. Served with black tortellini filled with fresh ricotta with sliced dried garlic and peppered with truffles. May 2024

2023 Korak Sauvignon Blanc, Kamenice, ZOI Plešivica 13% ABV, $27 (#1368)

My Review: Pale yellow in the glass. Grassy pineapple on the nose. Citrus on the finish. Accompanied by peas in a smoked beurre blanc. May 2024

2022 Korak Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir), Krizevac i Cimbuscak, ZOI Plešivica, 13.5% ABV, $27 (#1369)

My Review: Light cherry and rose petal with a hint of cinnamon, vanilla and clove on the nose. A palate of light cherry and red berries with a peppery/cinnamon dry finish accompanied by soft tannins. Accompanied by smoked and roasted squab breast with horseradish and spices plum and onion chutney. May 2024

ON THE MOVE TO PLITVICE LAKES

On our way to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, we stopped for lunch at Ambar Restaurant where we enjoyed 2 wines:

NV Kolarić Coletti Brut Blanc, ZOI Plešivica (#1370)

My Review: Active bubbles and champagne color in the glass.  A yeasty nose.  We all guessed this was made sur lie for sure. May 2024

2018 Adžic Vallis Aurea Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir), ZOI Vinogorje Kutjevo, Slavonija, 13.5% ABV, $15 (#1371)

My Review: Wood and dark fruit including some cherry on the nose.  Nose follows over to the palate. May 2024

ISTRIAN PENINSULA

Our first night in Opatija, we experienced an amazing sea-front dinner at the Bevanda Restaurant. The sommelier stopped by to tell us about each wine. You can read more about varietals from the Istrian Peninsula in these Decanter articles: Istrian Authenticity: 15 Malvazija and Teran wines to try and Istria for wine lovers.

Franković Stella Brut Sparkling Wine, ZOI Istria, $17 (#1372) Malvasia and Chardonnay

My Review: Pale in the glass. Wet grass on the nose. Freshly mowed grass on the palate. Spritzy on the palate. Close to a Prosecco. May 2024

2023 Stina Pošip, ZOI Central & South Dalmatia, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#1373)

My Review: The label on this wine is like white on white stone. The only notes I took were that it has a lemony finish. May 2024

2023 Terdzo Malvazija Istarka (#1374)

My Review: Yellow in color. Smells like a Viognier. Slightly sweet in aroma and on the palate with lemon notes. Viscous in the glass and on the tongue. Reminded us of a Rhône wine. May 2024           

Šipun Sansigot,  ZOI Istria & Kvarner, 12% ABV, $21 (#1375) (vintage not visible)

My Review: Oak and vanilla on the nose. Dark fruit including plum and violet. Made on island Krk. I loved this wine. Very young for us to be drinking. The sommelier said lots of tannin, but I think it is drinking fine. May 2024

TOMAZ WINERY

Our second winery visit was at the Tomaz winery, at the base of the hilltop village of Motovun. 

About Tomaz: “FRAMELESS WINES: On heavy, loamy, and marly soils in the unique climate of the Mirna river, the Tomaz family cultivates vines in harmony. Motovun, well-known for its truffles and Motovun forest, is the birthplace of these unique works of art, the frameless wines.”

We tasted only the Croatian varietals of Malvazija and Teran, which they grow on their estate.  They also purchase grapes from others to make other wines. You can find winery notes on their website and on Croatia Reveled – Tomaz. If you want to order Tomaz (or other wines) through Croatia Revealed, the process is to send them an email at  info@croatiarevealed.com.  As mentioned above, it costs about $20/bottle to process through shipping and US Customs!!

2023 Tomaz Flaminio Rosé, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 12% ABV, $13 (#1376) Teran grape

My Review: Almost a pale orange in the glass. Faint orange on the nose like a sweet orange hard candy. A tiny bit of effervescence on the tongue. Sweet on the palate with a lemony pop finish. Food pairings smooth out the tartness. May 2024

2023 Tomaz Avangarde Malvazija Istarka, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 13% ABV, $14 (#1377)

My Review: Light yellow in the glass. Orange blossom and minerality on the nose. Yu can taste the influence of the Adriatic carried by a light wind and the Istrian mountain air mixing with the grapes to create a sensuous swirl on the palate. It is in and of its place. Some residual sugars. A little bit of a sherry taste to it. Would pair well with fish. May 2024

2020 Tomaz Sesto Senso Malvazija Istarka, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 13.5% ABV, $24 (#1378)

My Review: 6 months in French oak and 6 months in Istrian oak. Yellow in color. Bananas and a little grilled pineapple on the nose. Sour dates and honey on the viscous palate. Very flavorful. May 2024

