38 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY January 19-25, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com CHILL There’s nothing like the taste of Chardonnay in the morning. For wine aficionados this is literally true—our taste buds, well-rested after hours of sleep, can pick up on things they might miss later in the day. For winemakers, this makes morning the perfect time for blending. And so it was that Kirk Gafill, general manager of Big Sur’s Nepenthe and restaurant Wine Director Aengus Wagner arrived at Roar Wines in Castroville one morning in late November, palates ready for the annual Nepenthe Cuvee blending. Joined by Roar Vineyard Manager Adam Franscioni and Winery Manager Nick Franscioni, plus winemaker Scott Shapley, the group began by tasting six component samples, made up of grapes from three different Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards, each with a unique composition of oak aging. After each component has been tasted the real fun begins—blending, say, 25 percent of component A with 25 percent of D and 50 percent of E to see what results. You might think that the bright, citrus-heavy flavors in D will blend well with the refreshing, softer palate of E—you’d be wrong. The sour citrus of A combined with a little more of that refreshing E and just a dash of the buttery tones of C? Now we’re getting somewhere. Each of the 12 distinct blends gets a roundtable critique, an experience that evokes the feeling of a creative writing workshop. In a second round of tasting, five finalists are narrowed to two, then—finally—one. And what is this blend distinctive enough to win over the whole table? Keep an eye on Nepenthe’s wine list to find out. Mix A Lot Blending the 2021 Nepenthe Cuvee by Roar is an experience in exponential flavor. By Tajha Chappellet-Lanier SEND IDEAS TO: chill@mcweekly.com AENGUS WAGNER INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AND TAKEOUT Eat + Drink BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT + BAR @ LOVERS POINT ★ Indoor dInIng & Take-ouT daIly, 4:30pm 620 Ocean View BlVd. Pacific GrOVe 831-375-2345 • beachhousepg.com lovers poInT Beach cafe Is also offerIng Take-ouT daIly, 9am-4pm 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 2 HOURS FREE PARKING www.abalonetti.com ’22 OPEN FOR INDOOR DINING AND TAKE-OUT Everyday 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari Fresh Seafood • Salads Pastas • Appetizers Desserts Parking at the door Open Daily 11am-9pm Sunday Brunch 10:30am-2pm Fisherman’s Wharf #2 373-2818 Safety Measures In Place VOTED BEST BLOODY MARY ’22 Fisherman’s Wharf’s Newest Restaurant Serving Fresh Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Sandwiches Open Daily at 11:30am Great views at the end of the Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 DINE IN OR TAKE OUT Seaside’s Finest The Oven Pizzeria (831) 899-1762 • 720 Broadway, Seaside Voted Monterey County’s Best Fish & Chips TEN YEARS IN A ROW! 256 Figueroa St, Wharf #2, Monterey • 831.372.0581 • www.lbpmonterey.com ’22 Open Daily 11:30am Mon-Fri, 11am Sat & Sun Offering indoor dining and takeout 4 – 8pm Wednesday – Sunday Call 831-333-1200 or go online bistromoulin.com 867 Wave Street Monterey 831-333-1200 ’22 Voted Best French Restaurant We’re Open! Come In or Carry Out! Open at 4pm Mon-Thurs • Open at 3pm Fri Open at 12pm Sat.& Sun. 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey giannispizzamonterey.com 831-649-1500 BEST PIZZA ’08-’22 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
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