Winemaker Notes
On the nose, there are lovely aromas of Satsuma plum, Black cherry, and subtle graphite from Paso Robles’ mineral-rich soils. On the palate, I get the flavors of ripe red cherry, mixed berry pie, and Tahitian vanilla. The finish is smooth with well-integrated tannins. It’s opulent, richly textured, and beautifully balanced.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
This wine with grapes sourced from several of Paso Robles' sub-AVAs; blended with Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Syrah, it distinguishes itself with a lower (by Paso standards) ABV of 13.9%. The result is ripe and ready, chalky and energetic.Plum, black currant, and rich vanilla create abundant character, and supple tannins are inviting and luxurious.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The alluring and generous 2022 Textbook Paso Robles Cabernet weaves together notes of sandalwood, blackberries, and oak, making it an ideal match for a slow-cooked lamb stew. (Tasted: December 21, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
Textbook was inspired by the Pey Family's travels in France and Italy, where they learned about wine and its place at the table. While abroad, they fell in love with European craftsmanship – wines made with structure, restraint, and revealing a 'sense of place.' For nearly two decades, they've fulfilled that vision – crafting exceptional, while approachable wines that truly represents the best a region has to offer.
Their high-caliber grower and producer partners provide them with superior lots, allowing them to consistently deliver complexity and quality vintage to vintage.
Winemaker Abigail "Abi" Horstman Estrada sources small lots from a range of climates and soils, providing a diverse palette of flavors and aromatics. She honed her winemaking chops in Italy, New Zealand, and Israel and worked for prestige brands like Markham, Domaine Chandon, and Robert Mondavi in Napa Valley. She crafts Textbook wines by keeping the lots separate, tasting them throughout the year, and then integrating the components to create balanced, complex wines that can be enjoyed independently or with various cuisines.
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.