Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Passing By is also brilliant, with more spicy wood as well as stunning cassis, blueberry, toasted spice, espresso, and tobacco-laced aromas and flavors. It's pure and full-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and one heck of a finish. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and 1% Petite Sirah, some of which was co-fermented, and all aged in 100% new French oak, which is perfectly integrated.
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James Suckling
Grilled meat, dried herbs and tapenade on the nose with some black chocolate that extend to a full-bodied and juicy palate. Very generous but not overly flattering or sweet. Fine and broad tannins to close before a lingering finish. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 12% petit verdot and 1% petite sirah.
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.