Paso Wine Country Trip

Traveling between wineries and staying at Just Inn.

• 2003 Justin Vineyards & Winery Syrah 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/1/2011)

  Tasted from half bottle @ the winery. Nice fading to light brick color from aging. Spearmint initially on the nose with peppery dark syrah fruit, delicious overall but lacks some complexity that I like in my Syrahs. Very good effort.

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• 2010 Justin Vineyards & Winery Sauvignon Blanc 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/1/2011)

  Pale yellow in color, with a sharply focused nose of grass and tropical fruit, carrying a racy acidity which is bright and exciting on the palate, allowing a background sweetness cone thru from the tropical fruit on the palate. Superb summer sipper, delightful and just what a sauv blanc should be.

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• 2008 Justin Vineyards & Winery Isosceles Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/1/2011)

  This wine is a huge and jammy wine with sweet tannins and drinking nicely already. The bouquet includes blackcurrant and cassis fruit up front, with some notes of oaky vanilla and stones. The complexity is just not there on the palate, but I should hope this will develop with bottle age. The wine is a great example of what it is (Paso Cab), but the lacking complexity at this stage, and the glycerin-laden fruit are overwhelming at times and not my personal preference. That being said, this wine is well made and will last for a decade or more.

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• 1994 Château Montrose 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  (9/3/2011)

  Gorgeous orange-brown fading color on this mature St Estephe. The nose initially offers up figs and smoky meat aromas, then pencil lead, and candied cherries and blackcurrant (now relegated to a background aroma). The palate shows an ample acidity with flavors of tea leaves, coffee, figs and tobacco, then cassis and blackcurrant flavors on the midPalate, and a superb finish of 30-40 seconds with mature, dusty tannins. A gorgeous St Estephe, will last 5-7 more years easily.

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• 2006 Tablas Creek Grenache 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/4/2011)

  Floral nose, with a bit of tart cherry, wet stones, blackberry. Tasted of figs and brown sugar, with some stewed tomato flavors that I was not really fond of. A tart finish with a vegetal character. A good wine, not great. Should be consumed sooner rather than later.

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• 2007 Tablas Creek Grenache 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/4/2011)

  Bright cherries on the nose, then a bit closed. I find a background petroleum note as well, interesting combo. Medium to full bodied on the palate, bigger and riper fruit than the 2006. Has a gorgeous tannin structure, great acid, still tastes very young, flavors of raspberry and wet soil. Will last 7+ years, probably could still hold another 2 years before opening to maximize drinking pleasure.

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• 2008 Tablas Creek Grenache 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/4/2011)

  This is an elegant and beautiful wine. 100% Grenache. Floral notes, followed by slate/wet stones, then spice /licorice on the nose. Med/full bodied mouthfeel, silky tannins, dark plum and raspberry fruit, with a sweet, almost medicinal finish that lingers for 30+ seconds. This was a WOTN for me, will drink much better in another 2-3 years, and should last 10+.

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• 2009 Tablas Creek Grenache 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/4/2011)

  100% Grenache. Just bottled 2-3 mos prior to tasting. Noticed spiciness on the nose right away, with aromas of muted tart red fruits, followed by mint / menthol character. Very tart (great acid) immediately noted on the palate, tannins are big and a little disjointed, needs time to come together, still very primary in it's flavor profile. This wine has nice potential.

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• 1999 Tablas Creek Petite Cuvée 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/4/2011)

  Thrown in at the winery's tasting event as a surprise to show the ageability (or lack thereof) of their basic "table wine". What a shocker! This 12 year old GSM blend showed better than anyone would have imagined. Very deep garnet color with beautiful fading to a clear edge. Tertiary aromas of moist earth take front stage, while dark red fruits are relegated to the background (in a nice and elegant way). The medium bodied mouthfeel is superb, with silky gorgeous tannins, and a nice minerality. The dark red fruits and acid are in excellent balance...still. This wine will itself change the way the winery (and I) view the ageability of these fine Rhone-styled wines from great houses like Tablas Creek. I'm conservatively adding 5 years to the drinking window of many of these wines.

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• 2003 Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (9/4/2011)

  60% Grenache (GSM + Counoise). This was described by the winemaker as a "friendly vintage from the beginning." The nose has candied cherries with a brandy/liqueur characteristic, also anise. The palate shows a medium to lighter bodied wine, with tart rather than sweet tannins, raspberry and tart cherries, and nice acid / fruit balance, very good quality wine overall. I would consume in the next 1-2 years, drinking great right now.

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• 2009 Famille Perrin / Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

  (9/4/2011)

  Super dark purple color. Nose of mint, bright cherry, black pepper. Medium bodied on the palate, with a meaty and peppery flavor profile, then cherries, nice, tart tannins, and a mineral/slatey finish that lasts 30+ sec. What a value! Drinks well now, should last 3-4 years+, I am sure.

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• 2009 Famille Perrin / Perrin & Fils Cairanne Peyre Blanche 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Cairanne

  (9/4/2011)

  Deep garnet color, GSM blend. Notes of smoke, minerality, then dark fruits on the nose. Silky smooth mouthfeel, medium bodied, sweet tannins, beautiful and delicious blue fruits, tart finish that begs for another sip. Lovely. What a value!

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• 2007 Famille Perrin / Perrin & Fils Gigondas La Gille 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  (9/4/2011)

  80% Grenache, 20% Syrah. Black/purple color, nose of mint/licorice, and leather, with fruits as an afterthought. Very interesting. Medium to full bodied on the palate, sweet attack of blue and black fruits, with a dark chocolate mid palate and gorgeous tannins, to deliver a seamless spicy finish that goes on and on. Just a gorgeous wine. Possibly WOTN for me.

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• 2008 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  (9/4/2011)

  Lighter red in color, GSMC blend. Mint on the nose initially, followed by an herbal quality, then nuances of tart red fruit. Mouthfeel is utterly seamless (for my palate), with mouth-puckering tannins and cherry fruit on the midpalate, and a superb spicy finish that lasts 40+ sec. Flavor profile develops, this wine has a bit of complexity to it, also a nice QPR. Will drink well now and for 5+ years.

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