Winemaker Notes
Ripe aromas of blackberry pie are layered with hints of dark chocolate and a lift of orange zest. The palate is structured by supple, inviting tannins that carry vibrant raspberry flavors alongside a delicate thread of minerality, leading to a refined and lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Black olive, dried mushroom, forest floor and black plum aromas converge on the nose of this bottling. There's a lot of herbs to the palate, including marjoram and anise, as well as some baked fruit, charred meat and toasted walnut that add depth to the sip.
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Vinous
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon entices with a beguiling bouquet of crushed ashen stones, graphite, dusty sage and black currants. This is juicy and fresh in style, with vibrant acidity and waves of ripe red and black fruits that swirl throughout. The 2021 tapers off long and gently tannic, leaving the mouth watering for more as hints of licorice and balsamic spice slowly fade.
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.