Category: Wine Blog/Reviews

THE STORY

We recently had a wine pick-up out in Carmel Valley, so we packed up our extremely large pup and headed out. We started our day at Corral Wine Co. The tasting menu had plenty of new things to try – plus a revisit of previous favorites – their 2024 Sauvignon Blanc and 2022 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. Today’s post will be focused on the new wines we tried.

And – newsflash – we finally joined their wine club! While Corral is one of the wineries which has generously recognized my industry status, I was not invited to their member parties. Out of respect for their wines and those elusive parties, we are now members! We had been talking about it for years, and this tasting sealed the deal. 

My last post about Corral Wine Co. was here: American Wine Society Monterey Chapter Scopes Out Corral’s Fabulous New Outdoor Space! I’ve written about them several times – just type “Corral” in the Decanting Monterey search bar.

THE WINERY

From their website: “In 2017, in a barn in Corral de Tierra, California, we barreled our first batch of estate Pinot Noir. We’re still in that same barn, but we’ve made even more varietals from some of the best grapes on the Central Coast.

“We’re a family-owned operations – we’re not fancy, but we make good wine.”

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 5 Corral Wine Co. wines. Winery notes come from the tasting sheet or their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ notes.

2024 Corral Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Bell Ranch Vineyard, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County, $36 (#1741)

Winery Notes: “Vibrant aromas of strawberry, raspberry tea, honeydew melon, and white peach with hints of ed fruit. The aromas lead way into flavors of watermelon, passion fruit, and citrus with hint of white peach and mandarin on the palate.”

My Review: Pale peach in the glass. Mellow nose, with melon, citrus, and rose petal notes. Slightly tart on the palate with a slightly citrusy finish. March 2026

2023 Corral Chardonnay, Monterey County, $44 (#1742)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of grilled pineapple, lemon custard with hints of apple and pear. Subtle notes of baking spices, toasted vanilla, and roasted nuts. On the palate, Meyer lemon, green apple, and white peach. Hints of honey and vanilla with a creamy texture enhanced by a nice long oily finish.”

My Review: Golden in the glass with toast and caramel on the nose. Heavy toast on the palate, slightly bitter finish. March 2026

2022 Corral Pinot Noir Canyon Springs, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County, $64 (#1743)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of dark fruit, dried fig, and earthiness complimented by cedar with hints of sweet baking spices and hazelnut. The use of French oak barrels integrate soft tannins on its long finish.”

My Review: Such different fruit and terroir after just tasting the SLH Pinot Noir. Caramel on the nose. A leaner palate and slightly vegetal with a tannic finish. March 2026

2022 Corral Tres Amigos Red Blend, Central Coast, 14.2% ABV, $56 (#1744) 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Sirah

Winery Notes: “With aromas of Strawberry, plum, baking spices, black pepper, and sage finishing with a dark toast. This wines soft, fine grained tannins bring the structure and toasty aromatics and flavor.”

My Review: Rose petals, orange and cranberry on the nose. Rich palate of crushed fruit with a nice mouth feel and a slightly bitter finish. I guessed it had some grenache in the mix. A tasty blend. March 2026.

2022 Corral Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles AVA, $87 (#1745)

Winery Notes: “Aromas of bing cherry, plum, and spices with hints of peppercorn, cedar, wilder herbs, leather, and a dusty finish. With rich flavors of plum, blueberry cobbler, dark chocolate, violets, and hints of tobacco leaf.”

My Review: Purple in the glass. Clove on the nose. Rich palate with eucalyptus notes. I like this wine. March 2026

THE TASTING ROOM

VISIT US

“We’d love to pour for you at our Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village: 19 East Carmel Valley Rd. Suite A, Carmel Valley, CA”

Open Sunday – Thursday 12-5 p.m., Friday – Saturday 12-6-ish p.m.

© Decanting Monterey 2026

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

THE STORY

I’m always on the lookout for winery announcements that they are releasing a new vintage of one of my favorite wines.  When Chesebro announced the release of the 2018 La Montagne Sauvage, I headed to the tasting room with my neighbor and friend, Sue. We were able to taste both the 2017 and the 2018 vintages. Caught up in the moment by its youthfulness, I later realized I didn’t capture any tasting notes

The La Montagne Sauvage has been one of my favorite Rhone blends made with grapes from the CM Ranch right here in Carmel Valley.  The fact that one can get this wine for $35 is one of the reasons I respect Chesebro.  Quality wines representative of our terroir at affordable prices.  Stop in and tell them Decanting Monterey sent you. 

THE WINES

Today, I am showcasing just one Chesebro wine.  I last presented their wines to you in December 2025 here: Chesebro Releases Its 2017 Classics! Winery notes come from the label, their tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted.  Any errors are mine and mine alone; however, as a general rule, I do not correct any typos from the winery’s website.

