The Explorers Club Q2 2026
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Wine |
Tasting Highlights |
Ideal Pairings |
Winery Significance |
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Painted Rock Red Icon 2021 |
Inspired by classic Bordeaux, 41% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot. |
Grilled ribeye or prime steak Braised short ribs with red wine reduction Herb-crusted lamb Aged hard cheeses such as aged cheddar or gouda |
One of the Okanagan Valley’s benchmark producers, known for crafting Bordeaux-inspired wines. |
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Joyce Syrah 2021 |
Palate is energetic and beautifully balanced, revealing layers of juicy blackberry, black cherry, and charred raspberry, accented by notes of cracked pepper, sweet tobacco, and cured meat. |
Grilled lamb skewers with rosemary Smoked brisket or barbecued pork shoulder Duck breast with blackberry reduction Wild mushroom flatbread Aged Gouda, Comté, or sheep’s milk cheeses |
Family-owned winery based in Monterey County, dedicated to producing site-driven wines that reflect the unique character of California’s Central Coast. |
Painted Rock Red Icon 2021
Okanagan Valley, BC
A flagship Bordeaux-style blend from Painted Rock Estate Winery, showcasing the depth, structure, and precision of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.
Tasting Notes
A powerful yet refined expression of Okanagan Cabernet-driven blending, this wine opens with layered aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherry, and plum, accented by cedar, graphite, and subtle baking spice. The palate is structured and concentrated, with polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, elegant finish that reflects both richness and restraint. 41% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14.6%
Ideal Pairings
Grilled ribeye or prime steak
Braised short ribs with red wine reduction
Herb-crusted lamb
Aged hard cheeses such as aged cheddar or gouda
Winery Significance
Painted Rock Estate Winery is one of the Okanagan Valley’s benchmark producers, known for crafting Bordeaux-inspired wines of precision, depth, and age-worthy structure that consistently reflect site and vintage expression.
Joyce Syrah 2021
Monterey County, CA
A vibrant, cool-climate Syrah from California’s Central Coast, showcasing the purity, freshness, and savory complexity that have become hallmarks of Joyce Wine Company’s approach to Rhône varietals.
Tasting Notes
Elegant and expressive, this Syrah opens with lifted aromas of brambleberry, crushed violets, dried forest floor, and subtle applewood smoke. The palate is energetic and beautifully balanced, revealing layers of juicy blackberry, black cherry, and charred raspberry, accented by notes of cracked pepper, sweet tobacco, and cured meat. Silky tannins and bright natural acidity carry the wine through a refreshing, spicy finish, creating a vibrant and exceptionally food-friendly expression of cool-climate Syrah. Alcohol: 13.8%.
Ideal Pairings
Grilled lamb skewers with rosemary
Smoked brisket or barbecued pork shoulder
Duck breast with blackberry reduction
Wild mushroom flatbread
Aged Gouda, Comté, or sheep’s milk cheeses
Winery Significance
Joyce Wine Company is a family-owned winery based in Monterey County, dedicated to producing site-driven wines that reflect the unique character of California’s Central Coast. The 2021 Syrah is sourced primarily from the Arroyo Seco AVA, with additional fruit from the Santa Lucia Highlands, where rocky cobblestone and gravel soils combine with cooling Monterey Bay breezes to create ideal growing conditions. Crafted with 60% whole-cluster fermentation using native yeasts and aged for approximately nine months in neutral French oak, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its purity, texture, and sense of place. The result is a Syrah that balances savory complexity with freshness and elegance.
