Leverage Acceleration 2016
A new find, Leverage is boutique Paso Robles producer focused on Rhône-style blends. The 2016 Acceleration is a soulful blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah aged in French oak puncheons. Blackberries, black raspberries, and plums tumble from the glass followed by waves of unsalted black licorice, olives, mountain herbs, sweet tobacco, vanilla, and macaroon. […]
Leverage Trajectory 2015
A polished GSM from Leverage, the 2015 Trajectory is a blend of 43% Grenache, 39% Syrah, and 18% Mourvedre. It unfurls slowly, revealing layers of plums and blackberry reduction sauce, sweet tobacco, cigarillo, spice, marjoram, and milk chocolate. On the palate, it’s not at all heavy. Beautifully lifted fruit is couched in fine tannins, deftly […]
Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2016
Tablas Creek has long been one of my favorite Paso Robles producers. From the care they put into their vineyards—biodynamic farming, noisy sheep, a rambunctious trio of winery dogs, and a resident shepherd—the good folks at Tablas turn out elegant wines that are nuanced, superbly balanced and long aging. For the price, they’re just that […]
Vina Robles WHITE 4 2016
A prosaic blend of Viognier 45%, Sauvignon Blanc 27%, Verdelho 17%, and Vermentino 11%, the 2016 Vina Robles WHITE4 opens with soft tones of lemon drop and candied orange peel. There is too a slinky herbal undercurrent—but it’s diffuse and hard to tease out from this wines mineral foundation. Medium bodied, with a burst of […]
Adelaida Cellars HMR Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2016
Eccentric rings of roasted apple, dried honey, lemon curd, orange blossom, and dried Medajool figs greet the taster. The 2016 Adelaida Cellars HMR Estate Vineyard Chardonnay is flatout sexy, silkily textured, with a center of gravity that’s nicely balanced against a backdrop of light toast. That classic Paso Robles calcareous vein emerges on the finish—one […]
L’Aventure Estate Rosé 2016
L’Aventure is a winery I’ve long been curious about—I was delighted to learn that it was one of our stops on a recent media trip to Paso Robles. And now, I understand all the fanfare. These wines all have a shimmering mineral thread running through them, like a silken cord, even in their heavier reds. […]
Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Tablas Blanc 2003
Yesterday I was treated to a wonderful vertical of older vintage Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Tablas Blanc, the 2003 was holding up admirably. Indeed, they all were. A blend of 68% Roussanne, 27% Grenache blanc, and 5% Viognier—aged to a deep yellow, the color of daffodils, and bursting with aromas of bruised pear, golden […]
San Antonio Winery Opaque Paso Robles Zinfandel 2014
True to its name, the Opaque Paso Robles Zinfandel 2014 is, well, opaque. Aside from that the nose is deliciously expressive. Rife with steeped blackberries and plums, anise, cedar, and chocolate mint. Expect a wallop of freshly ground black pepper on the nose and on the palate. The attack is full-bodied and lush, enlivened by […]
Denner Teresa Paso Robles 2012
Denner’s Teresa Paso Robles 2012 is a blend of 50% Roussanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 20% Picpoul and 5% Marsanne that forms a charming quintet. Lilting notes of melon, guava, lemon drop, banana cream pie, and honeycomb tumble forth with melodic cadence. Aged partly in stainless, concrete and French oak puncheons, it’s leaner than expected, yet […]