2018 Chesebro La Montagne Sauvage, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $35 (#1734)

Winery Notes: “Our proprietary Rhone belnd of Syrah (80%), Grenache (15%) and Mourvedre (5%) modeled after the legendary wines of the Southern Rhone Valley in France. Grown at 1800′ elevation, this is our flagship wine and our most popular blend from a small 2.5 acre vineyard in the mountains of Carmel Valley. Rich and broading with aromas of dark blackberries, chaparral, sage and all-spice. An ageworthy and deeply profound example of what these Rhone varietals can do on the granite soils of Upper Carmel Valley. ONLY 80 Cases Produced”

94 points – Wine Enthusiast: “This blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre coalesces with power and grace. Dense aromas of boysenberry and graphite lead from the nose into a thick palate awash in creamy tannins. Flavors of roasted espresso, chocolate, blackberry and peppercorn are peaking now, so find this bottle and drink up.” — Matt Kettmann

My Review: Dark garnet in color. Get past the alcohol to the dark, intense plum, black berry, dark cherry and some cola aromas. Cola and dark cherry on the palate.  This is going to grow into a lovely wine.  Give it some time. April 2026

THE TASTING ROOM

“Come Raise a Glass with Us! We are located at 19D East Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village.”

“We are now open for tasting on Friday through Sunday from noon until 5 PM and by apointment on other days. Due to our limited capacity please make an appointment on all days so that we may better serve you. Appointments can either be set up through this page…or by contacting Alex directly at Alex@chesebrowines.com or 831-238-2618. Due to our remote location, appointments are not available for the winery itself….” @chesebrowinestastingroom

© Decanting Monterey 2026

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

THE STORY

I love it when an out-of-area winery comes to the Monterey Peninsula and that was the case when Lopai Cellars from Paso Robles recently showcased their wines to the American Wine Society Monterey Chapter. Paul Lopez and his wife Michelle brought their exquisite lineup for us to taste in lovely Pacific Grove. At this event, we tasted 6 of their wines, complemented by appetizers provided by our members.

This is my first post all about Lopai Cellars wines.

THE WINERY

Their story begins with Paul and his son Brian’s ancestors who settled in the San Luis Obispo area in the 1860’s, farming the land before there was the plethora of vineyards we see today. Fast forward to modern times. Paul brings a wealth of winemaking experience, having worked over the past 10 years with some of the most esteemed labels in Paso Robles. Now he’s channeling that expertise into his own craft at Lopai Cellars, nestled on the picturesque west side of the Willow Creek District in the Paso Robles AVA, just a short 10.5 miles from the stunning coastline. They purchased their vineyard in 2019 and produced their first wines in 2023.

I encourage you to read more about the winery here: https://lopaicellars.com/story/.

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 6 Lopai Cellars wines. Winery notes come from their website or the tasting sheet. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from the wineries’ websites.

2023 Lopai Cellars Rose, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 13.5% ABV, $35 (#1735) 100% Grenache

My Review: Rosy peach, apricot in color. Watermelon, peach, Meyer lemon on the nose. Light palate. April 2026

2023 Lopai Cellars Albariño, Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County, 12.5% ABV, $50 (#1736)

Winery Notes: “Nose- honeysuckle, vanilla, peach, pear. Palate – Nectarine, tangerine zest, lychee, Nilla wafer, granite. crisp and clean.”

My Review: Light golden in color. Some viscosity in the glass. Grilled pineapple. Lots of minerality on the palate with bright acidity and a touch of grilled pineapple. A very rich palate. April 2026

2021 Lopai Cellars Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 13.8% ABV, $80 (#1737)

Winery Notes: “Nose – cherry cola, slight eucalyptus, dried petals, cranberry, mixed berry pie Palate – Tart cherry, cocoa, raspberry, tomato leaf, hint of basil, woodiness, chalky tannins, structured, red berries, complex.”

My Review: Beautiful dark garnet with a purple rim. Plum, juicy blackberry and blueberry on the nose. Rich, smooth palate with some cherry cola notes. Very tasty. April 2026

2021 Lopai Cellars Estate Syrah, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 14.9% ABV, $80 (#1738)

Winery Notes: “Nose – cassis, cracked peppercorns, violet, ripe blackberries Palate – Tart under ripe raspberries, savory notes of peppered duck breast, and a touch of fennel seed.”

My Review: A dark beauty in the glass with a dark purple rim. Alcohol on the nose is compensated by a lovely texture on the palate. Deep fruit comes off a bit over extracted. This was the group’s favorite wine of the event! April 2026

2021 Lopai Cellars Estate Petite Sirah, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 13.2% ABV, $80 (#1739)

Winery Notes: “Nose – sage, allspice, blueberry, clove Palate – Cranberry sauce, chocolate covered coffee bean, roasted herbs, sweet tobacco, luxardo cherry, lavender. Smooth, round, supple finish.”

My Review: Inky in the glass – so dark, not a rim to be seen! There is a smokey darkness of black fruit on the nose. Smooth palate of dark blackberry and blueberry. Some tannins on the finish. We liked this wine and it sold out quickly! April 2026

2021 Lopai Cellars Nocturnes, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, 14.1% ABV, $80 (#1740) 58% Petit Verdot/38% Petite Sirah/4% Syrah Blend

Winery Notes: “Nose – floral, blueberry, mint, and spice Palate – Concentrated dark fruit is layered with savory spice and floral.”

My Review: Darkest possible purple in the glass. Pretty legs decorate the glass. Intense palate of juicy dark fruit. Nothing over extracted here just delicious. This wine gets a “wow” from me! I took some home. April 2026

THE TASTING ROOM

Find where Lopai landed.

“Our tasting room is located at 1380 Live Oak Road in Paso Robles, where we share the space with The Royal Nonesuch Farm – another small producer we respect, and a good sign of what you’ll find when you arrive.”

HOURS: Wednesday–Saturday: 10:30 am – 4:00 pm.  Visit their website to make a reservation!

© Decanting Monterey 2026

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon