Okay — what’s going on here? A blended red wine from Paso Robles, under 14% alcohol, showing some elegance alongside the expected power? Could this be the trend setter that I’ve been waiting for? We’ll see about that, yet I’m hopeful that some Paso players take notice here. This is a delicious, complex wine that takes its four parts and makes them greater than they might be on their own. It presents like a rich ripe Cotes du Rhone, with blackberry, blueberry, tar, leaf and spice, a plush mid-palate and a long fruit forward finish that’s balanced by soft herbs and spices. For 17 bucks this is a mouthful of wine. Great work!
Vina Robles, Paso Robles (California) 2012
By Rich Cook
