Decanted for a half hour. The blend seems a little raw yet: one can easily identify the varieties, still competing and not completely in harmony, though the tannins are fairly well integrated. That said, this is delicious, but I do recommend more time sideways for a fuller and perhaps more satisfying experience.
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Dark fruit, garrigue, pencil shavings and lovely spice notes from the well integrated oak are among the highlights in this Paso Robles red blend. This wine has the ‘X’ factor that I look for in a wine. Layers of goodness in very glass. Good juice.
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Dark fruit is complimented by graphite, spring flowers, tobacco and shoe leather. Silky texture allows the palate to jump for joy. The nose is filled with relaxing aromas. This wine has all the components in the right place. Great juice.
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Interesting, unusual wine with mix of Syrah with Bordeaux varietals. My first taste I would have guessed a Bordeaux in a blind tasting, but then on further inspection, the front of the palate has some pepper and spice that is Syrah. It's the flavor of a northern Rhone meets a Bordeaux. Very Stephan!
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Decanted and drank over several hours. Cassis and oak aromas. Started out fruity with blackberry and licorice. Developed strong tannins as it opened up, more than I expected, too tannic for me as a stand alone drink-through-the-evening wine. Would try this next time with a meal along the lines of a bigger Cab.
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Wow..nose is loads of cassis, blackberry, spice, licorice... Flavor pretty much mimics the nose with a delicious rich finish That lasts and lasts...just an outstanding wine example of a well extracted wine but with a slight offset of acidity that keeps it short of being a fruitbomb... def new world style... lush wine that lushes will love!!
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This is a gorgeous wine and a big favorite at our gala dinner. I decanted it all day and feel it still has more potential in a year or so. Seamless full bodied, beautiful aromas and elegant fruit.
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Smelled great when opened. Super duper oaky, but in a nice/warm way. Decanted for 4 hours, the wine completely fell apart. No fruit, but oak dominated. I heard it got slightly better on day 2.
I'd drink this wine now as a PnP. I don't see a great aging future.
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Same notes as last year. Could do with another year in the bottle, but drinking pretty darn well now. This was bested by a 2012 Lewis Syrah. Both were good (and tasted similar on the initial PnP), but the Lewis displayed some additional nuances the L'Aventure couldn't seem to muster up. A good version of this wine; 2013 for the Estate Cuvée worked out well this time around.
Not earth shattering, but satisfying. Drink now with an hour decant, or hold another year before it starts to enter into its prime drinking window.
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This is already a very good wine through its aggression, yet it has more potential. Dark purple, beautiful flowery nose, balanced dark fruit, good tannins (although there lies the potential ... plus hiding some of the heat).
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After a 5 hour decant I consumed this wine and was in disbelief. A dark inky purple and massive nose. The petit verdot comes through in a big way. The only way to describe the taste is it overwhelms the taste buds. The wine coats the mouth and has a 60+ second finish. It is just incredible and can't wait to see how it evolves over the next decade. Going to buy as many as I can get my hands on.
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Opened in bottle all day and was as ready as it could be come 5pm. Tons of bright red fruit but still nice deep black/purple fruit, cassis liquor, tobacco, and menthol. A baby now with so many years to go.
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Friends at the House: Performing as it has been over the course of the last year, the Estate Cuvee displayed its typical electric purple color; immediately accessible on the first sips. Notes of dark purple and black fruits, blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean.
Paired great with bacon wrapped dates with paprika and Asiago cheese.
The same notable energy and viscosity I'm accustomed to with this wine, with a thick mid-palate that presents a nice interplay between a Cabernet and the Syrah components. 94-95 points this tasting.
This was a slow O2 over three+ hours. Evolved well with no full decant needed.
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Nearly identical to my notes on 8/23/2015. A little smoother and rounder than I remember from almost a year ago, especially after a two hour decant. Has notable finesse and depth that made me keep coming back for more. The Syrah component is at the forefront, with the Cabernet less noticeable.
