Winemaker Notes
Seductively deep and vibrant brick red with hues of crimson, this Reserve possesses aromas of purple flowers, red cherries, cassis, cedar, warm gravel, and graphite. With time, the nose on this wine continues to evolve, revealing plum, leather, and tobacco accents. The palate is youthful and vibrant, balancing on the lighter side of blue and black fruits and berries. A second sip introduces cherry candy and wet rock minerality. A third sip brings forest floor bramble and dried herb notes. The wine is in constant motion, playfully dancing across the palate until it dissolves into dusty, fine tannins.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Intense aromas of smoky oak, ripe berries and caramelized cherries make for a lush nose in this reserve bottling. It lands large on the palate, with smoked meat, black-cherry compote and oak-dust flavors, framed by firm tannins that slip into a caramel-sauce finish.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Smith & Hook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon comes to the fore with the power of Paso. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of bold black fruit, generous oaky notes, and appealing licorice. Enjoy it with slow, oven-roasted short ribs. (Tasted: March 13, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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.