Remember our Monterey Peninsula power outage in mid-December? Yeah, that one was not easy to forget. We decided to head to Carmel-By-The-Sea for holiday shopping and ended up at the Wrath Tasting Room in Carmel Plaza to see if there were any new Syrahs being poured. We tasted 4 new (to us) wines and took some home! There we were hosted once again by Cynthia, whom we had last seen in their Soledad tasting room.
“The wrath of Juno sent Aeneas wandering the Mediterranean in Vergil’s Aeneid. For the ancient Romans, ira or wrath, was a tool of a god, an unstoppable anger driven by forces greater than man. One can argue that we see such fury in both the might of nature and the passion of art. Wrath appears in the edgy power of Robert Plant’s voice and the raw wail of Eric Clapton’s guitar. It is frozen into Jackson Pollock’s violent splatters of paint. Wrath is in the wall of maritime fog that rolls into the Salinas Valley and the relentless afternoon winds that scream through our grape trellises. Wrath wines represent a nexus of nature and an unbridled passion for winemaking. Welcome to Wrath.”
“Wrath produces site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from our estate vineyard and respected properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Our production is small, our distribution is limited and our wines reveal attitude, passion, and an inherent respect for what a vineyard can give us.”
THE WINES
Today I am presenting 4 Wrathwines from this December mini-tasting. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. You can read more about each wine on their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2021 Wrath Pinot Noir, Cortada Alta, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.2% ABV, $55 (#1511)
Winery Notes: “Wrath’s newest Single Vineyard Pinot Noir offering; Cortada Alta offers a leaner, more European style of Pinot, that showcases structure with youthful tannins that give way to subtle flavors of red and black cherry, a touch of dried herb and a bright juiciness that keeps the wine beautifully balanced.”
“Cortada Alta is the highest planted vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. Because of the challenges in dealing with thin, rocky soils and nearly constant exposure to strong cold winds that hit the clusters throughout the year, Swiss/German clones Mariafeld and Wadenswil were selected for this site. These two clones grow and ripen nicely in their environment and offer a sophisticated, interesting selection not usually found in our growing area. This bottling is a leaner, more European style of Pinot; it showcases structure with youthful tannins that give way to subtle flavors of red and black cherry, a touch of dried herb and a bright juiciness that keeps the wine beautifully balanced.”
My Review: Stems, plum and barnyard on the nose. The underlying fruit is cloaked in flavors of orange and dark cherry with a tannic finish. There is some underlying fruit hidden inside. December 2024
Winery Notes: “Concentrated and intense, this blend is upfront with mulled dark fruit, soy and earthy undertones. The palate is generous and seamless with mulberry, cola and a long lively finish.”
“In antiquity, the wrath of a victorious army often left cities burnt to the ground. Thousands of years later, these events show up as dark carbon-filled strata, or destruction levels, in the archaeological record. The subtle smoky quality that permeates Wrath Destruction Level Rhone Blend is an ode to the smoke-filled smell of victory that greeted the victorious armies of the ancient world. This red Rhone blend is composed of Syrah and Grenache from colder sites in Monterey County. Inky and intense, this blend is upfront with mulled dark fruit, soy and earthy undertones. The palate is generous and seamless with mulberry, cola and a long lively finish.”
My Review: Nose finishes with bright raspberry. Grenache dominates on the palate. December 2024
2021 Wrath EX Syrah, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.5% ABV, $25 (#1513)
Winery Notes: “Full-flavored and savory, this wine has dark berries, black pepper and dried herbs all wrapped with velvet tannins.”
“This wine captures the savory side of our estate-grown, cool-climate syrah clusters. Black peppercorn, rosemary, cola and blueberry aromas show on the nose, while the palate has more of the same along with cracked pepper, ripe olallieberry and dried meaty flavors. This bottling is a slightly younger, less oaky version of its bigger brother, San Saba Vineyard Syrah.” 90 points – Wine Enthusiast
My Review: Sulfur and smoke on the nose. Smooth palate – would be a good food wine. A decent entry-level Syrah which I would serve for a party or present in a class. December 2024
2019 Wrath Syrah, San Saba Vineyard, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 14.6% ABV, $39 (#1514)
Wine Enthusiast – 92 points: “Pleasantly funky aromas of toasted nori and iodine mix with cracked pepper and dense berry plum paste on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The cool-climate cracked pepper flavor is very powerful on the palate, spicing up what mulberry, plum and roasted fig flavors, with charred meat lingering deep into the finish.” Matt Kettmann April 2022
My Review: Dark in the glass. Big bouquet of spice with a touch of barnyard cloaking dark fruit notes. Rich feel on the palate. The dark fruit core is wrapped in cedar and spice. December 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
Wrathhas 2 places to taste their wines and we think they are both lovely. So handy to stop in at Carmel Plaza, but what a treat to drive out River Road to the bucolic setting of their winery – bring your lunch!
Winery Tasting Room: “Located at 35801 Foothill Road (at the junction of River Road) in Soledad, CA, 5 minutes west of Hwy 101. Open Fri-Mon from 11-5pm, closed Tue-Wed-Thurs. Direct: 831.678.2992”
Carmel Tasting Room: “Located in Carmel Plaza, downtown Carmel at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Mission St., ground floor. Open Fri and Sat from 11-6pm. Open Sun through Thur from 11-5pm”
This is the second of a two-part series highlighting my recommendations of standout wineries and wines based on our November visit to Amador County. Today’s post focuses on Turley Wine Cellars, Andis Wines, Deaver Vineyards, and PleinAir Vineyards. I have been a Turley member forever – yet had not visited their Amador winery. Andis showed us that the region is much more than Zinfandel and Barbera. Deaver is one of the oldest vineyards and original wineries boasting exceptional Zinfandels and more. And PleinAir not only focused on Rhône varietals but also had a Central Coast connection!
We started our second day, touring the historic gold mining town of Jackson, shopping at The Biggest Little Kitchen Store (awesome!) and hunting down the original courthouse building (art deco!) before heading to the wineries. We again were able to drop in on the wineries without reservations – because it was mid-November. Reservations would otherwise be highly recommended!
Today I am bringing you 9 wines from our second day of tasting in Amador County. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a matter of practice, I do not correct any typo’s from winery websites. Let’s go!!
About Turley: “Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by former emergency room physician Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 different wines from over 50 vineyards across California, primarily Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, with many vines dating back to the late 1800s. By farming organically and focusing on old vine vineyards of these varieties, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.”
As a longtime member of Turley, I’ve written about their wines many times, including a visit to their Paso Robles Tasting Room in 2023. Just type “Turley” into the search bar on the Decanting Monterey website. The “Whitney Tennessee” was tasted at the Amador Tasting Room. The “Dusi” came from our home collection and was served with our Thanksgiving turkey! Everyone else drank a nice Burgundy. I prefer a Turley!
