Shale Canyon Wines is a new producer vinting small lots of hand crafted varietals of Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel.
2008 and 2009 production will be about 850 cases per year. Long term production goals are between 2,500 to 4,000 cases per year. Production will be focused on six to eight varietals, including our own estate wines from recently planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Tempranillo and Mourvedre.
Trry the Blair Pinot Noir, the Shale Canyon Merlot and Shale Cab Franc.

Very good wines for a great price.

Very impressive Pinot vintages. The ever so delicate grapes are grown right in the St. Lucia highlands where the cool coastal air enters through an inlet in the valley and keeps the berries cool and mild. The result is an amazing explosion of flavors that hints of fruit varietals suitable for any occasions.

The sommelier on attendance was particularly witty and knowledgeable, a fine value of entertainment for $5. The tasting room's ambiance looked affluent but nothing pretentious, we felt welcome and greeted with smiles and laughter...well, a bottle of good Pinot Noir will always produce a smile.

Perched on a south facing rocky slope in Carmel Valley, California, 1,100 Bordeaux varietal grapevines are hand manicured and pampered to produce a sumptuous Cabernet blend.

These vines relish warm summer days and cool evening ocean breezes. Hand picked and crushed by the Crist family, this estate grown wine is lovingly hand crafted.

This tiny Hillside vineyard has produced a fantastic rich Cabernet that is both intense and classic with the feel of a top Bordeaux and the ripeness of a Napa wine. This Cab does have little amounts of the other Bordeaux varietals Blended in that give complexity and style to this wine, and have done so perfectly. The fruit is dark and robust and has super depth and balance. It starts off with a wonderful nose of black fruit, wild flowers, violets and a woody sage note. The mouth is thick and full with vibrant life and brightness with Currants, red and black Berries, cherry and fresh plum flavors that are tucked in seamless layers with mineral, smoke, cedar, cigar box and Vanilla. The color is very pure garnet and shines in the glass with purple edges. The wine is robust and shows a nice acidity and firm tannins that give it structure and focus that will age very well and should continue to develop for the next 3-5 years. With only 96 cases made, Spencer’s Cabernet Sauvignon can only be found in a few local restaurants and bottle shops in Carmel and Carmel Valley, This wine won’t last long.

Wow what an inviting tasting room. I felt as though I had mistakenly walked into someone's living room. It is beautiful and cozy comfortable. Very upscale but not stuffy. The staff was incredibly wonderful and knowledgable of wine in general and guided me through the tasting with tidbits of information on the family, the vineyards and the tie into all the movie posters on the walls from all the movies Mr. Silvestri has written and composed. Quite an artistic wonder with the artistic driven musical passion combined with wnderful production of all his full bodied wines. A tasting room not to be missed.