2020 Tomaz Barbarossa Teran, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 14% ABV, $24 (#1379)

My Review: 12 months in French oak. Beautiful in the glass – purple. Velvet. Perfume, Moroccan spices, black plum and jammy berries and alcohol on the nose. the initial jammy berries (Goji berries) are sandpapered away by the hidden tannins, finishing with a ton of cinnamon. Needs more time in the bottle. May 2024

2023 Tomaz Dolce Anima Muškat Bijeli, ZOI Hrvatska Istra, 12.5% ABV, $14 (#1380)

My Review: Diluted honey and elderflower on the nose. For a semisweet wine, this one is not cloying at all. It has enough acid to make it appear dry amongst the sweetness. May 2024

SPLIT

Our last night on land was in the beautiful city of Split, where we stayed in the Jupiter Luxury Hotel inside Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO Heritage Site.  If that wasn’t special enough, we stumbled into a perfect little restaurant only steps from the hotel, where we became fond of the grape Plavac Mali. 

2019 Volarević Syrtis Plavac Mali, ZOI Central & South Dalmatia, 15.5% ABV, $15/$35 US (#1381)

My Review: Rich garnet in color. Cherry licorice and vanilla on the nose. Dark cherry, cedar, and a burst of bright jam on the tannic finish. They say if you like California Zinfandel, Croatian Plavac Mali will ring your chimes. We really liked this wine. May 2024

I’ve actually found this wine available for sale in the US and am inquiring if we can get it shipped to California. More next week!

*Be sure to read next week’s post with more wine adventures in Croatia – and where to find them from the US!*

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Eberle Zinfandel: Hearty yet Elegant – with a View!

THE STORY

In March, we had a spur-of-the-moment dinner at The Beach House restaurant in Pacific Grove.  With the Local’s Menu in hand, we sprung for a bottle of wine – and Eberle caught my husband’s eye. Decades ago, when we used to get to Paso Robles for wine tasting more regularly, we visited Eberle Winery. The wines are good and they have cool wine caves to tour as part of the tasting experience. This bottle of wine was a great one to enjoy – along with the fabulous coastline view from our table!

This is the first time I’ve presented an Eberle wine to you.

ABOUT EBERLE WINERY

THE PASO ROBLES PIONEER – GARY EBERLE

There is a terrific writeup on the winery website about Gary Eberle’s journey to founding Eberly Winery, and how he and winemaker Chris Eberle (no relation!) both found their way to the Central Coast and ended up working together. I highly recommend reading the whole thing. 

Here’s a little teaser:

“Winery owner Gary Eberle grew up in Pennsylvania. Winemaker Chris Eberle, who is not related to Gary, grew up in (then) rural San Luis Obispo, California. It could be fate that they ended up working together, but Chris believes it has more to do with the love of the Central Coast and the quality of the grapes grown here…”

And a little more:

“…After tasting first and second growth Bordeaux from his professor’s cellar, (Gary) Eberle quickly took a keen interest in Cabernet Sauvignon. It was then he began envisioning the creation of an American wine that would rival Bordeaux’s. He soon found himself on his way to California where he enrolled in the Enology Doctorate Program at the University of California Davis.

“Eberle Winery was not Gary Eberle’s first wine venture when he arrived in Paso Robles, California. After finishing his coursework for a Ph.D. in Enology and Viticulture at U.C. Davis, Eberle moved to Paso Robles and began his career by co-founding the Estrella River Winery in 1973. After several successful years as the winemaker, Eberle refocused his attention and desire to produce premium, small production wine.  Moving only a few miles down the highway Eberle soon started his own prestigious label which debuted officially with the release of Eberle’s flagship wine, the 1979 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Since then, he has earned recognition for many firsts in the wine industry including; co-founding the Paso Robles Appellation in 1983, being the first to list the Paso Robles Appellation on his label, and being the first to produce a 100% commercially produced Syrah.  Gary has also earned several awards including: The Robert Mondavi Hospitality Award, the California State Fair Lifetime Achievement Award, Wine Industry Person of the Year from the PRWCA, and (his most current award), the 2020 American Legend Wine Star Award from the Wine Enthusiast.

