Winemaker Notes
San Simeon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon epitomizes excellence, meticulously crafted from the most distinguished blocks within their Paso Robles estate vineyards. These select blocks are renowned for producing grapes of exceptional quality and character. Set in the El Pomar AVA, our vineyards boast rocky soils and optimal microclimates. Crafted with meticulous care and precision, our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon offers a wine experience that surpasses expectation and defines the pinnacle of their winemaking prowess.
San Simeon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is extremely flexible when it comes to food. From hard cheeses and charcuterie to rich cuts of red meat, San Simeon Cabernet Reserve shines. One particular favorite is grilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, the dark fruit notes play beautifully with the spice and meat.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of Cabs from the Riboli family's top estate vineyards, with a third vineyard adding the 20% Petit Verdot, makes a very complete wine. Dark aromas of black fruit and loamy soil lead into a firmly texture palate where chalky tannins frame elderberry and bold violet flavors.
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Vinous
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is dark and brooding with a whiff of sage, mocha and dusty blackcurrants. This is more lifted than anticipated, displaying cool-toned red berry fruits and zesty acidity as a bitter hint of licorice puckers the cheeks. Grippy tannins resonate through the long and youthfully tense finish, leaving a tart tinge of blackberry to 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.