How's this for wacky? Paso Robles Gamay from 50+ year-old vines? Why the heck not. The wine itself is less like a Beaujolais and more akin to some of the mixed old-vine reds we see from Sonoma, but with a Pinot Noir-type mojo. Unique, distinctive, delicious!
Pinot Noir grown on limestone is a hard thing to come by here in California though its standard operating procedure in Burgundy. In 1999, Adelaida's historic HMR Vineyard on Paso Robles' westside was expanded using cuttings from their 50+ year-old Pinot Noir mother vines. This Estate wine, from their HMR vineyard, is primarily based on fruit selected from these, now mature, 15 year old vines. A fabulous value and a piece of viticultural history!
93 Points! Also gorgeous, the 2011 GSM Estate offers a Chateauneuf du Pape-like feel in its kirsch, blackberry, Asian spice and herbs de Provence-driven bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, layered and with beautiful purity of fruit, this is all-around impressive and one of my favorite examples of this cuvee to date. It will have upward of a ...read more
We had been lamenting the lack of really great Paso Zin on our shelves of late when Mr. Arndt himself walked in with this classic from the famed Benito Dusi Ranch. Deep, jammy, kissed by oak, loaded with plummy, brambly fruit. Big, but not over-the-top, only a few barrels produced and a fun, spot-on drink. Where are the ribs?
A blend of 59% grenache, 27% carignane, 11% syrah, & 7% mourvedre. The Elevation Sensation label was inspired by our high elevation vineyards. This year is bright and tart with hints of cherries and medium palette complex blue and red fruits up front. Then it finishes with a big finish of dark chocolate and opens to a big mid palette.
90-92 Points! The straight 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon should be another outstanding vintage of this cuvee and it has full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration and lots of dark chocolate, plum and smoked herb aromas and flavors. It has more obvious structure than the 2014 did at this stage as well. - Jeb Dunnuck, eRobertParker.com #226
93 Points! Another beautiful wine from winemaker Orion Stang, the 2013 Match comes from Paso Robles and is a mix of 53% Grenache, 31% Syrah and the rest Mourvedre, all of which saw a big chunk of whole clusters and 22 months in 40% new French oak. Offering a rich, heady bouquet of mulled red fruits, kirsch, red plums and dried herbs, this medi ...read more