2022 Turley Whitney Tennessee Zinfandel, Alexander Valley AVA, Sonoma County (#1501)
Winery Notes: “This small, estate-owned, pre-Prohibition vineyard in Sonoma County was purchased by the winery in 2009, and we’ve since converted all to organic farming. Planted on loam and various gravel soils, the Whitney Tennessee vineyard—named for one of Larry’s four daughters—is a mixed planting as well, with small amounts of Petite Syrah and Carignane vines sprinkled throughout.
“Organically farmed pre-Prohibition vines planted head-trained and dry-farmed in the loam & gravel of Sonoma County. Garrigue, red and dark fruits, herbs de Provence and dried flowers. Some savory sweetness with a spiced finish on makes this heady wine easy to enjoy.”
My Review: Warm jam on the nose. SweetTart on the palate. Quite a contrast. Give this one a couple of years in the bottle – it will be terrific. November 2024
2020 Turley Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, $43 (#1502)
Winery Notes: “The Dusi vineyard was planted by Dante Dusi in 1945 and it is farmed by his family to this day. The vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, planted in soil that is mostly alluvial with some very large rocks. Like our other vineyards in the area, Dusi is on the west side of Paso Robles, in the cool Templeton Gap sub-AVA.
“The darker, more hedonistic cousin to the Pesenti Zinfandel, with plenty of fruits that run the full gamut from berry to stone and everything in between. Supple, juicy, and mouthwatering on the palate with a mineral zip. Drink now.”
My Review: Earth and crushed strawberries on the nose. Sweet palate of dark berry wine and cassis. This is a Sharon kind of wine. November 2024
We noticed the sleek and modern Andis Tasting Room right off the main Shenandoah Road and decided to stop in. We caught them in the middle of a member pickup party with light food pairings with the tastings. It was a walking tour of the winery, with different stations in different parts, including local small businesses showing their wares. All in all, a fun experience. Here we tried both Bordeaux and Rhône varietals. For a moment, based on the wines alone, I felt like I was back in Monterey!
About Andis Wines: “…As an avid wine enthusiast and Napa frequenter, to discover such a secretive wine region inspired founder, Janis Akuna. It gave her a vision to share a different kind of experience with other wine enthusiasts. But even more than that, it was the rural wine region of Amador County that struck her the most; reminiscent of the early days of Napa she so dearly missed.
“In 2009, Janis and her husband, Andy Friedlander, found their own stretch of land to replant portions of the vineyard originally planted in the 1970s, while seeking out the highest quality vineyards to buy additional fruit. Working closely with Sage Architecture and Sunseri Construction, they built a state of the art winemaking facility with two tenets; design a sustainable winery to produce world class wines that is attractive, but different from all others…” I encourage you to click the “About” link above for much more to their story.
2021 Painted Fields Curse of Knowledge, Sierra Foothills AVA, Amador County, 14.5% ABV, $33 (#1503) 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot
Winery Notes: “Curse of Knowledge is our Cabernet Sauvignon made in the Bordeaux style by carefully blending Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a hint of Petit Verdot. We aim to showcase a new dimension of flawlessly balanced, well-structured, and quality wine that will shift people’s views of the Sierra Foothills. You’ll be captivated by the intense ruby color and the sensational bouquet of dried violet, black cherry, fresh herbs, and cocoa powder. The velvety tannins create a generous and round, balanced mid-palate, with a lingering finish of dark berries and black licorice. Enjoy it now to taste the brightness of our fruits, or age it in your cellar for the next decade.”
My Notes: There was a lot going on in the room where these big reds were tasted, so my notes are lacking. The curse is people only think of Zinfandel and Barbera when they think of Amador. I was impressed enough to take one of these wines home. November 2024
2021 Andis Petite Sirah, Sierra Foothills AVA, Amador County, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#1504)
Winery Notes: “Andis Petite Sirah, sourced from the best vineyards across the Sierra Foothills, is a true expression of a robust, full-bodied, and firmly tannic wine with deep dark color, giving it a rustic appeal. Expect aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and black pepper, along with notes of vanilla from oak aging.
It offers an extraordinary concentration that will serve it well as it ages.”
My Review: Purple in the glass and chocolate on the palate. Yum. I took one home. November 2024
Deaver is one of the original, old-school wineries in the region. They have been around since the 1850’s. They have 350 acres planted to mostly Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, with some Alicante Bouchet. Their basic tasting menu is free! We, of course, opted for their Zinfandel tasting for a whopping $10! Here we tried several fantastic Zinfandels and ended up buying a case of wine!
About Deaver Vineyards: “In 1848 young John James Davis began his journey across the plains to California from Ripley County, Indiana. In the midst of his journey, he stopped in Iowa to learn the cooper trade before continuing his journey to California. By 1852, John James had completed his journey and settled in Placerville. The first few years that John James (known as JJ) was in California were marked by mining and the promise of gold and cooperage. In 1854, JJ planted his first vines, Mission grapes. By 1869 he had his own cooper shop, own vineyards, produced limited quantities of wine – marking some of the first documentation of Davis grapes in the area. According to family stories, by 1870 JJ had 117 acres; 6 acres of his original Mission grapes still remain in production in the Deaver family today. Following the advice of his good friend Uhlinger, he began to plant Zinfandel….”
“…In 1968 Sutter Home purchased several tons of Zinfandel grapes from Ken Deaver and made a wine that caught the eye of many wine enthusiasts. This marked the beginning of selling grapes to commercial wineries.
“In 1986, Ken Deaver bottled his first Zinfandel with the trademark Deaver label. Following this bottling, Ken began his dream of opening a Tasting Room where guests would be able to taste the fruits of his labor. On January 18, 1989 Ken Deaver passed away due to a heart attack. Though Ken was gone, his dream continued to persevere and the tasting room opened in 1990…” You can read their whole history here.
2019 Deaver Henry’s House Zinfandel, Amador County, 15.4% ABV, $35 (#1505)
Winery Notes: “A tasting room favorite! Medium-bodied with a deep rich palate of spice and dark berries with a silky smooth finish…This solid and well-stated Zin is full with manageable tannins and ample fruit working to buffer its minor finishing heat. It is built to last but is still very nice with braises and stews.”
My Review: All of their Zins were quite impressive but notetaking was minimal. This wine was dark in the glass and elicited a “wow” from me. November 2024
2019 Deaver Signature Zinfandel, Amador County, 15% ABV, $35 (#1506)
Winery Notes: “Ample, well-extracted, fully ripe, blackberry fruit is teamed with a savory streak of dried herbs in both the aromas and flavors of this substantial and somewhat sinewy young Zin, and, while most definitely a hearty wine, just as all of the Deaver bottlings, it is solidly structured and built for age. It is a bit ragged at the finish just now, but its fruit persists and does not get pushed aside by excessive tannin or heat, and a little more time, say three or four years, will see it round into fine drinking shape as a partner to rich and well-seasoned fare.”
