Chateau Julien Monterey County | Carmel, CA

Chateau Julien Wine Tasting Notes

Six miles West of Carmel Valley village, and 6 miles East from the coast, you'll spot Chateau Julien's striking main building and tasting room, modeled after a French Chateau. There is a huge outdoor patio space, one section partly enclosed and supplied with heat lamps. The whole place was beautifully decorated for the holidays when we were there in December. This would be a great place to hold a large party or wedding, fer sure.

We called ahead for the free winery tour and tasting, (12:30 & 2:30), but you can drop in anytime for a tasting without the tour for $5.

Our guide Chelsea started us out on the beautiful patio, along with just one other couple (a lesbian couple from vegas with a clip-on lizard earring, who where great tour companions, and not shy about asking good questions). She gave us a quick wine tasting 101 course, then walked us through the vineyard to another big barn-like building with high ceilings, the barrel room. This is where they age the wine in oak barrels, stacked 6 high and weigh 600 pounds each (when full).

Chateau Julien produce wines under six different labels. Many wineries do this for different price points. So, in other words, they make cheaper wines under one label, and more expensive under a different label. Different labels for different customers.

We finished the tour by walking back around to the big outdoor machinery, where the grapes are collected and processed. All grapes come exclusively from Chateau Julien's own vineyards, which is rare, and they like to make 100% variatal wines, (little, or no, blending of variatals).

The overall experience makes Chateau Julien a must-stop winery. And you really should do the tour & tasting, which is free, because just a wine tasting in the tasting room is $5. Go figure?

Chateau Julien Wines

Pick	Rating	Vintage	Type	Varietal	Name
	89	2007	White	Pinot Gris / Grigio	Monterey County Pinot Grigio
	89	2007	White	Gewurtraminer	Monterey country Gewurztraminer