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Monterey

Monterey AVA is in Monterey County, south of San Francisco. The long, narrow appellation is a 100-mile ribbon of land that extends from north Monterey County south to the edge of Paso Robles. Most of the AVA is considerably inland from the Pacific Coast, and to the east of the Santa Lucia mountain range. About 40,000 vineyard acres are inside the AVA, making it one of California’s larger appellations. Monterey County, in fact, produces almost as much wine as Napa County because the floor of the valley is taken up by large industrial vineyards producing grapes for bulk wine. However, there are also many premier wine estates within Monterey AVA and its numerous sub-appellations. Monterey AVA includes four recognized micro climates, ranging from a cool, maritime climate at the north end to what is known in California as a Region 4 climate in the south, meaning relatively hot and dry. Monterey AVA includes parts of Carmel Valley and Salinas Valley. More than 50% of the grapes grown in the Monterey AVA are Chardonnay, though the many terroirs and micro climates mean that numerous grapes grow well. Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Blanc are widely planted.

1997 Joseph Phelps Le Mistral

Lightly depressed cork

WS  90   
WE  90   

1999 Peter Michael Le Moulin Rouge

DE  *****   
ST  91+    
RP  90-93   

2004 Peter Michael Le Moulin Rouge

Light label condition issue

RP  95   
ST  93   
WS  92   

2017 Kosta Browne Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir

1.5ltr

WE  95   
JD  94   
WA  93   
JS  93   
WS  92   

2012 Kosta Browne Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir

WS  91   

2011 Paul Lato East of Eden Pisoni Vineyard Chardonnay

WA  95+    
VN  92   

2011 Paul Lato Lancelot Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir

WA  96   

2016 Paul Lato Lancelot Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir

JD  94+    
WA  92   
VN  92   

2013 Pisoni Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir

WA  96+    
WS  93   

2013 Pisoni Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir

Lightly depressed cork

WA  96+    
WS  93   

2006 Miner Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir

2007 Miner Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light label condition issue

2007 Miner Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir

Lightly elevated cork

2007 A.P. Vin Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Screwcap)

Light label condition issue

WS  93   

2009 A.P. Vin Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Screwcap)

Light label condition issue

WS  95   

2011 A.P. Vin Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Screwcap)

Light label condition issue

WA  91+    
VN  91   

2013 Bernardus Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir

VN  92   
WE  92   
WA  91   
WS  91   

1996 Talbott Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir

1996 Talbott Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue

1996 Talbott Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir

1980 Durney Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1980 Durney Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon

Very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1995 Fenestra Winery Merlot

Base neck fill

2012 Wrath Wines Boekenoogen Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; signs of past seepage

WE  94   
WA  90   

2012 Wrath Wines San Saba Vineyard Pinot Noir

Lightly depressed cork; signs of past seepage