38 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com CHILL Most wine tasting rooms offer flights, designed as a progression starting with the most light and pleasant wines, burrowing toward the boldest reds. But say you plan to visit several tasting rooms in one go. Why not develop a flight that builds from one place to the next? The idea is to try one glass at each venue and have them select a starting point, middle and finish. It’s a tricky prospect, as the wineries may focus their attention on different styles. And it does force them to change tactics a bit. For example, Blair Estate normally opens with a rosé. In this instance, however, their 2018 Pinot Gris takes the lead—a friendly bouquet of juiced pear and stonefruit with a whisper of orange blossom that follows through on the palate, adding notions of toasted almond and pickled ginger. It’s a neat opener—dry and crisp. Hahn Estate generally rotates through two whites, followed by three reds in their flight. Pared down to a single offering, for the middle portion of the flight they selected a 2021 SLH Chardonnay. It’s weightier than the Pinot Gris, with rich pineapple and resinous zest trailed by comforting impressions of split oak and vanilla. But there’s a bright, fresh apple snap that leaves the palate primed. It’s a smart choice that allows Wrath Wines to pour a 2020 Pinot Noir from the San Saba Vineyards. Modest in body but dense in its earthy savor, the wine unveils black cherry, smoldering oak, dusky spice and the languid poise of distant tropical flowers. It’s the right finish to this expedition, a flight of wine around Carmel Plaza. Fly Over Turning a wine walk into a flight can be rewarding—and get you through more tasting rooms. By Dave Faries SEND IDEAS TO: chill@mcweekly.com DANIEL DREIFUSS Indoor and outdoor dInIng and takeout Eat + Drink OPEN EVERYDAY for DINNER at 4:30pm Offering all your favorites plus wine, cocktails, bottle and draft beers. 763 Wave St., Monterey 831.373.3778 thewhalingstation.com ’23 Best Steak and Martini WOOD FIRED PIZZAS, BURGERS, PASTA, SALADS, SANDWICHES AND MORE 11:30AM MON-FRI, 10AM SAT & SUN melvilletav.com 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS Sun-Thurs 4-6pm WEEKEND BRUNCH WITH BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS Indoor, Outdoor Dining & Take Out Tapas (Happy) Hour 4:30-6pm Nightly Newly Remodeled Dog Friendly Garden Patio Now Open! 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 www.abalonetti.com ’23 OPEN FOR INDOOR DINING AND TAKE-OUT Everyday 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari 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 ’23 JOIN US NIGHTLY FOR DINNER AT 5pm TWO HAppY HOURS DAILY 5-6pm & 8-9pm Call or go to sardinefactory.com for details, reservations. 701 Wave Street, monterey, 831-373-3775 BEST RESTAURANT IN mONTEREY! 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 Monterey’s MOST Recommended Pizzeria 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 ’98-’23 KALI GOLD EXTRACTS Locally grown cannabis, locally extracted shatter • sugar badder • crumble GET YOUR LOCAL GOLD RUSH LIC#: C11-0001324 AVAILABLE AT: Canna Cruz SALINAS 1156 Abbott St Higher Level SEASIDE 1440 Canyon Del Rey Blvd Element 7 MARINA 234 Reservation Rd
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