Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Also not yet bottled, the 2012 James Berry Vineyard Bone Rock, a similar blend to the '11, is 92% Syrah, 5% Roussanne and 3% Mourvedre. This cuvee always shows brilliantly from barrel, and this is no exception, with it giving up gorgeous chocolaty dark fruits, white pepper, mint and charred meat-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, structured and tight, it has a tad more flesh than the '11 did at this stage, yet will still need short-term cellaring to round into form. It will have upward of two decades of longevity. Barrel Sample: 96-99
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Wine Spectator
Exhibits a powerful core of rich dark berry, graphite, chocolate, dusty earth and tobacco flavors. Slowly unfolds to reveal more nuances, suggesting that this may develop for some time. Prominent tannins. Best from 2016 through 2029.
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.