My Review: Made from the top 4-5 barrels another “wow” wine – this one is very rich. I just hope we can resist opening it for the recommended timeframe. November 2024
2019 Deaver Vineyards Circa 1860’s Old Vine Zinfandel, Amador County, 15.1% ABV, $55 (#1507)
I don’t have winery notes for this wine – perhaps it is a club-only selection. I presented it to my virtual wine group in December.
My Notes: Medium purple in color. Rich plum and blackberry on the nose with saddle leather, cinnamon and a hint of bubblegum. Full palate of ripe plum and dark berries and black cherry in an elegant composure, followed by tart berries and a lot of cassis. This is not bombastic, but a true reflection of its old vines’ heritage. December 2024
We had never heard of PleinAir Vineyards – but it was highly recommended by one of the wineries hosting the Rest hotel’s daily wine tastings. We drove over to Fiddletown and stumbled upon a French farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and quite the crowd in their tasting room. I, of course, presented my Decanting Monterey business card, which led to a whole conversation with owners Tom and Sarah Malone. As you can read on their website, they previously lived in Pebble Beach and, before that, Pacific Grove – in a house on our own street! Such a small world.
About PleinAir Vineyards: “We are a creative couple who honed our style renovating homes over our 40 year history together and we bring our own skill set to any project we undertake. While I focus on the overall design and creative direction, Tom specializes in all aspects of construction, development and is equally skilled in handling almost any DIY task required. While nearing completion on our last project in Pebble Beach, we turned our sites toward the Sierra Foothills and Amador’s wine valley. We bought 21.5 acres with a tiny home in dire need of renovation which had room to plant vineyards and build a winery and tasting venue. We thought it was the perfect opportunity to expand our knack for creating casual environments with touches of European charm into a business influenced by the romance of rolling vineyards and quaint wine tasting venues. PleinAir is truly a reflection of all the things we love – we call it “casual rustic elegance” and we look forward to sharing our wines and our venue with you!”
“Our estate vineyards are located in the Fiddletown AVA (American Viticultural Area) in Amador County, CA. The region was first settled in 1849 during the California gold rush and is known for its old growth Zinfandel and other Rhone varietals. The property sits between 1850 and 1950 feet elevation on 21.5 acres of rolling slopes. The soils are well drained sandy loams and decomposed granite. We currently have Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre, Petite Sirah and Viognier planted.” Yep, no Zinfandel or Barbera planted here!
Winery Notes: “Dark ruby in color, our 2023 Oblique captures the personality of our Estate Grenache- effusive red plum, grenadine, and cranberries. The decidedly opulent and voluminous palate remains elegant and lively. Completely dry of sugar, the mid palate boasts a round and supple feel, derived from our vineyard focused approach. No fining or filtration!”
My Notes: I have only had a rose saignée previously, not a red wine. This may have been the best Grenache I have ever tasted due to the unique winemaking method – a nice, dry wine with excellent flavor. November 2024
2021 PleinAir Syrah, Fiddletown AVA, Amador County, $44 (#1509)
Winery Notes: “From our estate marked by its sandy loam and decomposed granite soils nested with gently rolling slopes, our Syrah boasts aromas of boysenberry, graphite and smoked charcuterie with a rich and dense palate that reinforces briar berries and black spice” GOLD MEDAL 2024 FOOTHILL WINE FEST
My Notes: This wine was a keeper – big, dark fruit. It was the last wine of the day. Sorry I don’t have better notes. November 2024
THE TASTING ROOMS
Due to the length of today’s post, please check each winery’s website for details on how to taste their wines.
A beautiful Amador sunset leaving PleinAir Vineyards!
(Seeing this on Instagram? Click the link in my profile to read the whole story)
THE STORY
I was eating my lunch at the kitchen table, reading the Carmel Pine Cone, as I typically do. I opened the January 10th edition to the real estate section and found this ad on page 42:
It’s an ad for a Bernardus Vineyard consisting of “32-acres of vines comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Petite Syrah and Merlot.The wines produced from the vineyard are consistently awarded 90+ scores for their quality and structure that will age.”
I just about fell out of my chair and immediately called out to my husband. This sounded like Bernardus’ Marinus Vineyard – from which their founder Ben Pon fulfilled his dream to make a Bordeaux-style wine right here in Carmel Valley (in Monterey County). I was devastated to read this news, as the Marinus and Marinus Signature blends made from these grapes, are my favorite Bernarduswines. We have been long-time members of their Marinus club and have enjoyed their Marinus dinners over the past few years – my favorite event of the year.
At the most recent such dinner in 2024, which I wrote about in this post 2024 Bernardus Marinus Dinner – Nothing Short of Spectacular!, we heard for the first time the full, colorful history of the founding of this vineyard and the beginnings of the winery. It is quite a moving story. Knowing this news now and looking back on that dinner, I can see why the telling of those stories was so emotional for the winery staff as well. This must have been a difficult decision to make.
The Bernardus Marinus wines are quality, age-worthy wines. I fear this marks the end of an era, but perhaps it is simply an expression of the trends in consumption and maybe even climate. After all, even though we might feel like these wineries are providing us a service and we may be way too attached to wines from certain vineyards, winemaking at the end of the day is a business and wineries must follow the trends and the fruit to achieve their bottom lines.
THE SIGNS WERE THERE
We knew something was up when tons of the 2017 Marinus showed up at Costco for a fraction of their retail price (we bought as much as we could). In addition, at the Marinus dinner, there was talk about no longer making a separate Marinus Bordeaux-style blend and just making the higher end Signature. Now I understand why. Bernarduswill still make a high-quality reserve Bordeaux-style blend, just not from that vineyard. But from where? What fruit will match the quality and historical significance of their own estate vineyard?
And, while Bernardus was a key, early player in the Carmel Valley AVA, it is widely known for its “Monterey County” wines available nation-wide and its reputation has been soaring with its high-quality vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands. I have written about all their wines many times. You can find those posts by typing “Bernardus” in the Decanting Monterey search bar. Those varietals are what Monterey County is more broadly known for.
Bernardus’ Vineyard-designate Trio of Pinot Noirs
I want to say up front in this post that I’m telling you this story off the top of my head – any errors are mine and mine alone – and do let me know if corrections need to be made.
THINGS THEY BE A-CHANGING
We’ve seen so much change in our Monterey wineries and vineyards. Often it is because the original owners have aged out or passed away and their heirs don’t want to continue to produce wine. It’s sad. Because many of these vintners were the founders of winemaking in this region. We have seen Talbott and Hahn labels and winemaking taken over by Gallo Wines. We saw Galante, which still produces wines, sell its vineyards and winery to newcomer Tira Nanza, who shows great promise. We saw Joullian close and be put up for sale. The Massa Estate is also for sale – the Durney legacy vineyards of some of the most prized Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in Carmel Valley/Cachagua. Pierce Ranch Vineyardsdown in San Antonio Valley AVA closed its tasting room in 2023 and decided to focus on selling its fruit. And the Boekenoogen family recently chose to stop wine production, with Santa Lucia Highlands locals McIntyre Vineyardstaking over its tasting room and inventory. And Manzonihas kept their vineyard, while selling its tasting room and winemaking to younger players. So much change. Most recently, and last I heard, we’ve seen a merger of newer players Seabold Cellars into San Benito’s Eden Rift.
