We are going to venture out of Carmel Valley AVA and into another one of my favorites, Arroyo Seco AVA. Back in 2019, we took a family drive down 101 to Greenfield and back up through the valley just so I could see first hand the “Greenfield potatoes” – the big rocks in the vineyard soil – of the Arroyo Seco AVA. We know how to have a good time!
The Monterey County Vintners and Growers says this about the Arroyo Seco AVA: “First planted in 1962, this AVA extends from a steep canyon at its westernmost border, opening to encompass the benches around the Salinas River near the towns of Soledad and Greenfield. Bordeaux grape varieties prosper in the mouth of the canyon, which is protected from wind and warmed by reflective heat generated the surrounding cliffs. The valley floor is much cooler, providing ideal climactic conditions for the Burgundian varietals. Integral to this area’s soils are the “Greenfield Potatoes” – small cobblestones which store and release heat and provide excellent drainage.”
When the White Oak shopping center in Carmel Valley became a row of tasting rooms, we discovered Chesebro wines. We were intrigued by the delicious, white varietals we weren’t so familiar with (Albariño, Vermentino), and impressed by the red blends. Quality, artisan wines at affordable prices.
From the Chesebro Wines Facebook page
I immediately became a fan of the Chesebro Syrah-driven Rhône blend, La Montagne Sauvage, which I presented several years ago at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar. We became fans of the tasting room staff and visited often when in town. Chesebro has been very helpful to me over the years in my wine education efforts.
From www.chesebrowines.com: “Mark took a crush job at Bernardus Winery under Don Blackburn in the fall of 1994, and ended up staying until the spring of 2005. First working in the cellar, then as Enologist, he eventually became Winemaker in January of 1999. He basically held every production job available at this 50,000 case winery. Mark notes that this was truly his real winemaking education: it taught him not only about winemaking, but also about the extreme importance and impact of farming. He candidly observes that wine is very easy to botch up in the winery, but it can never be better than the raw materials. Respect for this concept became the guiding force in his approach to the production of fine wine.”
“With lots of 300 cases or less, and a penchant for offbeat, as well as mainstream varietals, Chesebro’s production may be small, but the effort is prolific. We are passionate about true varietal expression, as well as preserving the unique voice of each vineyard site, from soil to glass. All of our wines are made solely from our vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Carmel Valley AVA’s.” They own Cedar Lane vineyard in Arroyo Seco, which has supplied grapes to other wineries, including Mercy and Parsonage.
Chesebro 2012 Las Arenas, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, 14.4% ABV, $25
According to the bottle, “Las Arenas refers to the sandy soils of Cedar Lane Vineyard. This Rhone style blend of 67% Grenache and 33% Syrah, resulting in a wine that combines intense aromatics with smooth texture and bright acidity.” Wine Enthusiast rated the Chesebro 2013 Las Arenas 90 points and the 2011 La Montagne Sauvage (another favorite of mine), 93 points.
My Review: Blackberry on the nose, followed by plum and cherry with bright acidity on the palate. This wine alternates for me between a smooth finish and a more tannic, woody, leather finish. I presented the 2013 vintage at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar Spring 2019, which everyone loved. The 2015 was well received at the October 2019 Northern Virginia AWS meeting. Recommend decanting. May 2020
Buying Chesebro Wines: From the Chesebro Wines Facebook page: “Although we are not currently open for tastings, Chesebro wines remains at your disposal for all your Summer sipping wine needs. Contact us directly (831) 238-2618 or email info@chesebrowines.com to place an order for curbside pickup or free local delivery.”
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