2017 Paso Robles

Tasted Friday, April 28, 2017 - Sunday, April 30, 2017 by alpha_ori with 268 views

Flight 1 (5 Notes)

  • 2015 Epoch Estate Wines White Wine 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/28/2017)

    The nose gets a lot from the Viognier; the wine smells floral. On the palate, though, it's citrus driven rather than the stone fruit that I expected. Maybe a little waxy. There's a slight effervescence in this bottle; I don't know if this is intentional or a flaw. Either way, this wine is straight up my alley.

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  • 2013 Epoch Estate Wines Veracity 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Willow Creek District

    (4/28/2017)

    The nose is so new-world-rhone-sexy. Sweet up front and just a touch of bitterness on the back. Soft textured at first, but then a snappy acidity, making the wine seeming simultaneously lush and tart. This is my favorite wine in their lineup.

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  • 2012 Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/28/2017)

    Touch of pine in the nose. Dark and cool. I didn't get enough of a taste of this for a rating; I need to pursue it further.

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  • 2013 Epoch Estate Wines Estate Blend 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/28/2017)

    Soft and dark. Must be more Syrah and less Grenache. The blend is complex and interesting. Fine but significant sandpaper tannin. Pleasing. Rating on this might improve by as many as 2 points once the tannin resolves.

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  • 2008 Skewis Pinot Noir Lingenfelder 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    (4/28/2017)

    This is in a good place. Fermented cherry, spice. Still clearly in its window.

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Flight 2 (7 Notes)

  • 2015 Herman Story Viognier Tomboy 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    (4/29/2017)

    That sweet, sweet oak treatment. It's quite pretty here...but what happens as the wine warms? "Is there RS?" I wondered out loud in the tasting room. "Uh, it's 15.7%, so probably not." muses the pourer.

    All of these Herman Story wines are high-wire acts of extreme winemaking. But I do really like many of them! I don't know how well this wine will age or how well it does across a range of temperatures. But I do know that I will buy a bottle and wish that I had 2.

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  • 2013 Herman Story Casual Encounters 89 Points

    USA, California

    (4/29/2017)

    For me, this is the weak link in the lineup. Has the mouthfeel of a casual drinker, but at a much different price point. Wouldn't kick it out of bed, but I'd rather have any other wine in their current lineup. Except, I suppose, it has the advantage of being ready to drink; the other reds need at least a year to calm down.

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  • 2014 Herman Story Grenache On The Road 92 Points

    USA, California

    (4/29/2017)

    Part whole cluster fermentation in Grenache. The stemminess is quite welcome. One of my favorites in the current lineup.

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  • 2015 Herman Story Syrah Nuts & Bolts 91 Points

    USA, California

    (4/29/2017)

    These wines are so extreme, I don't know how they hold together. But they do.

    You can literally smell the barrel toast on this one. Smooth presentation, but finishes in mouthdrying tannin. This needs to settle.

    This isn't my favorite Syrah profile (I prefer more clarity and less bulk), but it is enjoyable, and I wonder what it will be like after a few years.

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  • 2015 Herman Story Milk & Honey 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/29/2017)

    Tempranillo, Cabernet, Syrah, all from Westside Paso fruit, this is the only 100% Paso wine they offer this vintage. The cab brings a delicious green pepper element. I know that is typically not considered complimentary, but it's amazing how a thin line of it brings elevation and focus to a sea of dark, luxurious texture. Tightly wound tannin at the end, but this is expected given its relative youth.

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  • 2016 Field Recordings Wine Chenin Blanc Shell Creek Vineyard 87 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/29/2017)

    Not quite enough acid to support this wine. The flavors are good, but it's just a bit round, especially in comparison to the Loire. At least it's light on its feet.

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  • 2015 Field Recordings Wine Carignan Tommy Town Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara

    (4/29/2017)

    This is the only one of the Field Recordings wines in this lineup that I was enthusiastic about. It's fun! Punchy berry flavors, and a good snappiness.

    However -- I just bought several bottles of Pax's Testa Carignan, which is similar in profile to this, and is maybe even leaner and zestier. So I didn't buy any!

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Flight 3 (5 Notes)

  • 2013 Le Cuvíer Chrysos 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/30/2017)

    Served at room temperature -- they're very insistent about this. Bright golden color. Spent 5 days on the skins. Exotic, great texture. I'd be curious to have this at cellar temp.

    I have a few bottles, so I'm looking forward to a rating based on more experience with the wine, but I'm pretty confident that I will enjoy it immensely.

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  • NV Le Cuvíer Pinot Noir 85 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/30/2017)

    Smells overripe. Tastes a little olivey, which is good, and a little prune, which is not. With such great Pinots from Santa Barbara terroir so nearby, this is just unnecessary.

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  • 2013 Le Cuvíer Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/30/2017)

    Varietally correct, unlike several of the Paso Cabs I've had this trip. High-toned, softer and rounder than I'd expect, but not in a luxurious way necessarily. There's nothing wrong with this wine, but I just feel like it lacks clarity -- like it lacks a self-concept.

    I know that's a pretty nebulous comment and is largely unhelpful. But I definitely feel like there's a strong difference between wines like this and wines that I love, and it's not uncommon for me to feel this way about Bordeaux blends south of Santa Cruz.

    Lest you think this is too harsh, consider that this price point puts this wine directly in competition with many of Napa's great second wines (Seavey Caravina is my benchmark here, but also think Le Pich, Spottswoode Lyndenhurst, Melka CJ, etc.), Napa mavericks like Drinkward Peschon and Agharta, and strong midrange Sonoma cabs like Bedrock or Dehlinger. All of these wines are more confident and self-possessed.

    If you *still* don't understand what I mean, just compare this to the Chrysos! Now there's a wine that knows what it is!

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  • 2013 McPrice Myers L'Ange Rouge 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    (4/30/2017)

    On the nose at first I get the kind of "raw grenache" smell that I'm not a fan of, mixed with kirsch. But that raw taste doesn't carry through to the palate, which is soft and lush, but intense, evenly present across the palate, all fruit and liqueur, with just a bit of spice.

    Meanwhile, there's a seemingly parallel palate that carries a juicy acidity; it doesn't seem integrated with the liqueur element at all. But that doesn't matter at all. Because I don't really judge this against other Grenache-based blends, or California reds, or what have you. It's almost like this isn't wine at all, but some other delicious beverage that I can't get enough of.

    I keep wanting to rate this lower just to maintain my street cred, and because I feel like this rating doesn't give enough of a difference between it and wines that I feel are truly great and profound. But there has to be a premium for pure hedonism, doesn't there?

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  • 2013 Mc Price Meyers Grenache Sel De La Terre 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (4/30/2017)

    Similar cherry core to the L'Ange Rouge, but this wine is dressed very differently, emphasizing the savory and spice-driven side of the grape. Delicious, but the rounder midpalate and shorter finish mean that it gets less attention from me than its sibling.

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