THE EBERLE WINEMAKER – CHRIS EBERLE

Chris graduated from Cal Poly in 2005 with a degree in agricultural business with a focus on marketing, as well as a minor in viticulture. Concurrently, he earned a diploma in enology from Washington State University. So why not put those talents to use close to home? Chris accepted a position at Eberle Winery as assistant winemaker in 2006. But by 2009 his wanderlust enticed him away from the Central Coast to look for opportunities in other winemaking regions…many of them. For fifteen vintages, Chris spent time expanding his winemaking knowledge in South Africa, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and France…

“That knowledge base would come in handy. In 2015 Gary Eberle, in his search for a new winemaker, contacted Chris in Australia and offered him the head winemaking job in Paso Robles. Chris and Tessa were back in Paso within three weeks. “From the vineyards to the caves to Gary & Marcy and the crew, it was like coming home. I always knew I’d be back,” enthused Chris.

“These days, Chris says his greatest challenge as a winemaker is the seasonal variation of the local climate. Normal rainfall one year, dry the next; heat spikes during ripening, then sudden temperature drops right before harvest. But he agrees it’s that variability that makes Paso such a unique and alluring wine growing region: the gratification is in the challenge…

THE CAVES

“One of the most unique aspects of Eberle Winery are the underground caves. In 1996, Eberle Winery unveiled 8,000 square feet of underground caves, fulfilling the need for more storage space while providing an ideal naturally cool and relatively high humidity climate for the wine barrels. The clear success of the initial caves inspired the decision to dig even further. By the end of 1999 the caves were extended, completing a grand total of 16,800 square feet of winding tunnels beneath the winery. The distance from the surface to the caves below is an average of 30 feet with 12-inch thick reinforced concrete walls which helps maintain a natural average temperature of 60 degrees year around. The caves are home to our VIP tasting cove, as well as the Wild Boar Room where winemaker dinners and private events are held.”

THE WINE – HEARTY YET ELEGANT

Today, I am presenting just one Eberle wine. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I don’t correct typos from winery websites.

2020 Eberle Zinfandel, Paso Robles AVA, 14.4% ABV, $30 (#1321)

Winery Notes: “Eberle’s Zinfandel is sourced from six different districts within the Paso Robles Appellation. The ability to source fruit from different soils and microclimates allows our winemaker to produce a Zinfandel that is well-balanced, elegant, and of the highest quality…

“Eberle’s Zinfandel has all the traditional elements of a hearty zin, but its elegant style sets it apart from any other Zinfandels. This well-structured wine has upfront tannins and juicy flavors of blackberry, strawberry, and spiced plum with a touch of cardamom, sweet tobacco, and black pepper. Pair our Zinfandel with a cauliflower-crusted pizza with prosciutto, arugula, gorgonzola, and dried figs, or a grilled Portobello mushroom stuffed with goat cheese, grilled red peppers with a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts, or a delicious burger with all the fixing.”

My Review: Brown-tinged garnet in the glass. Dark plum, berries cassis, black tea and cinnamon on the nose. A lot of berry flavors on the complex palate – a touch on the sweet side, yet chewy. Cherry and intense dark fruit on the finish. We enjoyed this wine with our meal. March 2024

THE TASTING ROOM

Eberle Winery is rated as one of the top 10 wineries to visit in Paso Robles.  Why?  It’ not just about their award-winning wines, but also their cave tour!

“Eberle Winery offers a variety of seated tastings partnered with a cave tour. We are excited to share our educational experience of how wine is made and the history of Eberle Winery with you!”

Click the reservation link to select your tour/tasting option and make an appointment.The winery is open dailt and is located at 3810 HWY 46 East, Paso Robles, CA 93446

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Sun Wind Wine: A Santa Lucia Highlands Extravaganza Part 2

ABOUT THE SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS SUN, WIND & WINE FESTIVAL

This is part 2 of my coverage of the Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival at Mer Soleil winery. You can read part 1 here:­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Sun Wind Wine: A Santa Lucia Highlands Extravaganza Part 1.

THE WINES – THE PRESS/TRADE PASS GOT US IN EARLY! Thank you!!

Many thanks one more time to the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans for providing media passes to Decanting Monterey. We are grateful for the opportunity.

Today I am wrapping up this Santa Lucia Highlands Extravaganza by presenting some local wineries, some we have visited before. I’m skipping adding the AVA and county in these listings as they are all except one from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites. Notetaking was minimal, but I will do my best to present some of the wines, impressions and experiences we had at this event.

Let’s go!

TASTING OUR LOCAL WINES AT THIS SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS EXTRAVAGANZA

INTEGRITY WINES:

“…Integrity is not just about the wine itself. It’s about everyone who helped create this wine experience. It’s complete when we add you. That’s integrity.”  You can read more about Integrity here. I did write up a single Integrity rosé in this post long ago: Integrity: “honest, real, and one of a kind” wines “made for people by people”.

