Winemaker Notes
Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Concentrated and fully resolved cabernet sauvignon that shows some classy cigar box, roasted spices, cocoa powder and chili chocolate to the cassis and ripe cherries. Really ripe and powdery tannins. Long and savory in the finish. A little more crunch would take it to the next level.
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Tasting Panel
Fresh, ripe boysenberry aromas give way to generous flavors of mocha and blueberry pie. Round, supple tannins offer a nod to chalky soils, leaving the palate soothed and satisfied.
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.