Maintaining a quality vineyard is a hard job, with the threats of fire and drought around the corner. In some of our conversations with vineyard owners, they have no interest in bottling their own juice, as it means lots of road time to market their product. Our Monterey Countygrapes are much sought after by wineries outside of Monterey County. Having the Santa Lucia Highlands designation on a bottle means something. Carmel Valley is less widely known, but remains my favorite AVA within Monterey (oops, I’m not supposed to have favorites).
And then there is the overall downturn in wine consumption and climate change, affecting wineries across the globe. Some vineyards are ripping out grapes or have left their fruit to rot on the vines. We are at a critical juncture. As one local vintner put it, it’s the “ebb and flow” of the business.
NOW WHAT?
My first reaction about the sale of the Bernardus Marinus Vineyard was pure incredulity. I kind of took it personally. I did communicate with the winery and I know what a tough decision this was for them. I know they will do their best to continue to produce a high-quality Bourdeaux-style blend to keep their consumers like me happy. I personally hope they can find the fruit from the Carmel Valley AVA, but I might be asking for too much.
Then I started to have crazy thoughts – like how we could pull together a consortium of wine aficionados/investors and vineyard/winemaking experts to purchase this prize property. It’s fun to think about, but that’s a long stretch. It would be WORK. And I’ve already got a good gig – I’m retired. And as my good friend and Decanting Monterey Wine Pod member says, “The best way to make a small fortune (in winemaking) is to start with a large fortune.” Nope, I checked…I don’t have one.
So, all I am left with is hope. Hope that someone who cares about those quality grapevines will buy the vineyard and help preserve Ben Pon’s legacy of making a quality Bordeaux-style blend from Carmel Valley.
That’s my think piece for today. I’ve gotten over myself. Not a single wine review in today’s post. See, anything is possible.
Heather Rammel and Jim McCabe of Bernardus Wine
Let’s all raise a toast to the Marinus Vineyard and Ben Pon’s legacy!
We don’t get off the Monterey Peninsula very often, but we were able to tag a weekend in the Shenandoah Valley area of Amador County onto a rare trip up north. I’m a Zinfandel girl at heart, so it was fun to get back to my wine loving roots. I had never visited the Sierra Foothills wineries, so everything was a first for me. We were able to spend 2 days wine tasting – and I am so glad we did!
The hills were very dry in Shenandoah Valley and the road to get there was narrow and windy. It didn’t look like anyplace I had been before. We are talking rural. We blew right past Plymouth in the blink of an eye. And suddenly we found our first winery! We were able to visit each of the wineries without a reservation (it was mid-November, after all) and were please by the affordability of the tasting fees – in some places there was no tasting fee at all!
Lots of grapes were left hanging in this region due to lower demand.
We stayed in tiny Plymouth at the lovely boutique Rest hotel (highly recommended) and had our first night’s meal at Taste, a first-rate experience across the board.
This is going to be a two-part series highlighting my recommendations of standout wineries and wines based on our visit. Today’s post focuses on Villa Toscano, Cooper Vineyards and Scott Harvey Wines. I’d like to share with you some of our experiences on our first day visiting. We did not make it to all the wineries recommended to us. I’m going to focus on the highlights to keep this as short and sweet as possible.
THE SIERRA FOOTHILLS WINE REGION
Let’s start at the top with a history of the Sierra Foothills Wine Region from this Wine Enthusiast article:
“The region’s wine industry dates back to the Gold Rush when, in the mid 1800s, hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world arrived searching for riches. Some looked for gold and others, like businessmen Levi Strauss, Domingo Ghirardelli and Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, serviced those looking for gold. Southern European settlers, mainly from Italy, first began planting grapevines in the area. The region’s diverse soils proved ideal for growing grapes. The wine industry soon took off thanks to a population boom and by the early 1900s, the Sierra Foothills had become a major producer for California.
“Unfortunately, Prohibition dealt a severe blow to business. But vineyards were merely abandoned instead of being ripped out entirely. In the 1970s, winemakers began to discover the many old vines still producing high-quality grapes and saw potential in the Sierra Foothills. In 1987, The Sierra Foothills American Viticulture Area (AVA), with its six sub-zones of California Shenandoah Valley, Amador County, El Dorado, Fair Play, Fiddletown and North Yuba, was officially established. Today, the region has more than 200 wineries.”
ABOUT AMADOR COUNTY WINEGROWING REGIONS
We didn’t know much about Amador County wines, so relied on this Amador Vintners website plus recommendations from friends and wine ratings to pick our stops. Our experience spanned some of the oldest wineries in the region to some of the newest. Most of the wineries we visited were in the Shenandoah Valley AVA, known for its Zinfandel and Barbera wines, but it is much more than that. At the recommendation of the hotel’s happy hour winery, we also drove over to Fiddletown to check out a newer winery focusing on Rhône varietals. That will be in next week’s post!
From Amador Vintners: “Amador Wine Country: Relaxed and Unpretentious. With a stunning setting in the Sierra Foothills that delivers an authentic wine country experience. Exactly how you remember California’s wine country used to be. The 50+ wineries comprising the Amador Vintners Association are dedicated to producing premium-quality wines that offer distinctive regional character. This character can also be seen in each winery’s genuine brand of hospitality!”
THE WINERIES & WINES
I have 6 wines to present to you today from Villa Toscano, Cooper Vineyards and Scott Harvey Wines. Winery notes are from their websites, tasting sheets, or conversations with staff. I would like to add an honorable mention to the 2022 Jeff Runquist Tempranillo, $32 (#1496) – My Notes: Beautiful dark color in the glass. Balanced, big bold flavors with cassis on the finish. This was our favorite by far at this winery.
Our first stop was Villa Toscano – mostly because it boasted lunch at its Bistro and was a good place to rendezvous with our friends. It’s older architecture in a Tuscan style, reminiscent of times gone by. We got their first and made a bee line to their Tasting Room, where the staff helped us hone in on a few of the best reds. We were pleasantly surprised. It was also the first place we encountered a White Barbera!
The 2023 White Barbera was a little zippy and a fun wine!
There are so many wines to explore here (the image above is only their reds!) and it is worthy of a future visit, when we can spend more than 10 minutes in the tasting room! Here are a couple of the wines we liked so much that we took them home!
