Central Coast - Return to Paso Robles

Visits in This Issue:

11/24/95	11/25/95
Maison Deutz	Mission View
Wild Horse	York Moutain
Martin Brothers	Mastantuono
Adelaida	Live Oak
Norman	Zaca Mesa
Sycamore Farms	Fess Parker
Castoro Cellars

(Journal notes on trip to Central Coast. Regarding tasting notes, each wine was scored using the requisite sight, smell, and taste impressions. Scores reflect the author's opinion, and use an alpha-oriented rating system. "n/n" indicates no notes taken by the taster, and "n/t" indicates the wine was not tasted by that taster.

Friday, November 24, 1995

Picked up MP at 8:05 and headed off on what is now becoming an annual Central Coast tour. We're intending to hit some of the same old favorites, plus several new stops. Arrived at our first stop Maison Deutz at 11:15. Nice hilltop site, and comfortable tasting room. After a few glasses of bubbly and some browsing, headed out at 12:00.

Tasted at Maison Deutz:

Arrived at Wild Horse Winery at 12:45 to a very busy room (we stopped counting at 23). Man, this place is always busy. Serving 5 tastes N/C. Average visit and wines this time. Out at 1:15; tailgated for awhile and left for next stop about 1:35.

Tasted at Wild Horse:

Arrived at Martin Bros Winery at 1:50. First visit to this winery. Expecting them to be pouring a large group of Italian varietals, but were surprised to see only Sangiovese offered. Pouring 4 wines from the list N/C. Nice room and friendly staff, but the wines were merely average to below average quality. Out at 2:15 for some visits on the Westside of town.

Tasted at Martin Bros:

Arrived at Adelaida at 2:30 to slightly crowded room. Unfortunately, the last visit here (11/94) was so good (a tank tasting with winemaker John Munch), that it would've been hard to top. And, sure enough.... Tasting here is a stand-around affair (don't know if there is or ever was an actual bar), but it really poses no problems. You just sort of juggle glasses and note cards a bit. Wines didn't seem as flattering as on the last visit either. Pouring 5 wines for $2. Out at 3:00.

Tasted at Adelaida:

Arrived at Norman Vineyards at 3:15. Like Adelaida, we'd had a fabulous vist last time here (11/94) too (a barrel tasting with Art Norman). Alas, topping that visit would also prove not to be. Pouring 5 wines N/C. Out at 3:45.

Tasted at Norman:

Arrived at Sycamore Farms at 4:15 to a busy room. Pouring only Bonny Doon wines in a very farm-like atmosphere (herb garden, goats milling about the range, etc). Quite a range of wines, too -- from Chenin Blancs to Rhones to dessert infusions. Friendly staff made for a nice visit. Out 4:50 for a quickie last stop.

Tasted at Sycamore Farms:

Arrived at Castoro Cellars at 4:55 to a very busy room. Pouring 3 wines N/C, or 7 wines $2. Generally very good wines. Nice staff, too. Even though it was the end of an obviously busy day, our pourer allowed us to split a case discount between two of us. Out in search of dinner at 5:15.

Tasted at Castoro:

Dinner at McPhee's in Templeton. Highly recommended. Arrived 7:00 for our overnight in Paso Robles. I'd planned to compare tasting experiences and and enter the notes directly into a laptop computer, rather than just write into the journal. Seemed like a good idea. Wrong -- bad idea. What a time-sink! I can't seem to resist composing and correcting. So, for me, it seems to be easier to just scribble some notes at the end of the day, and then compile the whole thing later. Daily stats: 7 wineries, 35 wines.

Saturday, November 25, 1995

After breakfast, headed to first stop of the day. Arrived at Mission View at 10:10 to an interesting site. The Mission View tasting room shares some roadside digs next to Hwy 101 with of all things -- a doll museum! Apparently, this is just leased space until they finish the real tasting room at or nearer the winery, some 5 miles away. We are the first customers of the day, so we've got the place, and the pourer, to ourselves. We got the royal treatment from a nice, friendly, and knowledgeable lady, who poured 9 wines N/C. More than a few pleasant surprises here, too. Out at 10:50.

Tasted at Mission View:

Headed South to York Mtn. We tried to cover this winery yesterday, but time didn't permit after someone ran low on gas and we had to make a detour to tank up. We'd visited here on last trip (11/94), but Deb didn't go in. And, since we'd had such as unusual visit, MP and I decided we needed a witness this time. Arrived at at 11:15 to a quiet room. Pouring 9 wines for $1. Just as in the past, all of the wines were ice cold. Funny place. The wines were merely average, with some appearing to be anything but varietally correct. And yet, someone must find them appealing. They do seem to be popular, at least with locals. I suspect that just as a given restaurant can have a certain "type" of patron, this cold temperature thing must appeal to a particular type of customer. To each, his own. Out at 11:35.

Tasted at York Mtn:

Arrived at Mastantuano at 11:45 to a moderately busy room. Friendly staff pouring 4 wines N/C. Average to below average wines. Out at 12:05.

Tasted at Mastantuano:

Arrived at Live Oak at 12:10 to the small house that serves as the tasting room. This is the previous location of the Castoro Cellars tasting room, before they built their lovely new room just a 1/4 mile away. The house and propety has always been owned by Live Oak. So, once their tenant moved out, they moved in. Pouring 3 tastes N/C. One of the better Cabs I've had from the area. Out at 12:45, and headed South to Santa Ynez Valley for a couple more stops on the way home.

Tasted at Live Oak:

Arrived at Zaca Mesa at 2:55 to the usually busy room. Pouring 5 tastes N/C. Fabulous Syrah! Browsed around a bit, and out at 3:25.

Tasted at Zaca Mesa:

Arrived at Fess Parker at 3:30 to a busy room. First time here. This is a huge place with two serving bars, one per tasting program. The programs are: 5 wines for $3, or 8 wines for $5. We took the 8 wine selection, at the appropriate bar. Very good wines, surprisingly. I say surprisingly, because, judging by the parking lot full of Winnebagos, I expected this to be more of a touristy stop. For all the surprise that the wines brought, the fully merchandised tasting room did not. There was everything from Coonskin Caps to Coonskin bottle toppers. Also, late in the afternoon, ol' Fess himself comes down from his upstairs office to sign autographs. Quite a place. Out at 4:15, and headed home.

Tasted at Fess Parker:

Final stats for the day: 6 wineries, 35 wines; for a trip total of: 2 days, 13 wineries, and 70 different wines.