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

Napa Zinfandel

2004 Chase Zinfandel “Hayne Vineyard” – Napa (9/31/07) – Thin candy like and syrupy cool-aid, viscous and a little rough. The lady broke the cork, so I gave her my wine key. I got so drunk off this wine that I didn’t take notes. For $75 on the wine list, I’d rather have this than Turley’s Hayne. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Central Coast Zinfandel

2005 Ridge “Lytton Springs” Zinfandel, California
This is the epitome of hedonism. It’s so concentrated that it’ll stain the teeth pure black. Ridge has become a benchmark name for California Zinfandel production. Although this wine has dark berries and blackberry jam on the palette, it’s not over-the-top like super sweet and candied Zinfandels from Paso Robles. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

2004 Ridge, Geyserville - metallic pencil shavings, straw-cigar-box Pauillac qualities. I got some candied old vine cotton candy. Not like anything from Paso, more Bordeaux style because of its lean traits. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Low Standards

I woke up in my buddy's attic at 7:00 a.m. and knew that it was time to get up and chase waves. Upon leaving his house I noticed that it was overcast and rainy. Nevertheless, I headed to where I thought the waves would be good. Unfortunately, I was wrong and the wind was from the west. No way would I be surfing when it's cold, windy and inconsistent right? Wrong.

I scaled down the rocky cliff with my ripped, wet wetsuit with hopes of cracking the lip on one of those set waves. The wind was wrong and I began my cold wait for a wave. I paddled for one and barely kept the nose of my board from pearling and had to air drop over kelp-covered boulders. When the wave mushed out, I kept driving straight toward the beach instead of letting the wave run away from me. Soon, I was getting close to the rocks without getting a chance to do maneuvers. It's all good.

I arrived at my buddy Ben's house to shoot the sh&% and sample some wine. We started with a 2009 Poet's Valley Riesling from the Columbia Valley ($15) . If I blind tasted it, I would've guessed it was from Austria. There was ample acid with a touch of sweetness on the tongue. Seemed cloying at first, but was actually quite good. It was clear in color and the alcohol was only 12.9%, which made it easy to quaff.

Then, I blind tasted the 2008 Château Fleur La Mothe ($15 at Costco). It tasted pretty smoky and oaky, but wasn't bitter enough to be a Syrah. It went good with the massive Rib Eye we ate.

2007 Sin Zin Zinfandel ($10 at Costco) - the tannins were soft and the fruit forward qualities made this wine seem hedonistic and easy to sip ($10 at Costco). It reminded me of eating cotton candy at a carnival.

Taylor Fladgate 10 year Tawny Port ($20 at Costco)- the wine outshines the one below, but not by much.

Morgado Tawny Port - for $5.99 a bottle at Trader Joes, I feel inspired to be like Keruac and sip wine and write poetry.

Shane Beschen shreds because he is always surfing, "I'm out there when the waves are good. Hell, I'm out there even when the waves aren't good." The same goes for wine. I surf cold, bumpy waves and sip cheap port.