Bella Luna Estate Winery, Templeton Gap District – Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) 2020

 I always enjoy having a stylized blend cross my desk and then, when tasting blind, finding out that it comes from a surprise appellation just adds to the fun.  Cabernet and Sangiovese play well together in lots of famous Tuscan wines, and this wine tips its cap to those counterparts while also tipping itself off as a Central Coast California wine thanks to its richness and forward fruit character.  If this is what I think it is, it’s a bottling that’s on quite a roll over the past few vintages.  Nice to see the quality remaining in the top tier!  Post reveal note: The previous two vintages of this bottling took Wine of the Year honors at Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition, and this one came in a close second.