www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 4-10, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 45 CHILL It has been almost three years since Pierce Ranch shuttered its winery and tasting room to focus on selling grapes. Fortunately, some places still have a few bottles in stock. A Taste of Monterey on Cannery Row pours one of the label’s most vigorous wines, a 2017 Petit Verdot. The wine is rich in fruit with a sharp bite, but also leathery and parched, sharing both ends of the spectrum—and some stretches in between—in one glass, which would seem to make for a daunting sip, but… The wine is bold and boastful from the start, with aromas of rich plum, dark berries and rock-strewn earth almost beating down the varietal’s softer herbaceous notes. The floral notes prized in Bordeaux crumble into dry sage and violet dust on the palate—a good thing, in this case, as it gives an elusive depth to the wine’s earthier, meatier foundation. Whether it leans toward mineral or vegetal is submerged in a wash of fruit. Black cherries, blueberries and weathered plums have their way. The tannic structure of the wine allows these notions to linger. It is a lively and interesting wine— perhaps a bit boastful. Of course, these are the tendencies that cause winemakers to resign Petit Verdot to blends, useful for color and structure. But sometimes you want a strident wine, one that is eager to show off its flavors. And that is the 2017 Pierce Ranch Petit Verdot. The number of bottles available are, unfortunately, dwindling. A Taste of Monterey, 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. (831) 646-5446, atasteofmonterey.com. Go Big Although Pierce Ranch shut down, there are still bottles of its cocky Petit Verdot around. By Dave Faries SEND IDEAS TO: chill@montereycountynow.com DAVE FARIES ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 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 INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AND TAKEOUT Eat + Drink 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 www.abalonetti.com ’25 LUNCH & DINNER SERVED DAILY from 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari ’25 BEST RESTAURANT IN MONTEREY COUNTY! JOIN US NIGHTLY FOR DINNER AT 4:30PM TWO HAPPY HOURS DAILY 4:30-6PM & 8-9PM 3-Course Early Menu, $49, 4:30-6pm Daily Call or go to sardinefactory.com for details, reservations. 701 Wave Street, Monterey, 831-373-3775 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 BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT + BAR @ LOVERS POINT ★ CASUAL CALIFORNIA DINING INDOOR & PATIO DAILY AT 4:30PM 620 OCEAN VIEW BLVD. PACIFIC GROVE 831-375-2345 • BEACHHOUSEPG.COM LOVERS POINT BEACH CAFE OPEN DAILY, 9AM–4PM ’24 Best Restaurant in Pacific Grove OPEN EVERYDAY for DINNER at 4:30pm Offering all your favorites plus wine, cocktails, bottle and draft beers. Now Serving Snake River Farms’ American Wagyu Prime Rib. 763 Wave St., Monterey | 831.373.3778 | thewhalingstation.com ’25 Best Steak 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-’24 BEST PIZZA PLACE ’25 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 Indoor and Outdoor Dining on the Dog Friendly Patio Tapas (Happy) Hour 4:30–6pm Nightly Saturday & Sunday Brunch 9am–1:30pm 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com ’25 Best Appetizers/ Small Plates
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