2020 Villa Toscano Gold Rush Old Vine Zinfandel, Shenandoah Valley AVA, Amador County, 15.7% ABV, $45 (#1494)
Winery Notes: “Blackberry, mulberry with bold acidity. Notes of leather and black currant.”
My Review: Cinnamon and cherry on the nose. Lingering palate of jammy, dark fruit. That is a mouthful. A Sharon kind of wine. We took a 2019 and a 2020 home. November 2024
2020 Bella Piazza Montepulciano, Shenandoah Valley AVA, Amador County, $38 (#1495)
Winery Notes for the 2019 Vintage: “Dark berry and red plum aromas with subtle notes of violet and dried herbs.”
My Review: I don’t have detailed tasting notes on this wine. The nose had some sweetness to it – in a good way, followed by a velvety palate of bold flavors. We took 2 home. November 2024
When we walked into Cooper Vineyard’s bustling tasting room, we immediately felt the down-to-earth cowboy vibe. The friendly staff walked us through each wine and several made my list. Alas, I only managed to take one home.
About Cooper Vineyards: “Since the 1970s, the Cooper Family’s mission has been to produce the highest quality fruit and present it to you in exquisite single varietal wines and beautifully balanced blends. Beginning with Barbera, Dick Cooper, family patriarch, carefully tended rolling vineyards that now boast seventeen varietals…Today our premium grapes are producing award-winning wines characterized by rich flavors and lush aromas with subtle fruitiness, balanced tannins, layered complexities, and smooth, lingering finishes.”
2021 Cooper Vineyards Barbera Riserva, Amador County, $47 (#1497)
Winery Notes: “With its perfect marriage of floral and fruity aromas, our 2021 Barbera Riserva wraps itself around you like a big hug. Caramel, apple, leather and cloves on the nose deliver pure joy and pleasure in each and every sip. A subtle spice and heat (could it be red pepper?) merge with a suggestion of raspberry to bring you a finish that is super smooth, dark and rich. A labor of love, this Riserva is barrel select and aged 34 months in 100% New American Oak. Awesome with Drunken Steak with Shitake Mushrooms.”
My Review: Dark fruit/prune and vanilla on the nose. Big dark fruit on the front palate and a lot of sweet on the finish jammy. Good balance of some sweet and tart. Perhaps our favorite Barbera of the day. November 2024
2021 Cooper Vineyards Mourvèdre, Amador County, $32 (#1498)
Winery Notes: Known by many names, Mourvedre is thought to have originated in Spain but is best known as a Rhone varietal. Historically used as a blending grape, Mourvèdre arrived in California in the 1860’s. Our 2021 single varietal Mourvèdre is not for the faint of heart with unique and captivating aromas of toffee and leather, and whispers of sandalwood – earthy, woody, sweet, spicy. This complex wine presents with warm and rich flavors of espresso, oaked vanilla and smokiness. Think stews, braises and other rich and hearty dishes as perfect food pairings.
My Review: Coffee with a hint of smoke on the nose. This wine presents as a classic Mourvèdre. Herbal, dark and brooding and quite tasty. November 2024
Cooper Vineyards Ranch Red, Amador County, 14.5% ABV, $32 (#1499)
Winery Notes: “This innovative blend of Alicante Bouchet (38%), Carignane (25%), Charbono (25%) and Barbera (12%), all 2021 vintages, is rustic yet exotic. Scents of cherry, cola, clove, cinnamon, leather, pepper and sandalwood precede flavors of warm spice, black fruits and the umami characteristics of smoked meat. Soft tannins, balanced acidity and a juicy finish will have you exclaiming…a triumph, Mike Roser, another triumph”
My Review: Bright notes dance on your palate in this everyday red. We took one home. November 2024
We finished our day with a very quick stop at Scott Harvey. The impressive wines are definitely worthy of a revisit and more time to explore the whole collection – with a fresh palate.
About Scott Harvey: I encourage you to click this link and read the whole, beautiful story of Scott Harvey “Where Passion Meets Heritage”
“At the heart of our winemaking journey lies a story of love, heritage, and an unyielding passion for creating exceptional wines. It all began in the picturesque vineyards of Amador County, where Scott, our founder, grew up savoring the rich flavors of his step-grandfather’s homemade wine, crafted from the very grapes that adorned their family estate…With winemaking coursing through his veins, Scott returned to the Sierras, determined to elevate Amador County to a world-class wine region.
“Tirelessly pioneering the area’s potential, he immersed himself in various wineries, honing his craft, until destiny beckoned him to Napa Valley, a mecca for any winemaker. Scott’s winemaking mentor had just bought a small winery in Napa and needed a winemaker for the project. Dr. Richard Peterson asked Scott to make it a takeover candidate by a bigger winery. Scott went to work and created Menage a Trois which did the job. But despite the allure of Napa, his heart remained steadfast in Amador. The turning point arrived when the Napa winery he worked at was sold, presenting Scott with the golden opportunity to reclaim his dream.”
2021 Scott Harvey Vineyard 1869 Zinfandel, Amador County, 14.9% ABV, $75 (#1500)
Winery Notes: “Briary varietal layered Zinfandel, dark color, marjoram spice, bright cherry, tomato, white pepper, medium French oak, luscious center, layered complexity. Old Vine complexity and first growth quality.” “Crafted from the oldest documented Zinfandel vines in the U.S., delivering a piece of history in every sip. ALMOST SOLD OUT!” 90% Zinfandel, 10% Primitivo
My Review: Dark jammy nose. Finished with orange peel. As the last wines of the day, I did not capture thorough tasting notes. We took some home, so I will update this upon a revisit. November 2024
THE TASTING ROOMS
Due to the length of today’s post, please check each winery’s website for details on when and where to taste their wines.
A few weeks ago, Jana Saunders ofBoëté Winery sent members an email announcing their new tasting room location. I was very happy to receive this news, as we’ve been enjoying their wines almost as long as those from their estate neighbor, Parsonage. In fact, long ago (about 20 years ago?), they shared the same tasting room space in the Wagon Wheel Shopping Center off Carmel Valley Road. Yes, that’s how long I’ve known their wines. We became instant fans of their Cabernet Franc and their reserve wines. Once they closed that location, we trekked up to their winery a few times to taste and pick up our wines, but just as often, especially in the pandemic, we waited for home delivery. But, I digress.
In December, Jana and John Saunders’ sons Dillon and Jesse opened The Barrel Room at 5 Del Fino Place in Carmel Valley Village, the former location of the Village Wine & Tap Room. While primarily a sports bar featuring beers and local wines, they are offering Boëté wine tasting from 12-5 daily for $30. The tasting includes their current releases and reserve wines. We even got to taste a new Cabernet Sauvignon their sons created!
Today I am presenting 4 wines for the first time in this blog. Winery tasting notes come from their website, the tasting sheet, or conversations with the tasting room staff. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a matter of practice, I do not correct typos from winery websites. I had previously written up the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – it is drinking extremely well – that is a must buy wine!