Ready to drink now with a short decant, or hold for another year for even more cohesive drinking.
94 solid points.
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I am going to write on a blackboard 100 times "Do Not Drink 2013 California Cabernets (even blends, even the juice that's not from Napa) until 2018." This was a magnificent wine, the way one of those coreopsis blooms is magnificent after taking years to get its colors together. First sip on pnp was disjointed; 4 hours in the decanter made it come together, although with some melancholy, as we could sense that time will make this thing even better. I have a bottle left. And I can read the writing on the chalkboard: I'll try it in a few years.
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Drank over 2 nights with no decant. Should have waited on this one or ATLEAST gave it a good decant. Deep, deep garnet color...inky like. Will be as good as the 2010 with more time. Gotta get me some more of this.
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At Winery: Floral, aromatic as all heck; huge blackberry notes and cassis with a touch of spice. Syrah/Cab/PV. Just massive and young. I prefer the 2010. 2010: Very aromatic, violets, black and blue fruit; big and supple and huge, but balanced. Is it the vintage or are, or both?
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Tasted at L'Adventure alongside the 2013 Cabernet, Cote a Cote, and Optimus.
This was #1 favorite for me in the lineup. As the flagship wine of L'Adventure, the Estate wine truly delivered. Rich and enticing, with an electric purple color, the Estate was surprisingly accessible for a 2013. Notes of dark purple and black fruits, blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean. Good energy and viscosity, with a voluptuous mid-palate that keeps you coming back for more. Will be fascinating to follow in the coming years. 94+ with serious upside potential in a handful of years. Wait until 2017+.
My first experience with L'Adventure; I admittedly was skeptical with a Paso Cabernet/Syrah/Petite Verdot blend. But owner/winemaker Stephan Asseo pulled it off. I'll be back for more. I would recommend the Estate over all other 2013 L'Adventure wines at this stage.
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As of 2013, their wines carry the Willow Creek District (NOT Willow Creek) designation that is new to Paso Robles. This definition is not yet in cellartracker.
43/42/15 Syrah/Cabernet/Petit Verdot. Massively structured wine, clearly for laying down for a while. If opening now, decant for a while. Made from the vineyards where there is no topsoil, with tiny yields for huge concentration. Too tight for now to give better notes, but this should be great given time.
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Massive dense fruit and tea aromas. Huge, intense, rich wine with dark & purple fruits, big tannins, spices, and a tremendously long finish. Amazingly fruity.
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4/8/2024 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfectly harmonious. Gave it 2-3 hours of air, no decant.
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9/27/2023 - prism wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for a half hour. The blend seems a little raw yet: one can easily identify the varieties, still competing and not completely in harmony, though the tannins are fairly well integrated. That said, this is delicious, but I do recommend more time sideways for a fuller and perhaps more satisfying experience.
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7/29/2023 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark fruit, garrigue, pencil shavings and lovely spice notes from the well integrated oak are among the highlights in this Paso Robles red blend. This wine has the ‘X’ factor that I look for in a wine. Layers of goodness in very glass. Good juice.
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6/20/2023 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark fruit is complimented by graphite, spring flowers, tobacco and shoe leather. Silky texture allows the palate to jump for joy. The nose is filled with relaxing aromas. This wine has all the components in the right place. Great juice.
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5/14/2023 - silbakor wrote: 92 Points
Still very big and very tannic. Great with steak. Black purple fruit and black tea. Very dry, nice acid balance. 5-10 more years I'm thinking.
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11/26/2022 - Thebackroomvt wrote: 92 Points
Drank at canal house station. Excellent, wish we had decanted and used better glassware. Very full bodies and rich.
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10/4/2021 - bluepeter2020@outlook.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic!
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4/20/2021 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 94 Points
43 syrah, 42 cab, 15 PV. Great, burly blend. Really rich with tons of complexity. Needed air to open up, we aerated into glass and that was enough.
