Winemaker Notes
Ripe fruit aromas of black cherry and currant are accented by notes of toasted pastry, hazelnut, and vanilla from our authentic barrel aging program. Big, juicy red-fruit flavors infuse the palate while softly textured tannins lead to a long, gratifying finish.
Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Sirah, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A good value year in and year out, offering rich and layered black cherry and dark chocolate flavors on a velvety, moderately tannic texture. Shows a nice deep red-black color with mint, cedar and black currant aromas followed by well-saturated flavors. Drink or hold.
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Tasting Panel
Aged in American oak, this ripe and rich red exhibits expressive flavors of black cherry, licorice, and mocha. Tannins smooth out and reveal a savory mid-palate of roasted hazelnut coffee and umami. Oak notes are well-balanced on the long finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
The nose is awash in dark cherry, chocolate, and vanilla aromas while the palate balances tannin, cherry, and oak flavors into a lingering vanilla finish.
Best Buy
As Paso Robles, California has soared in number of wineries and gained in popularity, Cabernet Sauvignon has firmly taken root as the region’s number one varietal. Alone, it accounts for just over 40% of plantings and is grown throughout both the western and eastern sides of the appellation. Though viticulture here dates back to the 18th century, Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t emerge as a significant grape here until the 1970’s. But since then it has definitely made up for lost time.
Legendary winemaker and consultant Andre Tchelistcheff first recognized Paso’s potential with Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1960’s. The calcareous soil and dramatic diurnal temperature changes of Paso’s westside particularly intrigued him. Today modern winemaking techniques and focused experimentation with various clones, rootstocks and vineyard strategies optimize the region's ideal combination of soil and climate to deliver the best fruit possible.
The results are evident in the glass. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon can be mesmerizing, with rich aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, graphite, toasty oak, vanilla and spice. The structure, balance and unbridled opulence of these wines impress from first sip to last. Not surprisingly, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons have steadily grown in reputation, not just in the U.S., but around the world.