2019 Boëté Reserve Cabernet Franc, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $54 (#1489)
My Review: Mocha and warmth (sweet and smoky like the comfort of a campfire) on the nose. Delicious palate of purple fruits – boysenberry and blueberry. I liked this wine. December 2024
2018 Boëté Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $52 (#1490)
My Review: Ripe on the nose, finishing with stewed fruit. So soft on the palate with a full fruit finish. Was opened the day before, so it had the opportunity to fully open up. December 2024
2019 Boëté Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $54 (#1491)
Winery Notes: New release.
My Review: Marshmallow, brown sugar, vanilla maybe camelia blossom (all in a good way), dark plum and subtle sweet tart on the nose. Palate is bright with red fruits including bing cherry and an herbaceous note in the finish. This is dang delicious. 😋
2022 “Saunders Brothers” Cabernet Sauvignon, Dorcich Family Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, $30 (#1492)
Winery Notes: Made by sons Dillon and Jesse, this wine will be sold only in the tasting room and will serve as one of their house wines. Expecting a label soon.
My Review: Beautiful nose of primarily red fruits, followed by a delicious palate. Very drinkable now. These young men know a thing or two about wine! December 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
You can taste and purchase Boëté wines at The Barrel Room every day, 12-5 p.m. 5 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village.
We are never quite sure what will get pulled out of our cellar, but it never surprises me that it will be a Parsonage wine, as we have been purchasing their wines since about 2002. They are our longest, continuous winery relationship in Monterey County. I do like my big reds.
Our Expansive Relationships with Monterey County Wineries (2021)
In this post, we have 3 cellar pulls, with the 2008 “Snosrap” – the Cyrano, followed by the just-released 2021 Rocco Reserve Syrah. I thought this might make a fun little holiday post. It was shocking to us to find this 2008 wine in our cellar, but, as some racks are double-stacked, anything could be hiding in there! And, IMHO, the Rocco should be tasted BEFORE the voluptuous Xandro (reviewed in the post linked below). We left with a couple more Xandro’s and I admit I might need to go back and try the Rocco again!
Today I’m bringing you 4 Parsonage wines across several vintages and varietals. Winery notes come from their website, newsletters or tasting room. Some of these are so new that tasting notes aren’t even yet available! Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2008 Parsonage Snosrap Bordelaise Red Wine, Monterey County, 14% ABV, $24 (#1485)
“the nose knows…”
My Review: Deep garnet in the glass. Very dark jammy fruit on the nose with coffee and chocolate notes. Upon opening, a bit like ruby port or that new 2021 Corral Cabernet Sauvignon I just reviewed. On day two, drinking so much better. Medium bodied, this wine expresses some SweetTart flavors, balanced by dark brooding fruit mid-palate with notes of spearmint, and a hint of rosemary. Retains a hot and caramelized, port-like finish. I liked this wine. November 2024
2017 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast AVA (#1486)
Winery Notes: “This Cabernet Sauvignon field blend is joined with a mix of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It’s a full-throttle bombastic beauty, typical of younger vines. The nose is all about dark fruit marked by brambleberry compote. Plum and cassis join with brambleberry on a muscular palate that finishes with some major league tannins.”
My Review: Dark garnet in the glass. Red and black fruits having a party on the nose, with cherry predominant. Juicy palate balancing bright red and black as it crosses the tongue with licorice on the finish. Is Cabernet Sauvignon supposed to be fun? This one sure is. November 2024
2015 Parsonage Dario & Bixby Reserve Red Wine, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County (#1487) Merlot & Petit Verdot blend
My Review: Surprisingly bright fruit on the nose – tart blackberry. Huge palate jammed with blackberry and dark fruit flavors. Licorice notes dance on the finish. Powerful for a 9-year old wine. November 2024
2021 Parsonage Rocco Reserve Syrah, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, 15% ABV, $98, (#1488)
Winery Notes: “Our magnificent flagship wine, the Rocco is what we’re known for! A restrained melange of floral, exotic spice and splendidly dark fruit harmonize into a uniquely Parsonage terroir bouquet. The generous palate of black fruit – berries, cherries, currants, plums – accented with dark chocolate, savory spice and mysterious umami all wrapped up in an elegantly full-bodied structure.”
My Review: Caramel on the nose. Full palate of dark fruit, dark berries. This newly released wine is still quite young, drinking a tad lean yet elegant, not as rich and jammy as other vintages. I would recommend tasting it before – not after the 2021 Xandro, which is such a big, jammy mouthful. You can find that wine reviewed in Decanting Monterey at the post above. December 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
“Hooray! We are open for both indoor and outdoor wine tasting daily.”
19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village
Hours: Monday – Friday: noon to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 5pm, Last seating for wine tasting: 4:15pm. “Reservations can be made here or by phone. Please call us at 831-659-7322 for same day reservations.”
The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society was seeking a place to celebrate the holidays – and I thought of LadySommatthe Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel. They have interesting offerings in a great space. Fortunately, the date we were seeking just happened to be open on their calendar. They offered us some fun wine education aspects and a beautiful spread of cheeses and fruits paired with some delicious bread, making for a lovely evening. Roxanne and Tamara were great hostesses for our group that evening. Thank you, ladies! And we were very happy to meet some brand new members of our local wine group!
ABOUT LADYSOMM
From their website: “At the heart of Lady Somm are two sisters, Roxane Langer and Tamara Carver, whose passion for wine has blossomed into a mission to share it with the world. With backgrounds that span the globe and the wine spectrum, they invite you to join them on a journey of discovery, education, and enjoyment. Welcome to our world of wine.”
On their website, you can dive deeper into all of their wine education, tasting salon, travel and special events. I encourage you to take a peek! I am excited about their offerings – there is something for every budget. They host regular wine tasting and education events, running the spectrum from informal to fancy. It’s a fun place to explore!
THE EVENT
Our holiday celebration at LadySomm was a fun event. How lovely to enter their space, all decorated for the holidays with the beautiful charcuterie boards on display plus the 3 wine education stations:
“Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles – Taste three different sparklers that evoke the holiday spirit: Are you a prosecco fan or a method Champenoise fan, OR do you even know which you prefer? Taste three of our favorites to confirm your preference.”
This was eye opening. The prosecco from Italy upon first taste was delicious, blowing my preconceived idea that all prosecco’s are sweet. Others thought it was a tad sweet, which I discovered to be true upon a revisit. Alas. The cava from Spain was extremely bubbly, crisp, and dry – the bubbles obfuscated the flavors for me, which is one of my pet peeves in overly bubbly wines. I probably didn’t give it a fair shake and will try another one again. The Champagne (obviously from France) had the finest bubbles, the most sophisticated of the three. I do enjoy a good Champagne! Those would have been fun to blind taste to see if we could guess which was which.
