Winemaker Notes
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon offers rich aromas of cherry, black currant, cedar, caramel and tea. The palate is impeccably weighted with layers of blueberry, black cherry, plum, loam, toasted oak and black olive. Sleek, chewy tannins expand into a resoundingly balanced finish. A banner vintage for Opolo Cabernet Sauvignon.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Opolo's flagship expression is made with fruit from its Willow Creek estate as well as select vineyards throughout Paso. Aged 16 months in French oak, it offers a sumptuous entry with suede tannins. Almond fudge, black cherry, and sweet soy sauce converge on the weighty palate, whose richness gains finesse as the wine continues to evolve in the glass.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dense blackberry, cacao bean and tar aromas converge on the nose of this bottling. The palate is comforting, with flavors of milk chocolate, maple and fudge, with caramel-laced blackberry pie arising on the finish.
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Wine & Spirits
There’s plenty of dark, rich, chocolatey fruit inhabiting the middle of this big, juicy wine, with hints of violet and bell pepper at the edges. The finish is firm and chewy, the tannins lean and refined, with the give for a lean cut of beef.
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.