Tasting Report: Paso Robles 2011
California’s Paso Robles region continues to make some of the most exciting Rhone inspired blends in the States, particularly the subsection of the appellation where the region’s top producers, such as Saxum, Booker and L’Aventure, are located.
As most of you know, many top wine producers tend to prefer blends for their reds and whites. The former are usually heavily reliant on Syrah, Grenache, and Mouvedre, and the later on Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Grenache Blanc. This said, L’Aventure, whose owner hails from Bordeaux, uses grapes types from his former homeland as well.
I am also a fan of one-grape-dominate wines from Paso, particularly Grenache. I was impressed with a number of wines, both from barrel and bottle – especially at Saxum. These wines remind me of some of the great classics of the Southern Rhone, like Rayas. Excellent bottles labeled as Syrahs are almost as exciting, such as Hug Cellars and Denner. The best white of my tasting was a Roussanne from Copain: what a complex, rich yet subtle white.
Check out the videos from Saxum and Tablas Creek to get an idea of the terrain and character of the Paso Robles region.
It’s hard to generalize from my tastings, but I seem to be slightly more of a fan of the 2008 vintage than 2009 or 2007 due to the wines’ balance and freshness from that year. They seem to be so aromatic and complex on the palate as well. The late ripening 2010 vintage could turn out that way as well.
My top wines of the over 200 bottles I tasted from Paso Robles are:
2008 Saxum Paso Robles James Berry Vineyard Bone Rock - 98 points
2009 Saxum Paso Robles James Berry Vineyard - 97 points
2009 L'Aventure Paso Robles Estate Cuvee - 96 points
2009 L’Aventure Paso Robles Cote a Cote - 95 points
I scored these along with 24 other wines that were 90 points or more in a report in October on the site. Click here to view it.
Otherwise, the remaining Paso Robles tasting notes can be found in this report. As always, the wines listed without scores or notes were less than 90 points, but the notes can still be found in the site’s database.
Also tasted, but not receiving marks of 90 points or more: 2008 Castoro Cellars Zinfandel Paso Robles Zinfusion Reserve 2009 Castoro Cellars Syrah Paso Robles Blind Faith 2009 Castoro Cellars Chardonnay Paso Robles 2006 Clayhouse Paso Robles Estate Cuvee 2008 Clayhouse Petite Sirah Paso Robles Show Pony Red Cedar Vineyard 2009 Clayhouse Malbec Paso Robles Red Cedar Vineyard 2010 Clayhouse Paso Robles Estate Cuvee Blanc Red Cedar Vineyard 2007 Eberle Paso Robles Cotes-du-Robles 2007 Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2009 Eberle Syrah Paso Robles Steinbeck Vineyard 2010 Eberle Viognier Paso Robles Mill Road Vineyard 2008 Estancia Paso Robles Meritage 2007 Estancia Paso Robles Meritage 2009 Falcone Family Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2008 Greg Norman Petite Sirah Paso Robles 2008 Hug Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Booker Vineyard 2008 J. Lohr Paso Robles Cuvee St. E 2007 Lions Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Roaring Lion Reserve 2008 Lions Peak Cabernet Franc Paso Robles 2009 Peachy Canyon Paso Robles Cirque Du Vin 2010 Peachy Canyon Viognier Paso Robles Concrete Blanc 2009 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Paso Robles 2006 Stanger Vineyards Syrah Paso Robles West Side Reserve 2007 Sylvester Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Kiara Private Reserve 2009 Tablas Creek Vineyard Grenache Paso Robles 2010 Tablas Creek Vineyard Paso Robles Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2009 Tablas Creek Vineyard Roussanne Paso Robles 2009 Vina Robles Paso Robles RED4 2010 Vina Robles Paso Robles White 4 2008 Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2008 Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Oyster Ridge 2009 Bridlewood Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2010 Broc Cellars Paso Robles Vine Starr 2008 Castoro Cellars Zinfandel Paso Robles Whale Rock Reserve 2009 Castoro Cellars Pinot Noir Paso Robles Estate Blind Faith 2007 Clavo Cellars Zinfandel Paso Robles Legacy 2009 Clavo Cellars Grenache Blanc Paso Robles Oracle 2009 Clavo Cellars Albarino Paso Robles Ole 2009 Clayhouse Tempranillo Paso Robles Red Cedar Vineyard 2009 Dunning Vineyards Chardonnay Paso Robles Westside N.V. Eberle Paso Robles Full Boar Red 2009 Greg Norman Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2007 Hearst Ranch Merlot Paso Robles Pico Creek 2009 Hearst Ranch Malbec Paso Robles Babicora 2008 J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Hilltop 2009 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2008 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2008 Lions Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Proprietor's Reserve 2008 Pipestone Grenache Paso Robles 2005 Stanger Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Reserve 2007 Sylvester Syrah Paso Robles 2009 Villa Creek Paso Robles Willow Creek Cuvee 2006 Bianchi Syrah Paso Robles Heritage Selection 2008 Caliza Paso Robles Companion 2009 Castoro Cellars Muscat Canelli Paso Robles 2009 Estancia Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Keyes Canyon Ranches 2009 Estancia Zinfandel Paso Robles Keyes Canyon Ranches 2010 Groundwork Grenache Blanc Paso Robles 2008 Ancient Peaks Petit Verdot Paso Robles 2009 Hearst Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Bunkhouse 2008 J.R. Storey Tempranillo Paso Robles Cielo Grande Vineyard 2008 Lions Peak Petit Verdot Paso Robles 2005 Norman Vineyards Zinfandel Paso Robles Mephistopheles 2008 Sylvester Merlot Paso Robles Kiara Private Reserve 2010 Ancient Peaks Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles 2008 Bianchi Zinfandel Paso Robles Heritage Selection Zen Ranch 2008 Caliza Paso Robles Azimuth 2009 Foxglove Zinfandel Paso Robles 2008 J.R. Storey Grenache Paso Robles Herder Vineyard 2007 Norman Vineyards Paso Robles No Nonsense Red Meritage 2008 Sylvester Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2008 Wild Horse Merlot Paso Robles 2009 Brochelle Vineyards Zinfandel Paso Robles 2009 Castoro Cellars Zinfandel Paso Robles 2009 Kukkula Paso Robles Lothario 2008 Castoro Cellars Merlot Paso Robles 2008 Lions Peak Merlot Paso Robles 2009 William James Cellars Cabernet Franc Paso Robles 2008 Venteux Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2008 Sylvester Merlot Paso Robles 2009 Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles