Winemaker Notes
The black-violet hue of this complex wine is a tip off to the aromas of blackberries, black currants and dark plum that arise from the glass. The powerful mid-palate reveals similar fruit flavors joined by dark chocolate and vanilla with a touch of thyme. Earth, oak and spice notes add to the appeal of this well-balanced red wine, which ends in a persistent finish and warm, silky tannins.
Blend: 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 15% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 11% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a rich, lush and yet still quite firm blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 15% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 11% Malbec. Aromas of blackberry preserves, cocoa and oak smoke on the nose lead into a waxy texture on the palate, where light licorice and blackberry flavors will coalesce even more with time. Drink now–2034.
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.