A SLEEPOVER IN ARROYO GRANDE
Part 1
(CHAMISAL VINEYARDS)
It had been blistering in Los Angeles for weeks and weeks, so when our
friends, Candace and Craig, invited us for a sleepover at their lovely weekend
home “up north,” we were packed and in our car in a NY minute. “Up north” was Arroyo Grande (AG), a charming
little town near San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach,
set among rolling vineyards...
... and wonderful wineries and tasting rooms.
When we left that Saturday morning, the temperature was
already in the 90’s (at 9:30 a.m.!), and as we drove through the Valleys toward
Santa Barbara,
it peaked at 103. Folks down south and
back east always smile when So. Californians complain because our heat is “dry”
heat, they say… Well, not this summer.
Humidity covered Los Angeles like a wet dog who had no intention of
leaving. Who says there’s no climate
change? If I wanted humidity, I’d have never
left Manhattan.
But, as we passed Santa
Barbara and headed into the mountains, we forgot the
heat and humidity (we were in an air-conditioned car, after all) and gazed at
the beautiful scenery. We made a pit
stop in the quaint town of Los Olivos
and checked out the latest wines in the Wine Merchant Café, our favorite little
wine shop/restaurant in town.
We arrived in AG just in time for lunch and hung out in the
cooler climes till it was wine tasting time.
Our first stop was Chamisal Vineyards. In existence since 1973, Chamisal is the
first vineyard planted in the Edna
Valley.
The tasting room is in a big red barn affair in the midst of
one of its vineyards.
The tasting room was crowded...
...so we, along with
Candace and Craig’s beautiful daughter, Liza, opted for a table outside
overlooking the vineyard.
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| (oops - where's Richard?) |
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| There he is! |
First in flight was the 2011 Estate Pinot Gris ($24) - as
advertised this is a Pinot Gris, not a Pinot Grigio. It’s the same grape but is
produced in the Alsace
style, making it richer and fuller, which I prefer. I liked it.
Next up was the 2010 Califa Chardonnay ($40) made over 14
months (and lots of tastings) from the wineries very best blocks and clones. I
really loved its density and rich citrus flavor with a hint of
butterscotch. Yum.
Moving to “reds” – we sipped the 2011 Stainless Pinot Noir
($24). No oak or malolactic fermentation
(converting tart tasting malic acid found in grape must to softer tasting
lactic acid), it’s fresh and fruity with hints of pepper. It’s said to be
similar in style to a Beaujolais Nouveau, and I agree. Just slightly chilled,
it’s awesome.
We followed up with the 2010 Califa Pinot Noir ($60), a
classic pinot noir filled with rich ripe fruit and spice flavors. And, I love the classics.
Last, but certainly not least since it was my favorite
tasting at Chamisal, was the 2009 Estate Grenache ($38). Doing the ritual ‘sniff” before sipping, I
felt I was Brer Rabbit – “don’t throw me into the strawberry patch” when he was
really thinking “throw me in.” The strong strawberry scent, mixed with tastes
of cedar, red cherries and touches of pepper and anise, put me in red wine
wonderland. I really loved this velvety
wine.
Our smooth flight over, it was time to see what our next
landing would be like.
CHAMISAL VINEYARDS
7525 Orcutt
Road
San Luis Obispo,
California 93401
805-541-9463 - 866-808-9463
1 comment:
GREAT publish and impressive in turn …will bear a try all the tips..Thanks……
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