“Beef or Fowl for your holiday table – which wine region has you covered? Taste a “perfect for your roast turkey” white wine, a big red for your prime rib and a wine that pairs well with both all from one European wine region.”
Here, we learned how different wines pair with turkey and beef. We tasted a Domaine de Cala, Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé with the turkey – an appropriate pairing.
Then we tried the 2021 Wrath Pinot Noir, Boekenoogen Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 14.3 % ABV, $49 (#1484) (92 points – Wine Enthusiast) with both the turkey and the beef, showing its versatility in food pairing. This wine was fuller-bodied than the typical SLH Pinot Noir, possessing enough structure and tannins to please our palates and stand up to the beef.
Finally we tried a Tribe & ArrowDiamond Dão Proprietary Red Blend(50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot), Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley with the beef. I didn’t see the vintage, but this is a limited production bottling by Olette Wines with individually numbered bottles. Another great pairing!
“Know What Your Nose Knows – Learning the Language of Wine: Learn to smell and identify common scents in three different wine varietals.”
Here they had on display a 2022 Corral Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $30 (#1088); a Val de Meigas Albariño from Spain; and a MAX Carménère Reserva from Chile. For this exercise, they put wine glasses upside down over Le Nez du Vin wine odor bottles. Oh, is that what you are supposed to do with them – who knew? Another fun excursion for a future wine event!
First we focused on the aroma chart or what one might smell by swirling one of the white wines in the glass. Then we could pick up each glass and try to discern the odor in each glass to the chart. I guessed all of these correctly. The green apple wasn’t so distinctive, but wet hay was the most memorable for me. Then we had a set of cards to use to identify the odor samples typical for a Carménère. I got green pepper off the bat, and found garlic a bit harder to discern. OK, I don’t consider myself to have a very good nose or palate for detecting the multitude of aromas and flavors in a wine, but I aced them all!
VISITING LADYSOMM
LadySomm is located at 3728 The Barnyard, G-23 on the upper level in Carmel. They are open 2-7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2-5 p.m. on Sundays. Check out their website for upcoming events throughout this holiday period and beyond!
December is the perfect month to join the American Wine Society and select Monterey, CA as your local chapter! Please join today so you can participate in our 2025 local wine education activities!
Bunter Spring Winery held a pop-up tasting about a month ago. I had not been in his pop-up space since he took it over and it felt like we were walking into someone’s living/dining room with friends. Surrounded by Mark Bunter and Margaret Spring’s close friends and their dogs, this felt more like a small party in someone’s home. Mark shared some novel wines, demonstrating his winemaking prowess, and some fabulous sale prices, to boot!
THE WINERY
From the Bunter Spring website:
“Bunter Spring Winery is a small family operated winery in the Coombsville AVA in the southeast corner of Napa Valley. We also have some production in Monterey. Most vintages we make a few hundred cases of wine, mostly for ourselves, but also for sale to friends on our mailing list, and a few restaurants and wine shops. Why make wine? We just don’t care for many of the wines sold today. We make the kind of wine we want to drink: balanced, interesting, made with few or no additives, and low or no sulfite. We list all ingredients, the actual sulfite level, and the actual alcohol level on every label. Incredibly, NO OTHER WINERY DOES THAT.”
VINEYARD Update
In his recent email, Mark informed us that the vineyard had been torn out and is replaced by a field of flowers:
“When Dad decided it was time to retire, I realized the winery would not be going forward. Vineyards require a lot of upkeep. An abandoned vineyard becomes an unsightly weedy jungle or desert, depending on rainfall. It breeds fungi which hurt your neighbors vines. So…”
THE WINES
We really enjoyed this Bunter Spring tasting event, as we were able to taste two wines made very differently from the same (somewhat suspicious) grape. It’s like an on-the-spot lesson in winemaking. Also, Mark dares to break from the expected in terms of what (as an example) a Santa Lucia HighlandsPinot Noir is expected to taste like by making one with enough juice from Carmel Valley to completely change its taste profile.
As always, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, website, or conversations with the winery. Any mistakes are mine and mine alone.
2022 Bunter Spring White Wine, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, 13% ABV $20 (#1480)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Your basic dry white wine, like in the Southern Mediterranean. Good with fish.” 40 cases produced.
My Review: Mark said this might be Sauvignon Blanc, but neither he nor we think so. More like a lighter white without any distinctive flavors. It is a pleasant wine – nice and dry, worthy of serving at a party. November 2024
2022 Bunter Spring Macerated White, Santa Clara Valley AVA, Santa Clara County, 13% ABV, $20 (#1481)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Same grapes as above, fermented on their skins for extra aromatic punch and exciting texture.” 20 cases produced.
My Review: Slightly orange, golden in color with nice legs. Perfume on the nose and palate, followed by a mélange of bold flavors. Quite delicious and interesting. I would serve this to guests. November 2024
2021 Bunter Spring Pinot Noir, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $40 (#1482)
Winemaker’s Notes: “Mostly from a famous vineyard in SLH, plus a little lower Carmel Valley fruit. French oaky, fruity, spicy, fun.” 50 cases produced.
My Review: This was a surprise to me. This mostly SLH (Santa Lucia Highlands) fruit does not taste like the typical SLH Pinot. A richer, smoother, fruitier Pinot Noir, with caramel on the finish. We took some home. November 2024
Winemaker’s Notes: “Subtle, complex, fresh herbs, berries, floral, meaty, earthy. Superb balance, not BIG SYRAH. That’s OK with me- I like it.” Organic grapes. 50 cases produced.
My Review: This wine was another pleasant surprise. We had for sure tasted a previous vintage – the 2014, I believe. This one has settled down in the bottle and is ready to drink. We took some home. November 2024
I Brand & Family knows how to throw a great party. Their Fall Vertical and Release Party was one of the best yet. While I try to keep the main thing the main thing (and that would be to be sure to get notes on their new releases), we instead took great delight in the vertical tastings. Today I am sharing our side by side comparisons of various Petite Sirah vintages and the great experience we had at this party!
We had a packed Sunday on November 10, with 2 release parties in 2 different valleys. We decide not to use GPS to get to the I Brand & Family winery. And, the GPS in my head (my husband says there isn’t one) turned us an exit too soon off Highway 68. It was a lovely drive, but totally threw off our schedule. I clarified my intent to taste the new releases, but got totally distracted by the vertical tastings. Oops. The lovely BBQ lunch being served looked and smelled so delicious – alas, no time for that, either! Man, we won’t make that mistake again.
Today I will talk about the Petite Sirah vertical tasting at this event. These are not in-depth notes, but rather, impressions of these wines in a quick serial tasting. Any errors are mine and mine alone!
2010-2016 PETITE SIRAH WINES
Greeted by Laurel, we were able to taste these 2010-2016 vintages of P’tit Paysan/Paysan Petit Sirah. Now, what fun is that? I believe the fruit for all of them came from Pierce Ranch Vineyards in the San Antonio AVA of Monterey County.
