Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I tasted the 2016 James Berry Vineyard out of barrel and it’s a smokin’ blend of 55% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah and 8% Counoise that saw 24% whole clusters and aging mostly in barrel. Black raspberry and cassis intermixed with notions of mint, violets/spring flowers and pepper give way to a sensationally layered, full-bodied, gorgeous red that has excellent freshness and a great, great finish. While this cuvée has leaned towards to the more elegant side of the spectrum over the past 6-7 years, this is a return to the richer, more blockbuster style versions, and I think it’s better for it. Rating 98-100.
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James Suckling
Plush, polished and dynamic, with complexly layered blackberry, violet, garrigue, crushed stone and smoky pepper flavors that build richness and spirit toward refined tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Counoise and Mataro. Drink now through 2028.
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Wine Spectator
Plush, polished and dynamic, with complexly layered blackberry, violet, garrigue, crushed stone and smoky pepper flavors that build richness and spirit toward refined tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Counoise and Mataro. Drink now through 2028.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 James Berry Vineyard Red is a blend of 55% Grenache, 24% Mataro, 13% Syrah and 8% Counoise. It was made with 24% whole cluster and aged 21 months in 82% new French oak. Medium to deep ruby, the nose is super intense: cranberry jelly, raspberry, strawberry and red cherry jam aromas mingle with notes of spun sugar, orange oil, dried flowers, potpourri and loads of amaro accents. Medium to full-bodied, intense, layered and super pretty in the mouth with all those high-toned accents, it has a super finely grained frame, addicting freshness and a very long finish. This is on fire!
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.