The Fableist Wine Co., Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

 Andrew Jones, winemaker for Field Recordings and Curt Schalchlin, owner of Sans Liege which is best known for its Rhône wines combine their talents for the Fableist collection of wines.  The names are based on Aesop’s Fables, and apparently, fable #373 is about ants and bugs.  Or whatever!  Moving on to the wine, in the 2022 vintage the fruit was picked earlier than usual due to the heat wave.  Fermented in tanks and aged in American oak barrels, 10% new, the final blend was 85% Cabernet filled out by Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah.  Once poured, this wine shows fresh blackberry and currant aromas and flavors with youthful tannin poking through.  With aeration, it slowly opens and adds a little spice and cedar to accompany the juicy dark fruits.  Needs time to settle down and should be decanted.  A good value for a Paso Cabernet.