Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Willow's Cuvée unfolds with inviting aromas of farmer’s market strawberries and fresh violets. On the palate, it delivers a gorgeous entry of dark red fruits, complemented by focused tannins and vibrant acidity. These elements work in harmony to carry the fruit from the initial sip through to a long lasting finish, leaving you eager for another taste.
Blend: 45% Grenache, 34% Mataro, 12% Syrah, 9% Graciano
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Willow's Cuvée is forward yet focused on the nose, with aromas of black plums, licorice and purple flowers giving way to a powerful yet svelte and elegant palate. The finish gains considerable traction with air, beginning on a lifted, chalky, vibrant note and continuously gaining depth, punch and length. It's a beautiful representation of the bold yet refined style at Turtle Rock. This was made with Grenache, Mataro, Syrah and Graciano.
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James Suckling
This is a GSM- or Chateauneuf du Pape-style blend that's rich, broad and satisfying. A full body and moderate tannins support dried blueberries, black figs, baked strawberries and cocoa. 45% grenache, 34% mataro, 12% syrah and 9% graciano.
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.