Winemaker Notes
A pretty, savory nose of black pepper and teriyaki marinade. Lovely on the palate with black fruit and black licorice in front, leavened by plum skin acids and a finish with sweet sarsaparilla and smoky oolong tea notes. It is somehow both serious and playful and should be a great introduction for people into the category of California Rhone-style blends.
Blend: 45% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 23% Mourvedre, 2% Counoise
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
There's a rustic edge to the nose of this 11-vineyard blend of 45% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 23% Mourvèdre and 2% Counoise, starting with aromas of fennel and sage alongside cranberry fruit. The palate settles into a smoother display of wild berry and cherry, as chaparral spice pairs to the leathery texture.
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James Suckling
The nose is perfumed and lifted with hints of raspberries, coffee beans and rosemary. The palate is medium-bodied and fruit-driven, with chalky tannins, bright acidity and notes of blood plums, cherries and earth. Generous and bright, with a savory edge. Made from a blend of 45% syrah, 30% grenache, 23% mourvedre and 2% counoise.
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Vinous
A delicate blend of wet stones, violets and crushed blackberries introduces the 2023 Patelin de Tablas. Juicy and round, it sweeps across the palate with lavender-laced wild berry fruits and tactile mineral tones. Slightly grippy yet zesty and fresh, the 2023 leaves the palate salivating as nuances of tart cherry fade. This is lovely juice and an incredible value as well.
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.