Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Authenticity fills the senses with bold, decadent aromas - rich blackberry, black raspberry, juicy plum, leather, and roasted meats - however, alongside its luxurious indulgence, the wine is layered and energetic on the palate. With so much to be revealed with time in the glass - crushed rocks, tobacco, candied violets, herbs de Provence, graphite, and cocoa - this wine is not stagnant. Keeping the senses active and engaged, 2020 Authenticity highlights the many different gears a Paso Syrah can express.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Intensely lovely on the nose, this Syrah begins with slightly caramelized aromas of kirsch and blackberry sauce infused with clove and mace. There is a fascinatingly tight tannic tension to the palate, framing layer upon layer of berry and star anise as an impressive acidity keeps the rich experience rather vibrant.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also all Syrah from the Paderewski Vineyard, the 2020 Authenticity offers more red, blue, and black fruits, and it's always a prettier, more floral wine compared to the Block B, displaying beautiful spice, pepper, and underbrush nuances. This full-bodied, graceful, layered, elegant 2020 is another one of the gems in the vintage.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Authenticity Syrah comes from the Paderewski Vineyard and was matured for 19 months in 48% new French oak barrels and puncheons. It has layered aromas of cassis, mint leaves, warm chocolate, vanilla, grilled beef and cast iron. The medium-bodied palate offers plush fruit framed by supple tannins and juicy acidity, and it has a long, savory finish.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.