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6/7/2020 - Bobbynoble Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rich, balanced, delicious! Paired well with spicy and Umame foods and chocolate.
Flavors of dried dark fruits.
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1/29/2020 - SWHighlander Likes this wine: 92 Points
Interesting, unusual wine with mix of Syrah with Bordeaux varietals. My first taste I would have guessed a Bordeaux in a blind tasting, but then on further inspection, the front of the palate has some pepper and spice that is Syrah. It's the flavor of a northern Rhone meets a Bordeaux. Very Stephan!
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11/23/2019 - Giggs wrote: 96 Points
Absolutely outrageous.
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5/30/2019 - DrBad Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted and drank over several hours. Cassis and oak aromas. Started out fruity with blackberry and licorice. Developed strong tannins as it opened up, more than I expected, too tannic for me as a stand alone drink-through-the-evening wine. Would try this next time with a meal along the lines of a bigger Cab.
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5/12/2019 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow..nose is loads of cassis, blackberry, spice, licorice...
Flavor pretty much mimics the nose with a delicious rich finish
That lasts and lasts...just an outstanding wine example of a well extracted wine but with a slight offset of acidity that keeps it short
of being a fruitbomb... def new world style... lush wine that lushes will love!!
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4/29/2019 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
This is a gorgeous wine and a big favorite at our gala dinner. I decanted it all day and feel it still has more potential in a year or so. Seamless full bodied, beautiful aromas and elegant fruit.
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2/5/2019 - vinoballo wrote: 98 Points
Drinking beautifully for such a young wine!
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12/18/2018 - Babik Likes this wine: 94 Points
CT window is off; this is perfect now after 2 hr in wide decanter.
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8/18/2018 - cartey Does not like this wine:
Smelled great when opened. Super duper oaky, but in a nice/warm way.
Decanted for 4 hours, the wine completely fell apart. No fruit, but oak dominated.
I heard it got slightly better on day 2.
I'd drink this wine now as a PnP. I don't see a great aging future.
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3/10/2018 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Same notes as last week. The most accessible and hedonistic of the bunch. Drinking great now as a PnP.
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3/3/2018 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
All of my previous notes apply. Drinking very well as a PnP. Drink now and over the next few years.
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6/25/2017 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Same notes as last year. Could do with another year in the bottle, but drinking pretty darn well now. This was bested by a 2012 Lewis Syrah. Both were good (and tasted similar on the initial PnP), but the Lewis displayed some additional nuances the L'Aventure couldn't seem to muster up. A good version of this wine; 2013 for the Estate Cuvée worked out well this time around.
Not earth shattering, but satisfying. Drink now with an hour decant, or hold another year before it starts to enter into its prime drinking window.
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4/29/2017 - kylerogers wrote: 93 Points
Nose:
Blue fruit, blackberry, cassis, sweet tobacco, cedar
Palate:
Blackberries and cream, dried herbs, tobacco, and chocolate
Had to decant it overnight for it to open
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12/26/2016 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is already a very good wine through its aggression, yet it has more potential. Dark purple, beautiful flowery nose, balanced dark fruit, good tannins (although there lies the potential ... plus hiding some of the heat).
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12/26/2016 - Steiber Likes this wine: 97 Points
After a 5 hour decant I consumed this wine and was in disbelief. A dark inky purple and massive nose. The petit verdot comes through in a big way. The only way to describe the taste is it overwhelms the taste buds. The wine coats the mouth and has a 60+ second finish. It is just incredible and can't wait to see how it evolves over the next decade. Going to buy as many as I can get my hands on.
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8/14/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Opened in bottle all day and was as ready as it could be come 5pm. Tons of bright red fruit but still nice deep black/purple fruit, cassis liquor, tobacco, and menthol. A baby now with so many years to go.