2021 Integrity Riesling $26 (#1348)

Winery Notes: “The 2021 vintage of the Santa Lucia Highlands Riesling from Integrity leans slightly away from the fruit forward Rieslings of California and flirts with a more restrained style. On the nose are notes of flinty Asian pear skins, nectarines, and lemon oil. The palate has a softness to it that is a nice contrast to the acidity of the Riesling. As the wine opens with time, all the aforementioned notes become more pronounced in a way that benefits the consumer…”

My Notes: We found this wine to be light on the palate and slightly sweet.  This would be good on a warm day! May 2024

2021 Integrity Pinot Noir, $36 (#1349)

Winery Notes: “The 2021 vintage of the Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir displays the terroir of the Santa Lucia Highlands gracefully. The wine lifts with a bouquet of cinnamon oil, currants, cranberry, and sage. Structurally, the wine has fine tannins that are carried by a soft acidity and concludes with an integrated cedar and light tobacco wrapper coating. Over time the wine opens and becomes more fruit forward and starts to display dynamic notes of violets, rose petals, cardamom, and eucalyptus. The interplay of the tonality makes this wine a joy to drink…”

My Notes: A great mix of several select blocks from the vineyard.  Rich on the palate, reflective of the region. May 2024

2019 Integrity Late Harvest Riesling, $28 (#1350)

Winery Notes: “The 2019 Late Harvest Riesling is straw in color with a brilliant translucent rim. Medium-bodied and semi-sweet without feeling weighty, with aromas of candied citrus, fresh jasmine, hints of lychee and quince, with flavors of ripe apricot, orange blossom honey, essence of ginger and rosemary. This wine has balanced acidity.”

My Notes: Very sweet, as expected. May 2024

BELLE GLOS:

“Belle Glos showcases distinctive Pinot Noirs produced from California’s most noteworthy coastal wine-growing regions. While each vineyard location lies near the Pacific Ocean, the climate differences are significant, varying with the amount of fog, wind, sunlight, and soil type at each site. Each Vineyard Designate is crafted to distill the purest essence of the locale into elegant expressions of California Pinot Noir.

“Owner/winemaker, Joe Wagner chose the name Belle Glos (pronounced “BELL GLOSS”) to honor his grandmother, Lorna Belle Glos Wagner. Lorna was a co-founder of Caymus Vineyards, an inspirational figure to Joseph and an avid lover of Pinot Noir.”

2021 Belle Glos Las Alturas Pinot Noir, $55 (#1351)

Winery Notes: “Rich crimson in color with fragrant aromas of blackberry, sage, cherry, and hints of rich dark chocolate. Bold and elegant on the palate with boysenberry pie, black currant jam, dark plum, and subtle notes of ground nutmeg. Balanced and structured, this wine has beautiful acidity that lingers through to a long, mouthwatering finish.”

My Notes: This is the first Belle Glos wine I have tasted.  I found this to be a good Pinot Noir from a high altitude in the Santa Lucia Highlands – very reflective of the region. I need to learn more about their wines. May 2024

TONDRÉ WINES:

“Tondré Wines began with a desire to produce the best possible wine for family and friends from fruit grown on the Alarid Family Home Ranch. Today, the Alarid family is happy and proud to share their limited production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines to even the most discriminating wine connoisseur. Their award-winning wines continue to be produced exclusively with estate fruit grown on Tondré Grapefield in the heart of the renowned Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County.

“You are invited to experience truly artisanal wines that offer vibrant, elegant colors; deeply fragrant aromas; varietal purity on the palate and a velvety, lingering finish.”

2020 Tondré Chardonnay Tondré Grapefield (#1352)

Winery Notes: “The 2020 Vintage Chardonnay turned out to be a complicated year due to the wildfires in California. Although the smoke impacted the red grapes, it posed less of an issue for the whites. The reason being, they are not fermented on the skins the way Pinot Noir and other reds are. In years like these, great care is taken at this stage to prevent any smoke impact from affecting the juice. When the grapes are loaded into the press, they are pressed several times at a low pressure to extract every last ounce; a technique used by large wineries focused on volume rather than quality. Once pressed, our 2020 Vintage Chardonnay was entirely tank-fermented to show off the natural fruitiness. The resulting wine speaks for itself. It has the usual crisp apple notes with a hint of tropical fruit and the creaminess from the champagne yeast used during fermentation. This process helps to counter-balance the refreshing natural acidity.”

My Notes: Lots of minerality from one of the coveted vineyards in SLH! May 2024

2016 Tondré Pinot Noir, Tondré Grapefield (#1353)

Winery Notes: “The 2016 Vintage Pinot Noir shows an array of red and black cherry fruit, assorted ripe berries, nutmeg, and that wonderful Santa Lucia Highlands AVA spiciness that resembles dried herbs, potpourri and earthy forest floor. The palate is soft and plush with balanced acidity and moderate tannin. The tight grained oak used in aging graces the finish with a subtle note of cinnamon.”

