Monterey County and its Santa Lucia Highlands region is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and while Joyce Vineyards makes both of those from that area with success, winemaker Russell Joyce wants to tap other, historically cool plots in the area.
With his 2017 Chenin Blanc, Joyce pulls fruit from deep in Carmel Valley out on Cachagua Road where the grapes were planted in the late 1960s in what was then Durney Vineyard, which became Heller Estate and was bought by the local Massa family in the fall of 2017.
The Chenin Blanc – a rare varietal in the area with only a few others produced in small amounts – is ripe with crisp flavors of light, sweet stone fruit, honey sweetness and brioche with a clean, mineral finish.
Joyce and his team handpicked the grapes early and produced only a few hundred cases. The wine will only be available for purchase in their Carmel Valley tasting room with a six-bottle limit starting in October 2018.
JOYCE VINEYARDS 1 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. 659-2885, joycevineyards.com
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