Denner Viognier 2016
Aged for 15 months in 350 L cigar-shaped barrels, Denner’s 2016 Viognier shows off depth, dimension and a lithe mineral edge. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation and is bottled without fining or filtration. Pale green reflexes shimmer at the meniscus as aromas of Asian pear, mandarin, lanolin and dried honey bloom beneath ethereal secondary […]
LXV Secret Craving 2016
LXV’s 2016 Secret Craving is nimble and nuanced, and a departure from the 2015 in that the blend is Cabernet Franc dominant—at 59%, with Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Petit Verdot playing supportive roles. Dried violets, sweet tobacco, balsam wood, and bay laurel are embroidered against a backdrop of Rainier cherry, red currants, and […]
Brochelle Vineyards Zinfandel 2016
Thickset and baritone, the 2016 Brochelle Paso Robles Zinfandel offers up densely packed aromas of figs, plums, wood spice, anise, and balsamico. A fleshy mid-palate is neatly bisected by coiled acidity that parries and thrusts, ’till it unwinds, leaving behind a streak of prune and sweet tobacco. 15.8% ABV | Sample Brochelle Vineyards 88 Points
Eberle Côtes-du-Rôbles Rouge 2016
A pretty Côtes-du-Rhône inspired blend from Eberle, the 2016 Côtes-du-Rôbles Rouge 2016 expresses heady notes of macerated strawberries and pie cherries, along with vanilla, and woody and warm spice. Medium-bodied on entry, and round with ripe tannins serving as a graceful bridge to tart red fruit—rhubarb and choke cherry that gives way to white pepper, […]
LXV Crimson Jewel 2015
LXV’s 2015 Crimson Jewel is a poetic blend of 80% Brunello clone Sangiovese with 20% Petit Verdot all from the Hearthstone Vineyard—located in the heart of Paso Robles Adelaida District, the blocks are seated on limestone soils and benefit from both high elevation and unique microclimate. The nose is a twiggy garland of black cherries, […]
LXV Heart Note Rosé of Sangiovese 2018
Conch shell pink, LXV’s 2018 Heart Note Rosé of Sangiovese is imbued with pretty aromas of tart pie cherry, pomegranate, melon, line-dried linen, white flowers, and chalk. Tasted blind, it could easily be mistaken for a Provençal pink—minerality shines through, giving it a nimble if porous armature, a feather-light structure that gently terminates in pink […]
Ancient Peaks Chardonnay 2016
From Ancient Peaks estate, Margarita Vineyard lies within the coastal Santa Lucia Mountains. It’s the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles AVA, receiving more marine influence than most, and is host to a band of calcium-rich ancient soils including the rocky alluvium in which this Chardonnay is grown. It’s crisp and aromatic, opening with pear and […]
Ancient Peaks ‘Pearl’ Chardonnay 2016
Located a mere fourteen miles from the Pacific Ocean, Ancient Peak’s 2016 Pearl Chardonnay is sourced from block 26, one of Margarita Vineyard’s cooler microclimates. It’s an expressive wine, with d’Anjou pear and white peach resting beneath lighter notes of pastry cream, lemon curd, and baking spice. In the mouth, it’s all freshness and elegance—a […]
Ancient Peaks Rosé 2017
Limpid salmon in the glass—tasted blind, I would have thought this an Old World rosé—the expression is both elegant and poised with pie cherries, melon, orange zest, and line-dried linen rounding out the nose. In the mouth, a lean and tensile acid spine gives it lightness and a degree of weightlessness. The finish reveals pink […]
Venteux Paso Robles Grenache 2015
Limpid, translucent garnet in the Glass, the 2015 Venteux Paso Robles Grenache is native yeast fermented—and one of the more delicate expressions of the varietal I’ve found in this region. Eccentric rings of black cherry and fresh blackberry tumble from the glass, followed by a glorious and evolving profusion of cigar box, warm spice, dried […]