My Notes: This was quite late in the tasting, so my sparse notes aren’t really fair – very representative of the region. I was quite distracted in conversation with one of the owners.  May 2024

2021 Tondre Pinot Noir, Tondré Grapefield (#1354)

Winery Notes: “The 2021 vintage Pinot Noir offers a captivating display of luscious red and black cherry fruit, skillfully intermingled with a delightful blend of assorted spices that perfectly embodies the essence of Tondré Grapefield and the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The palate offers a velvety texture that exudes elegance. It’s acidity is balanced complementing the moderate tannins to perfection.”

TESTAROSSA WINERY:

“Testarossa Winery is a producer of premier California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Like all great start-ups, Testarossa Winery was started in 1993 in Rob and Diana Jensen’s Silicon Valley garage. Since then it has grown to national prominence, garnering more than 1,700 scores of 90+ points by renowned wine critics.” I have not had the chance to taste Testarossa wines since they closed their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village.

2021 Testarossa Chardonnay, Fogstone Vineyard, 14.3% ABV, $55 (#1355)

Winery Notes: “Straw hue. Nice aromas of brioche, honey, passionfruit and white peach leap out of the glass. With some time, notes of nectarine, apricot jam, and apple pie round out the nose. Upon taste, flavors of apple pie and apricot jam lead into a texture that is dense, yet decadent. This Chardonnay finishes full, intense, and with a smooth touch. Enjoy now through 2031.”

My Notes: A classic SLH, buttery Chardonnay. May 2024

2021 Testarossa Pinot Noir, Fogstone Vineyard, 14.1% ABV, $76 (#1356)

Wine Enthusiast – 92 points: “Roasted red cherry aromas meet with dried meat and sage on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The palate’s snappy and fresh red fruits are lifted by mace and a pinch of chaparral herbs.” — Matt Kettmann

My Notes: I am not 100% sure that the display wine was the same one we tasted, as the website says the 2021 is sold out.  That said, this Pinot Noir has some heft to it – tasty. May 2024

CRŪ WINERY:

“Deeply rooted in family & friends, CRŪ Winery sources fruit from some of the finest vineyards throughout the Central Coast of California. With a focus on Burgundian and Rhone varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah – which are best suited to this region, we craft wines for quality everyday drinking.” 

We also tasted a CRŪ Chardonnay, but I am not sure which one, so I have to skip it in today’s write it up!

2021 CRŪ Clone 777 Pinot Noir, Sarmento Vineyard, 15% ABV, $70 (#1357)

Winery Notes: “Every few vintages a special clone will stand out to our winemaking team and they will decide to bottle it on its own. Clone 777 from the Sarmento Vineyard is one of those wines. The wine starts with notes of raspberries, cherry and spicy tones of nutmeg and coriander before the full warm and rich mouthful of black cherry, cranberries, strawberry and spice that leads to its long and elegant finish with hints of cinnamon and hazelnut.” 95 points, Wine Enthusiast

My Notes: This wine was tasted very late in the event – earthy nose, classic palate. May 2024

KORi Wines:

“KORi Wines is the partnership between Santa Lucia Highlands grape/citrus grower Kirk Williams & his step-daughter Kori Violini.  Kirk planted the first vines in 1998, and in 2007, they launched the initial KORi Wines Pinot Noir from the KW Ranch Vineyard. Sabrine Rodems has been the winemaker since 2010.  In 2018, with much enthusiasm, they opened a tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea and offer a full assortment of wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, and of course, Pinot Noir.” From https://montereywines.org/wineries/kori-wines/

2022 KORi Rosé, 13% ABV, $27 (#1358)

My Notes: Good fruit flavor, lean and a touch bitter.  We had to warm this up – was served too cold. May 2024

2022 KORi Sauvignon Blanc, Griva Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 13% ABV, $27 (#1359)

Winery Notes: “UNIQUELY ARROYO SECO…Guava. Lychee. Melon. Lemon Cream.”

