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Michael was featured in the latest edition of Wine Enthusiast magazine, December 2016

Michael was featured in the latest edition of Wine Enthusiast, December 2016. Here is an excerpt:

Wine & Ratings

The Hidden Treasures of Monterey

Get to know the winemakers and vineyards who are shaping the future of Arroyo Seco, Chalone and Carmel Valley in California’s Central Coast.

By Matt Kettmann

Chalone

Rugged and Remote

Like the out-of-place volcanic spires of the nearby Pinnacles National Park that shoot toward the sky, the remote, rugged Chalone AVA is an anomaly. Despite scarce water, nearly impervious soil and treacherous chaparral all around, about 300 acres of vineyard survive against all odds. It also produces what just might be the most distinctive wines in California.

The region’s late pioneer, Dick Graff, built the Chalone brand into one of the first globally respected American wineries, thanks to success at the historic Judgment of Paris tasting in 1976. The region’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay remain incredibly ageworthy and reflective of the terroir.

Today, the Chalone AVA is being discovered by a generation of winemakers that is finding success with more obscure varietal grapes like Mourvèdre. After years of relative isolation, due in part to Diageo’s hands-off ownership of the Chalone brand from 2004 until earlier this year, the public is being invited back, with tasting rooms slowly opening in the area.

“There’s a wild element to the wines up here,” says Michael Michaud, who worked with Graff in the 1970s.

Michaud bought his own property in the early 1980s to produce his namesake wines, which can now be tasted on site. He’s also back consulting with Chalone, a move made by Bill Foley when he bought the brand in January from Diageo.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

“The thing you’re fighting is tannin,” Michaud says. “There is so much sunlight that you get the flavors naturally, but you get tannins, too. The wines age beautifully.”

 

Reviews

  • Michaud 2014 Pinot Noir (Chalone)
    Pressed cranberry, underripe raspberry and white pepper form the alluring aromatic base …
    93 Points Central Coast $40
  • Michaud 2013 Pinot Noir (Chalone)
    Dark hibiscus and pomegranate notes meet with black plum, hearty clove, allspice …
    93 Points Central Coast $40 Cellar Selection
  • Michaud 2013 Chardonnay (Chalone)
    Deep yellow in color, scents of chamomile, daffodil, yellow lilies, toasted Marcona …
    92 Points Central Coast $39
  • Michaud 2010 Chardonnay (Chalone)
    Fairly dark yellow in color, this slightly aged wine offers dried lemon …
    92 Points Central Coast $39
  • Michaud 2014 Syrah (Chalone)
    Baked blackberries, baking spice and a gingerbread touch make for a lavish …
    91 Points Central Coast $39
  • Michaud 2015 Marsanne (Chalone)
    Clean and light aromas of apples, sharp nectarine, yellow lilies and crushed …
    90 Points Central Coast $39
  • Michaud 2013 Marsanne (Chalone)
    Light honey and apple-syrup aromas meet with hints of marzipan and sweet …
    89 Points Central Coast $39