Winemaker Notes
Blend: 37% Cabernet Franc, 29% Petit Verdot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Silky and lush with tangy plum and berry fruit that delve deep; elegant, complex, and refined; bright and long. 37% Cabernet Franc, 29% Petit Verdot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Malbec.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 37% Cabernet Franc, 29% Petit Verdot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec, the 2014 Fog Catcher reveals a very deep garnet-black color and is scented of cassis, black berries and warm plums plus suggestions of pencil shavings, sautéed herbs, dusty earth and Indian spices. The medium to full-bodied palate is full-on gorgeous with grainy, beautifully ripe tannins, expressive fruit that simply sings with vibrancy and a lovely savory background, finishing with impressive persistence. Still pretty firm and youthful, give it another year or two in bottle and drink it over the next 15+.
Rating: 93+
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.