Wines from Arroyo Seco
The Mission 2011 Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco)
- Editors' Choice
- $20
This tastes bone dry, with cleansing acidity and firm minerality. It offers subtle layers of green apples, figs and tropical fruits, plus an edge of sweet vanilla.
— S.H.
(4/1/2013)
Hug 2005 Cedar Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir (Arroyo Seco)
- Online Exclusive
- $29
There’s not a lot of Pinot grown in this cool Salinas Valley appellation because most of the grapes are white, but judging from this wine, there should be. It has the medium-bodied, silky texture and crisp acids you want in a fine Pinot, as well as flavorful cherry, cola, raspberry, coffee and spice flavors that lead to a dry, polished aftertaste.
— S.H.
(2/1/2007)
La Rochelle 2005 Classic Clones Pinot Noir (Arroyo Seco)
- $42
Here’s a big, ripe, dry, complex, voluptuous Pinot that comes from a cool Monterey region better known for dry whites. It shows a nice tension between acidity, silky tannins, charred, sweet oak and bright, pure fruit flavors of cherries, cola and raspberries, with a slightly funky, leathery undertow.
— S.H.
(10/1/2007)
Wente 2007 Reliz Creek Pinot Noir (Arroyo Seco)
- Online Exclusive
- $25
Few Pinots at this price are this nice to drink so soon. The wine is dry and elegant, crisp and silky, offering deep flavors of cherries, raspberries, cola, cinnamon spice and sweet, smoky oak.
— S.H.
(2/1/2011)
McIntyre Vineyards 2007 Mission Ranch Pinot Noir (Arroyo Seco)
- $36
This little appellation in the Salinas Valley is on an upswing with Pinot Noir, as evidenced by this fine bottling. It’s rich, as you’d expect from the perfect 2007 vintage, and well balanced, with the cherry, raspberry, cola and spice flavors bracketed by crisp acidity and smooth tannins. Probably not an ager, but a wine to watch.
— S.H.
(5/1/2011)
J. Lohr 2002 Arroyo Vista Vineyard Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco)
- $25
Long in candied lime, papaya and buttered toast flavors, this lovely sipper is also crisp in acids. All the fruit drinks clean and minerally pure, like mountain water.
— S.H.
(5/1/2005)
J. Lohr 2003 Riverstone Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco)
- Best Buy
- $14
One of the best Chards in this price category, this Monterey example is rich in tropical fruit, peach and spice flavors, and crisp in acidity. It has smoky oak, buttercream, a bit of lees—in other words, the works.
— S.H.
(11/15/2005)
Carmel Road 2006 Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco)
- $35
Very ripe and new oaky, but the acidity is so vibrant, it provides that much-needed balanced kick. Flavorwise, this Chard is a blast of orange Slurpee, pineapple tart, vanilla crème brûlée and cinnamon spice. It sure is an easy wine to drink.
— S.H.
(12/15/2008)
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