Art comes in many forms. Sometimes an artist can be express their talent in multiple ways. After achieving success composing soundtracks for numerous major motion pictures, Alan Silvestri brought artistry to another field by creating Silvestri Vineyards.
During a recent visit to Carmel-by-the-sea, we chose the tasting room for Silvestri Vineyards as our first wine tasting stop. Although the day was gray, with scattered sprinkles, the tasting room was warm and inviting, with dark woods and brightly polished granite counter tops. In the background we heard movie soundtracks that Alan Silvestri had written. Wine guide Christi welcomed us and invited us to the tasting bar.
Christi told us that all of the Silvestri wines are made from estate grapes as she began our tasting flight. We started with their 2016 Rosé of Pinot Noir. With a silky, round mouth feel and an intriguing flavor of candied watermelon, this was a great introduction to the winemaker’s palate. Next up was their 2015 Chardonnay. We enjoyed the buttery aromas and flavors of oak and pear.
The first wine to make our “take home” list was their 2014 Pinot Noir. The cherry and dark plum notes, layered over vanilla and spice, made both of us insist on taking this home. Another delicious Pinot was their 2014 “Rising Tide” Pinot Noir. As fun as the other Pinot, but with a bit more acid and tannin, this really calls out for a thick steak smothered in bearnaise sauce.
We had quite an ambitious list of wineries to visit, so we thanked Christi for her hospitality, purchased our wine, and set off toward the next tasting that was mere steps away.
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
