Winemaker Notes
The fruit for the Mountain Road Reserve grows in the Adelaida District, at an elevation of 1,700 feet and only 12 miles from the Pacific Coast. Situated in the rugged coastal mountains west of Paso Robles, this prime vineyard site features rocky calcareous soils and southwestern exposures that lend themselves to producing stunning wines.
This special selection focuses on very small lots of limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon, with a bit of Petit Verdot in the blend to enhance the structure of the finished wine. To achieve a balanced style with a rich character and refined mouthfeel, the wine was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels before bottling unfined and unfiltered.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Densely concentrated but supple, layered and complex. A tightly wound wrap of fine-grained tannins pulls the abundant red and black fruit flavors into focus for a linear, fresh and driven feel. It goes deep in black cherries, blueberries, macerated raspberries, spearmint and dark chocolate.
Growers and makers of expressive, approachable estate wines from Paso Robles, California, Vina Robles owns and farms six estate SIP® Certified Sustainable vineyards in five sub-districts in the region. First class hospitality service is offered by way of unique, memorable experiences with wine, food and music at their core. The vineyards & winery are owned and managed by two Swiss families who have been farming winegrapes in Paso Robles for more than 20 years
Known primarily for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah, the Vina Robles lineup includes small lots of a wide range of varieties and creative blends. While adhering to traditional winemaking methods, veteran winemaker Kevin Willenborg implements modern technologies to make his estate wines with minimal intervention.
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.