My Notes: I’m a big fan of wines from the Griva Vineyard.  This wine exhibited something mellow – a bit different from the typical Arroyo Seco Sauvignon Blanc.  This is the one wine we tasted from outside the SLH designation. May 2024

2020 KORi Pinot Noir, KW Ranch Vineyard, 14.3% ABV, $49 (#1360)

Wine Enthusiast – 88 points: “From a vintage that many others skipped due to nearby wildfires, this bottling shows baked cherry and prominent oak aromas on the nose. The palate is quite extracted and thick with clone and nutmeg spices enhancing the very ripe fruits.” — Matt Kettmann

My Notes: Very late in the tasting, I got perfume on the nose. I find the fruit from KW Ranch to be some of the best for Pinot Noir and Syrah. May 2024

2019 KORi Syrah, KW Ranch, 14%, $42 (#650)

Winery Notes: “Dark fruit and white pepper.”

My Notes: Earthy. Dark ruby in the glass.  Berries on the nose. Smooth on the palate with notes of berry jam and chocolate.  February 2022/May 2024

THE TASTING ROOMS

I recommend visiting each winery’s website for more information about their tasting options!

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Sun Wind Wine: A Santa Lucia Highlands Extravaganza Part 1

ABOUT THE SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS SUN, WIND & WINE FESTIVAL

If you love Monterey Pinot Noirs, you have to attend the Santa Lucia Highlands Sun, Wind & Wine Festival at Mer Soleil winery. Held on May 18th, this Santa Lucia Highlands extravaganza of local and out-of-area wineries making wines from our premier AVA is the place to be. Once again, Decanting Monterey was privileged to receive tickets from the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans. We are so grateful for this opportunity to see and taste so many wines made with our coveted Santa Lucia Highlands grapes all in a single event.  Many thanks for your generosity.

I wrote about this event in 4 posts last year – just search “Sun Wind & Wine” on the Decanting Monterey website and they will all pop up.  This year, I plan to cover the event in 2 posts.  Todays is a little long, but keep reading!

The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans said this about this event: “Join the preeminent producers of the Santa Lucia Highlands for an afternoon of delicious wine, gourmet delicacies from the area’s finest restaurants and food producers, an auction that benefits a local charity, live music, and more. Mer Soleil Winery generously opens its doors for the day, allowing fans of the region a peek into the beautiful property that’s not open to the public. More than 35 vintners personally pour 100+ sought-after Santa Lucia Highlands wines paired with bites by chefs from exceptional Monterey Peninsula restaurants and food purveyors.”

The number of wineries present was impressive! Here’s the list from the event website:

Belle Glos | Bernardus Winery | Bruliam Wines | Caraccioli Cellars | Cattleya Wines | Clarice Wine Company | CRU Winery | hope & grace | Integrity Wines | J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines | Joyce Wine Company | Kori Wines | Landmark Vineyards | Luli Wines | McIntyre Vineyards | Mer Soleil | Miner Family Winery | Mooney Family Vineyards | Morgan Winery | Odonata | Pessagno | Pisoni Vineyards | Puma Road Winery |  ROAR Wines | Rombauer Vineyards | Rustique Winery | Sarah’s Vineyard | Scheid Family Wines | Siduri |Talbott Vineyards | Testarossa | Three Furies Wines | Tondre Wines | Tudor Wines | Truckee River Winery | Wrath Wines

We kept to the same strategy we used last year with one modification: Enjoy the food and focus on wineries we did not know, share pours, and dump the rest.  We tried to stick to that approach, stopping for a bite to eat before we started tasting wine.  There were so many delicious food options:

Ardent Culinaire | Carmel’s Hidden Gem | Cheesecake Dreamations | Dollycakes | La Balena Carmel | Lula’s Chocolates | Luigi’s | The Pocket Carmel | Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy | Schoch Family Farmstead Cheeses | Secret Bakery | Spotted Duck Pacific Grove | Star Market | Toasted Grilled Cheese | Woody’s at the Airport | Yafa Carmel | Zio Brand Meats, and more.

The standouts for us were the lamb meatball from The Spotted Duck, the meatballs and rice from Yafa Carmel, the roast beef from Woody’s, the Monterey Jack from Schoch Dairy and Creamery, the seafood Newburg from Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy, and the sea salt caramels from Lula’s Chocolates. Yum.

If you like good food – and love Pinot Noir, this Santa Lucia Highlands extravaganza is the event for you!

THE WINES – A SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS EXTRAVAGANZA!

Today I am kicking off this series presenting quite a few wines from this event from the wineries I do not know. But, before I do that, I want to share some of the experiences we had along the way with our local wineries.  Because we were blessed with a Press/Trade pass, we got in early to taste some rare wines. Any errors are mine and mine alone.  I’m skipping adding the AVA and county in these listings as they are all from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County. As a practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites. Notetaking was minimal, but I will do my best to present some of the wines, impressions and experiences we had at this event. Tomorrow’s post will dive deeper into some local wineries.

Let’s go!

