Bernardus Marinus
Bernardus Winery 5 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley 298-8021, bernardus.com
When the late Bernardus Marinus (Ben) Pon first came through Carmel Valley, he dreamed of making a truly Bordeaux-style red blend with European sensibilities but bursting with California-style fruit forwardness. Many thought this impossible, saying it wasn’t hot enough around here long enough to fully ripen the Bordeaux varietals upon which such a dream would depend. Although Pon died in 2019, he was with us long enough to prove his naysayers wrong – the 210-acre Marinus Vineyard soaks in the Tassajara Road sun by day and covers up for the chilly nights to embolden and structure the fruit to yield what many an oenophile now recognize as one of the world’s great red wines. “Taste A Dream” was Mr. Pon’s slogan, and now we can.