Pelerin Wines

Chris Weidemann hasn't quit his day job as the cellar master and consultant at Paraiso Winery in Soledad. This enables him and his wife Cathy to utilize the Paraiso facility and run their own business Pelerin (2002). The minute 2,300 case production is some of the best hand-made wine in Monterey--but not without the countless hours of hardwork. The Weidemann family handles everything themselves: accounting, blending, sales management... Below are a couple of their products, that shouldn't be over-looked.

2007 Pelerin Sangiovese "Mesa Del Sol Vineyard", Arroyo Seco - 14.5% alcohol, $20 at Star Market in Salinas - If this were a person, it'd be the sophisticated one at the party acting mellow. There were many nuances co-existing harmoniously. Expect aromas of red Twizzlers, black licorice and dust.

2007 Pelerin (50% Zinfandel, 50% Syrah) "RTW", Monterey County - 14.8% alcohol, $15 AT Grove Market in Pacific Grove - If this were a person, it would be the big, loud guy at the party that everyone has to love. Its blueberry and black pepper characteristics come through because of the Syrah added. It gets its plummy, fruit-forward quaffability from the dose of Zinfandel. To learn more, visit: www.pelerinwines.com

Tannic Pinot: A Dying Breed

2007 Chalone "Estate" Pinot Noir Chalone, CA ($27 at Safeway)
The color is dark--Pinot is normally transparent. There's a noticeable variation in color from the center of the glass to the rim. Although there's nuances of cola, dark fig and dark cherries, I think the fruit's fading and the wine is growing tired. It's high in alcohol, which is one reason I seem to be getting irritated and emotional. Joel Ede, writer for the Monterey County Weekly is tasting this blind and thinks it could be a Syrah, which is a good guess considering the wine's a bit tannic and astringent. Much like Burgundy France, this Pinot was grown at the 1,800 ft elevation in a limestone soil that seems to gives it character. If this were a person it'd be one with backbone. 3/5 stars.

2010 Hahn Pinot Monterey

2010 Hahn Pinot Noir, Monterey ($10.99 at Safeway)
With a fairly transparent color, this wine weighs in at 14.5% alcohol and has just enough acidity to back up its fruit-forward identity. Expect aromas of cherries, raspberries and ripe strawberries. The texture is silky like satin sheets and the wine is inspiring. Before this epiphany, it seemed that inexpensive local and family owned Pinot did not exist. This winery has been making wine since 1980 and Paul Clifton, the current winemaker, surfs, which makes this product even cooler.

Arroyo Secco Syrah

2005 Morgan "Goats du Crow" 50/50 Grenache/syrah - Monterey a blonde hot chick reading a book and eating strawberries on Carmel Beach. She's into it! This tasted like the green leafs of under ripe strawberries with partially under ripe and overripe character. Prune and then sour jolly rancher candy. Real light like a Pinot would be. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

2004 Pelerin "Mesa Del Sol" Syrah, 9/14/07 - table 64 wants a local syrah, so what better than this gem? The blueberry, Andersen's Pea Soup, lavender, and violets nuances are welcomed by any primordial hunter-gather. It appears black and concentrated in the glass without being over-extracted. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

The World of Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon

2005 Georis Sauvignon Blanc- It’s rounder than most Sauvignon Blanc’s and has a Bordeaux style with various different tropical fruit flavors. This palette-cleanser has a waxy body that might make people imagine bees buzzing over grapefruits. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Hawkes Bay
2004 Sileni Semillon “The Circle” $15 – Canned asparagus and under ripe asparagus forced me to feel indecisive. “Should I drink it?” or “Should I pour it down the drain?” The wine was lean, but it had a nice fatness. I drank it all Last tasted 9/22/07 Drink now 

Loire Valley
Pouilly-Fume
2005 Ladoucette Pouilly Fume, Loire Valley $65 – too fat and it lacks acidity. Not austere enough, it’s flabby and there’s no intensity. Last tasted 10/15/07 Drink now-2013 

Loire Valley
Sancerre
2005 Domaine Vacheron– For someone that likes a lean, clean grapefruit flavored wine with steely qualities, give them this. This makes my tongue salivate just thinking about it. It’s a perfect counter to a bitter mixed greens salad. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

2005 Pascal Cotat "La Grande Cote", ($88) - I'm a rooky, but it's the best Sancerre I've ever had. I've tried a lot, I swear! Round but focused. It wasn't malic or hard and green like some other producers from this cool climate. Somehow it's viscous, silky and friendly too. It's like a young business woman in her mid-late twenties. It's smart and sexy. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

Bordeaux
Pessac-Leognon
2004 Domaine de Chevalier -displays grapefruit and passion fruit qualities that blew the Carbonnieux out of the water. It was complex! It's not to be drunk for another 10 years, but pretty dam good right now. This was Gabe's favorite of the whole tasting. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
Graves

2004 Ch. Carbonnieux - It was real round, but tasted sour after having those ripe strawberries near the cheese table. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 
Pauillac

2005 Blanc de Lynch-Bages ($550 case) - exotic passion fruits congregated with coconut fragments. What am I on a dessert island? Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 
Interesting Whites of US