Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Diverse soils from Paso Robles - stony alluvium for the Cabernet Sauvignon and sandy loam for the Petit Verdot and Cab Franc, along with clay from vineyards across the appelation for the 48% of Merlot - are the foundation for this outstanding blend. French oak creaminess and a lingering fragrance offer up charm from nose to palate: violets and other exotic floral tones, plums, vanilla and cassis. "I look for color first, then power, when it comes to Merlot," says Winemaker Don Brady. He nailed it.
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Wine Enthusiast
Blackberry, charred sage, beef crust and cedar notes introduce this blend of 48% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It’s lively on the palate, with a lingering finish of dried cherries.
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.
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.