ROAR: A stop at ROAR allowed us to taste two of their fantastic library wines.  I noted on their website that they also make other varietals – so I definitely need to figure out how to taste them!

  • 2011 ROAR Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir (#1326): A rich and intense wine. We preferred this one.
  • 2009 ROAR Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir (#1327): Earth and perfume on the nose. Tasty palate.

McIntyre Vineyards: Since we just wrote up McIntyre, we got a quick taste of 2 special wines:

  • 2020 Winemaker Series Pinot Noir – Sabrine Rodems (#1328): Rich and delicious, with a dark cherry finish.
  • 2019 McIntyre Pinot Noir (#1329):  Earthier, representative of SLH.

Pisoni Vineyards: I finally got to meet the legendary Gary Pisoni and his son and tasted 3 of their wines:

  • 2023 Lucy Rose of Pinot Noir (#1330)
  • 2021 Lucia by Pisoni Chardonnay, Soberanes Vineyard (#1331)
  • 2022 Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir, Gary’s Vineyard (#1332): In my opinion, best Pinot Noir of the day!

And I will add here a stop at Cattelya from Rohnert Park, which I wrote about last year so I could taste their latest Syrahs:

  • 2021 Cattelya The Initiation Syrah (#1333): Fruitier.
  • 2022 Cattelya The Reward Syrah (#1334): Leaner, more elegant. Best Syrah of the day!

We also briefly stopped at 2 more local wineries: Morgan, which was pouring a couple of its Double L Vineyard Pinot Noirs, and Scheid, which had a Chardonnay and a library Pinot Noir for us to taste.  I failed to get any notes at either!

THE NEW-TO-US WINES AT THIS SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS EXTRAVAGANZA

Now I will move into the wineries we did not know – our focus of this tasting.

MORET-BREALYNN WINES

“A boutique winery in Sonoma County with a focus on Pinot Noir and supporting animal shelters.”

2023 Moret-Brealynn Rose of Pinot Noir, 13.1% ABV, $28 (#1335):

Winemaker’s Notes: “Hooray, this wine is back in stock! Very similar to the 2022 I made from two fabulous vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands but offers a little more acidity and lift because I took juice that was five days on the skins instead of seven like I did in 2022. I source juice that has zero skin contact, then 48 hours later I take juice off the skins and stems, and make the blend complete with juice that was on the skins for five days. Fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels, this wine has delicious flavors of watermelon and strawberry which a great acidity that just keeps you wanting more. Less cases produced than 2022 so don’t dawdle on getting this wine into your fridge. I can’t wait to see what you pair with this wine.”

My Notes: A vibrant color in the glass. Perhaps the most delicious rose we tried at this event! May 2024

CLARICE WINE COMPANY

“Clarice Wine Company is a new and truly unique type of winery, combining aspects of an online wine community, a wine education website, and a limited-enrollment wine club.” Hm…so this is something different and worth heading to their website to learn more about them!

2021 Clarice Pinot Noir (#1336): 

Winery Notes for the 2019: “The Santa Lucia Highlands is a Pinot Noir made from barrels sourced from Rosella’s Vineyard and Garys’ Vineyard. This purposeful blend is usually less new oak so more fruit flavors can shine through and should continue to evolve for a decade.”

My notes: Vibrant Ruby.  This is not your typical SLH Pinot Noir – in a good way. May 2024

2019 Clarice Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard (the VIP pour) (#1337):

Winery Notes: “Fruit for this wine comes from two acres at Rosella’s Vineyard, two different sections and two different clones – Pommard and Pisoni. A beautifully balanced profile, this wine can be enjoyed any time over the coming decade.”

My Notes: Dark ruby in color.  Rich on the palate.  Delicious.  One of today’s best. May 2024

TRUCKEE RIVER WINERY

“Established in 1989. Truckee River Winery is California’s highest and coldest winery. It all started in the garage of two Truckee locals. For 9 years, this ski lover and his wife, both UC Davis graduates, made great wine for their friends and family in the Truckee/Tahoe community before deciding to expand. They moved the winery into a two story barn on the river where they could make 1000 cases with the help of their daughter and friends. In 2009, they opened a tasting room on Brockway Road and expanded production to 2,500 cases annually. They specialize in single vineyard varietals and are known through out the area as producing high quality vintages year after year.”

2020 Truckee River Winery Barrel Aged Chardonnay, Tondré Grapefield , 13.8% ABV, $38 (#1338)

Winery Notes: “Produced in a more traditional french fashion, this oaked Chardonnay balances ML fermentation with oak aging to create a crisp and smooth white wine with aromas of honeydew, light toast and creme fraiche. On the palate, our Chardonnay displays a harmonious blend of asian pair, orange blossom and hints of starfruit, finishing with a hint of pie crust.”

