Law Estate Wines Sagacious 2016
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Jeb
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Robert
Parker -
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Spectator
Product Details
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Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of close to equal parts Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre brought up all in barrel, the 2016 Sagacious reveals a saturated purple color as well as an incredible bouquet of blackberries, toasted spices, ground pepper, chocolate, and garrigue. Reminding me of what the 2007 Mordorée La Reine des Bois tasted like on release, it's full-bodied and concentrated, with sweet, plush tannins and a great finish. It's another thrilling wine from this estate.
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Wine Enthusiast
Smooth and lavish aromas of cassis and lilac are rich and beautiful on the nose of this blend of 36% Grenache, 34% Syrah and 30% Mourvèdre. Polished but long-lingering tannins present luxuriously soft flavors of violet and dark-purple fruits, extending into a finish that doesn't quit.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made up of 36% Grenache, 34% Syrah and 30% Mourvèdre aged 10 months in 40% new oak, the deep ruby-purple colored 2016 Sagacious offers aromas of cassis, red berries, dark chocolate, baked blackberries, fresh mint leaves, boysenberry preserves, peppered salami and touches of coffee grounds, blood orange and nori. The medium to full-bodied palate is grainy, juicy and still tightly wound, finishing long. Give this another 2-3 years in bottle.
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Wine Spectator
Gutsy yet polished, with deeply layered black raspberry, smoked herb and meat flavors that build tension toward refined tannins. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2021 through 2026.
Other Vintages
2019-
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James
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Jeb
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Spectator
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Jeb
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Robert
Parker
Committed to making exceptional wines through sustainable and organic farming practices with minimal inputs. Law Estate Wines is located above Peachy Canyon Road on the west side of Paso Robles, the vineyard is one of the highest in the area at 1,600 to 1,900 feet. It is planted in high density, small-lot blocks. The extreme slopes, limestone soils, and multiple aspects create the distinct canvas and palette from which we work. The sharp focus is making world class wines that are distinct to our site with inspirations from the Rhone and Priorat in particular. Under the deft craftmanship of Philipp Pfunder, Law has become recognized for beautifully structured and powerful wines that are very limited in production.
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.