2010 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah “Le P’tite P’tit”, Monterey County (#1475)
My Impressions: This was the best of the bunch and we missed getting the last available bottle by 30 seconds. Pepper on the nose, sweet and smooth, retaining its full depth of dark fruit flavors – this is how a Petite Sirah should taste! November 2024
2011 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County (#1476)
My Impressions: In comparison to the 2010, the 2011 vintage came across lean, a touch vegetal and lacking that sweetness I associate with a Petite Sirah.November 2024
2012 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, ~$21 (#476)
Winery Notes: Black plums, blackberry, crushed rocks, black olive. Full and rich on the palate, but neither hot nor oaky. Structured without being overbearing, rich dark fruit, long finish with hints of stem tannins.
My Review: Inky ruby in the glass. Dark plum, blueberry and earth on the nose. Soft blueberry and blackberry fruit is enveloped by a lingering licorice finish. October 2021/November 2024
2013 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $25 (#1477)
Winery Notes: “Picked at atypically low sugars for the variety. Fermented in small lots with some stem inclusion and some native yeasts. Aged on lees in less than 10% new oak.”
My Impressions: This was a fruitier Petite Sirah than the previous two vintages. November 2024
2014 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $42 (#788)
Wine Enthusiast – 89 points: “Dried herbs, elderberries, peppercorns and a strong streak of gamy meat show on the nose of this bottling, which is less dense and more nuanced in style than many other Petite Sirahs. The gamy element extends to the palate, giving complexity to the black fruits and sticky tannins. ” — Matt Kettmann June 2018
My Review: Inky purple in the glass. Red raspberry, plum and a touch of brown sugar on the nose. Cassis and dark berries on the palate. A slight tartness balances the jamminess of the fruit. This was our second favorite of the day. July 2023/November 2024
2015 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, $22 (#1478)
My Impressions: This vintage was very pleasant and a touch sweet. We liked this wine. 2024
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, $23 (#1479)
My Impressions: I’m surprised that I don’t already have tasting notes for this wine. This vintage was light on the palate, dancing with a cherry finish. November 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room, located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
One of our Decanting Monterey wine partners recently invited me to attend a Corral Wine Co. release party. I was quite excited about the invitation, as we consider their wines as some of the finest in the area. For me it was a rare chance to visit their beautiful Bell Ranch estate, chat up the owners and staff, and mingle with the members. We had a long conversation co-owner and winemaker Adrien Valenzuela who gave us the details about the new red blend, called “Tres Amigos” and the newly released Cabernet Sauvignon.
Rick and Adrien
We were greeted with a pour of their 2022 Monterey County Chardonnay, followed by their 2022 Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) Chardonnay – a stark contrast between the two. The SLH white was paired with potato chips – very good together! I’d say the Monterey Chardonnay would make a great every day white, while I would save the SLH one for a special occasion – like Thanksgiving!
The “Tres Amigos” is a tasty blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. I found it very approachable, drinkable now, and right up my alley. It was paired with Lula’s chocolates. Yum. When I try to compare it to the 2019 “See What You Can Do” Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend, I find them completely different. The 2019 was a much more structured wine, while the Tres Amigos is one I want to serve now.
We also sampled the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, which Adrien says he left in the barrel longer than usual. It was paired with delicious brisket. The flavors in that wine certainly reflect the extra aging. I would cellar that wine for a while.
Finally, we got a barrel sample of their 2023 Zinfandel from the Enz Vineyard in San Benito County. It is aging in once-used French barrels. I have to say it is already a big, delicious beauty, one I will look forward to once it is released. I was too blown away to capture notes, but we all said this could be the finest local Zinfandel yet!
“Corral Wine Company is a production of Bell Family Vineyards.
“In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, we barreled our first batch of estate Pinot Noir. We’re still in that same barn, but we’ve made even more varietals from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast.
“We’re a family-owned operations – we’re not fancy, but we make good wine.”
THE WINES
Today I am presenting 4 Corral Wine Co.wines from this November release party. Winery notes come from their website or provided at the release party. My notes are amplified by my Wine Pod partner. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.
2022 Corral Chardonnay, Monterey County, 13.2% ABV, $38 (#1469)
Winery Notes: “Barrel fermented with 20% New French Oak and allowed to go through complete malolactic fermentation. This Chardonnay will appeal to a wide variety of palates. Composed of precision, minerality, and freshness but also bringing some structure, body, and concentration. Aromas of toasted oak, crème brûlée, baking spices, and roasted nuts with flavors of lemon custard, pineapple, and butterscotch.”
My Review: Yellow with a little green tinge in color. Meyer lemon with grassy notes. Not super buttery, which is a plus in our view! November 2024
2022 Corral Chardonnay, Highlands Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, 13.5% ABV, $52 (#1470)
Winery Notes: “Elegant and focused Chardonnay barrel fermented with 33% New French Oak allowed to go completey through malolactic fermentation which brings richness and an oily, silky mouthfeel with a medium to full body. Displaying aromas of tropical fruit, lemon, sweet baking spices, and hints of vanilla and clove. Rich flavors of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and stone fruit that lead way into a long lasting juicy finish because of its bright acidity.”
My Review: Yellow-gold in the glass. Butter deliciousness on the nose. Quite flavorful and classic. The acidity on the finish saves it from being too buttery. Elegant and balanced. November 2024
2021 Corral “Tres Amigos” Red Blend, Central Coast AVA, 14.2% ABV, $64 (#1471) 66% Syrah Highlands Ranch SLH, 20% Petite Sirah, 14% Cabernet
Winery Notes: “Deep purple hued wine showing off its inky color and intensity. With a nice array of aromatics: blackberries, crushed blueberries, black pepper, bay leaf, cedar, and dried herbs; matching its big flavor profile of black fruits, all spice, elegant velvety tannins, and its fresh acidity bringing it a nice long finish.”
My Review: Plum, a little chocolate and deliciousness on the palate. Smooth, with plenty of fruit and so easy on the tannins. Classy label! I want to serve this wine now. I took two home. November 2024
2021 Corral Cabernet Sauvignon, Armory Vineyard, Adelaida District, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo, 14.5% ABV, $87 (#1472)
Winery Notes: “Aromas of dark red cherry, blueberry cobbler, dark chocolate, roasted notes, vanilla, and new leather with hints of tobacco and black pepper. A juicy palate with lots of flavor made up of maraschino cherry, anise, and blackberry; finishing with nice elegant but firm tannins.”
My Review: Purple in color. Black pepper and raisin on the nose, almost a ruby port-like quality (but in a good way). Lots of white pepper and earth on the huge dark fruit palate. Cherry on the finish. That’s a big wine and definitely expresses the Paso Robles terroir. This wine needs to be cellared at least 5 years. We wondered what it would have tasted like had it been decanted. November 2024
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