My Notes: A nice Chardonnay with a lot of minerality. May 2024

2018 Truckee River Winery Best Man Pinot Noir, Tondré Grapefield, 15.8% ABV, $77 (#1339)

Winery Notes: “Medium ruby and deep purple hue with full aromas of cassis and sweet spice with a hint of fresh earth. The palate is rich, nearly full-bodied, with ripe black fruit, subtle spice and vanilla. Toasted oak, leather, and dark cherry is sustained on the midpalate. The finish is complex with balanced acidity and mouth-filling tannins that balance the generous fruit intensity of this wine nicely.”

My Notes: A big mouthful of deliciousness with a slightly bitter finish. May 2024

2014 Truckee River Winery Pinot Noir, Tondré Grapefield, 14.7% ABV (#1340)

My notes: One could detect the age in the color of this wine. Representative of the region.

2010 Truckee River Winery Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard, 15.4% ABV (#1341)

My Notes: Very delicious – rich in flavor. I preferred this one. Love these library wines!

CHATEAU MARGENE/MOONEY FAMILY

“Chateau Margene, now in its 26th year, began with the fulfillment of a dream by Michael & Margene Mooney to plant a vineyard, build a winery and establish their home in the Paso Robles area in 1997.  The family took up residence on the property in the Summer of 1998 (where they still live today) and planted the estate vineyard in the Fall of 1998… The Mooney Family label was started in 2004 with purchased grapes from growers in the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) and Sta. Rita Hills AVA’s.  The varietal focus for Mooney Family wines is Pinot Noir & Chardonnay from the SLH & SRH AVA’s.”

2023 Mooney Family Steel Chardonnay, $58 (#1342)

Winery Notes: “Exceptional blend – fruit driven with crisp minerality and natural acidity makes this a Spring/Summer wine to enjoy with friends and family.  100% Santa Lucia Highlands fruit off the esteemed Boekenoogen Vineyard.”

My Notes: Lean with lots of minerality. May 2024

2021 Mooney Family Pinot Noir, Boekenoogen Vineyard, $90 (#1343)

Winery Notes: “Pommard 4 and Dijon 115 clones aged in Francois Feres barrels for 23 months.  Intensely dark for a 100% Pinot Noir.  Rich & robust with aromatics of black/red cherry,  cola and warm baking spices.  A layered wine with fleshy fruits and chewy tannins.  Be amazed by this its smooth, pleasing mouthfeel and finish.”

My Notes: Dill on the nose with flavors representative of SLH. May 2024

2022 Mooney Family Pinot Noir, Tondré Grapefield (#1344)

My Notes: Classic – richer and slightly sweeter than the previous one. I preferred this one.

SIDURI

“Our winemaking goal is to produce Pinot Noir that best captures the distinct flavor and character of a given vineyard site and region. To that end, we focus on Pinot Noir, and source only from vineyards that provide us with exceptional fruit. Siduri, named for the Babylonian goddess of wine, is the result of our founders’ mutual love of Pinot Noir, and their dream that they could make great wines of their own.” You can read more here.

2021 Siduri Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard, $75 (#1345)

Winery Notes: “…The 2021 Garys’ opens with floral notes and sage with lingering dark fruit. The palate has laser-like focus upon the first sip then gradually expands with flavors of seared tomato, crushed gravel, and roasted cranberry. With brilliant acidity and expressive tannins, the finish is beautifully knit and persistent. This would benefit from decanting and will be one that can be kept in the cellar for some years to come.”

My Notes: Elegant and smooth with some tobacco on the finish. May 2024

2021 Siduri Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard, 14.5% ABV, $70 (#1346)

Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Intense aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and vibrant cinnamon pop on the nose of this bottling. The palate combines floral flavors of elderflower and violet with a black plum core, pushing deeply into the finish.” — Matt Kettmann

My Notes: I think I am becoming a Rosella’s Vineyard girl – I liked this wine.

2021 Siduri Pinot Noir, Soberanes Vineyard, 14.4% ABV , $70 (#1347)

Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Cleanly presented aromas of smashed boysenberry and black plum are lifted by cinnamon and mace on the nose of this bottling. Those spice elements hold firm through the sip, where Red Hot candy enlivens the rich red-fruit core.” — Matt Kettmann

My Notes: By this point, our palates were weary. We detected no nose and this wine seemed lighter than the others.

THE TASTING ROOMS

Please refer to individual winery websites for their tasting room locations and hours!

© Decanting Monterey 2023

*FOLLOW ME ON CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

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