Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Estate Blend’s hallmark beefy texture overlays the flowing flavors as big structure sets in on the back palate and delivers a message that several to many years of cellar age will yield high returns when corks are pulled in the future.
Blend: 51% Syrah, 17% MourvEdre, 14% Grenache, 7% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 3% Carignan, 2% Zinfandel
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Estate Blend is comprised of 51% Syrah, 17% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 7% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 3% Carignan and 2% Zinfandel, matured for 19 months in 31% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple, tones of tar, cigar ash and graphite give way over time to blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry preserves, prosciutto and violet. Full-bodied, ripe and concentrated, it offers pixelated tannins, seamless acidity and a youthfully coiled finish. It deserves 3-5+ years in the cellar to unwind.
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of 51% Syrah, 17% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 7% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 3% Carignan and 2% Zinfandel shows how a sum can be much greater than its parts. Deep, dark and hearty aromas of boysenberry jam, woodspice, mocha and loam lead into an extremely textural palate that's creamy yet tense with tannins. Suave cocoa, berry and graham cracker flavors ride an energized acidity.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Estate Blend checks in as 51% Syrah, 17% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 7% Tempranillo, and the rest Graciano, Carignan, and Zinfandel. It has a beautiful bouquet of ripe blue fruits as well as ground pepper, violets, and sappy herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a terrific sense of elegance, ripe tannins, and a seamless, compelling mouthfeel that makes it a joy to drink. Count me in as a big fan. It should evolve nicely for at least 7-8 years, although there's no need to delay gratification.
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James Suckling
Ripe dark berries, toasted spices, dark chocolate and bark on the nose. A little earthy, too. Firm and structured palate with lightly chewy but very fine tannins. Spicy finish. Well-balanced. A blend of 51% syrah, 17% mourvedre, 14% grenache, 7% tempranillo, 6% graciano, 3% carignan and 2% zinfandel.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Growing on high elevation bedrock slopes, the vineyards of Paso Robles Willow Creek AVA sit at between 960 and 1,900 feet in elevation.