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7/31/2016 - ckellermd wrote: 94 Points
It's good. Very tannic and will age well
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7/8/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Friends at the House: Performing as it has been over the course of the last year, the Estate Cuvee displayed its typical electric purple color; immediately accessible on the first sips. Notes of dark purple and black fruits, blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean.
Paired great with bacon wrapped dates with paprika and Asiago cheese.
The same notable energy and viscosity I'm accustomed to with this wine, with a thick mid-palate that presents a nice interplay between a Cabernet and the Syrah components. 94-95 points this tasting.
This was a slow O2 over three+ hours. Evolved well with no full decant needed.
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7/8/2016 - redrules wrote: 94 Points
Needs at least a 3 hour decant. Lots of heat. Dry, dense currants, schnapps and cherry finish. Long dry finish. Well done.
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5/19/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Nearly identical to my notes on 8/23/2015. A little smoother and rounder than I remember from almost a year ago, especially after a two hour decant. Has notable finesse and depth that made me keep coming back for more. The Syrah component is at the forefront, with the Cabernet less noticeable.
Ready to drink now with a short decant, or hold for another year for even more cohesive drinking.
94 solid points.
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3/21/2016 - ledocq Likes this wine:
I am going to write on a blackboard 100 times "Do Not Drink 2013 California Cabernets (even blends, even the juice that's not from Napa) until 2018." This was a magnificent wine, the way one of those coreopsis blooms is magnificent after taking years to get its colors together. First sip on pnp was disjointed; 4 hours in the decanter made it come together, although with some melancholy, as we could sense that time will make this thing even better. I have a bottle left. And I can read the writing on the chalkboard: I'll try it in a few years.
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1/27/2016 - Hawtdawg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank over 2 nights with no decant. Should have waited on this one or ATLEAST gave it a good decant. Deep, deep garnet color...inky like. Will be as good as the 2010 with more time. Gotta get me some more of this.
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1/7/2016 - fishinhimer wrote:
Robert Parker Top 50 new release for 2015
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10/6/2015 - peternelson wrote:
At Winery: Floral, aromatic as all heck; huge blackberry notes and cassis with a touch of spice. Syrah/Cab/PV. Just massive and young. I prefer the 2010.
2010: Very aromatic, violets, black and blue fruit; big and supple and huge, but balanced. Is it the vintage or are, or both?
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8/23/2015 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Tasted at L'Adventure alongside the 2013 Cabernet, Cote a Cote, and Optimus.
This was #1 favorite for me in the lineup. As the flagship wine of L'Adventure, the Estate wine truly delivered. Rich and enticing, with an electric purple color, the Estate was surprisingly accessible for a 2013. Notes of dark purple and black fruits, blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean. Good energy and viscosity, with a voluptuous mid-palate that keeps you coming back for more. Will be fascinating to follow in the coming years. 94+ with serious upside potential in a handful of years. Wait until 2017+.
My first experience with L'Adventure; I admittedly was skeptical with a Paso Cabernet/Syrah/Petite Verdot blend. But owner/winemaker Stephan Asseo pulled it off. I'll be back for more. I would recommend the Estate over all other 2013 L'Adventure wines at this stage.
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8/11/2015 - GTFreek wrote:
As of 2013, their wines carry the Willow Creek District (NOT Willow Creek) designation that is new to Paso Robles. This definition is not yet in cellartracker.
43/42/15 Syrah/Cabernet/Petit Verdot. Massively structured wine, clearly for laying down for a while. If opening now, decant for a while. Made from the vineyards where there is no topsoil, with tiny yields for huge concentration. Too tight for now to give better notes, but this should be great given time.
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5/10/2015 - alexwe wrote:
Drink 2019-2021
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3/28/2015 - silbakor wrote: 94 Points
Massive dense fruit and tea aromas. Huge, intense, rich wine with dark & purple fruits, big tannins, spices, and a tremendously long finish. Amazingly fruity.
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