L'aventure
Les Freres Mignon
L'Aventure 1er Cru - Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay
Crisp and fresh from the very jump. Fine perlage with tiny little bubbles. The nose features lemon zest and wonderful minerality up front, with a blast of citrus. There’s some apple and butter, along with almonds and the barest hint of cherries. Very pretty.
Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, and Cuis and the terroir sings here. Very open and inviting instantly. There’s a touch of maturity here that surprised me. The balance is very nice and everything is just so perky. The attack on the palate has intense citrus on the tongue with a little touch of dried herbs and white tea. Long and enjoyable from the first sip to the last. — 2 years ago
L'Aventure
Estate Willow Creek District Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Some 95 Mondavi & 67 or 63 Bordeaux. But those need some preparation & work.
L'Aventure
Côte à Côte Estate Willow Creek District Red Blend 2014
2014 tasty!!!! — 9 years ago
L'Aventure
Optimus Willow Creek District Red Blend 2019
This punches above its weight class. Having had the estate cuvée and cote bottles, this feels a peer. Big deep fruits. Smooth all the way through. Loved it — 3 years ago
Clos Bagatelle
L'aventure 2017
Both earthy and elegant. Goldilocks garrigue. — 4 years ago
L'Aventure
For Her Willow Creek District Syrah Blend 2013
Black cherry and ripe flavors of other red fruits, for me cranberry and strawberry. Delicious but not quite as elegant as I enjoyed in the 2017 vintage — 5 years ago
L'Aventure
Le Grand Verdot Estate Paso Robles Petit Verdot 2010
Vintage 2010; Enjoyed with Andy on 1/11/2020 — 6 years ago
Copia
The Cure Grenache Blend 2011
This is 100% Syrah. Tasted blind with 3 other similar Paso wines came in second. Huge unfiltered wine, grapes sourced from L'Aventure. Tons of blue fruit, big lingering finish, rich powerful nose. All of his wines are wonderful. Find them — 9 years ago
L'Aventure
Cuvée Les Demoiselles Willow Creek District Red Blend 2018
Good but a little overpriced,
The 2018 Cuvée Les Demoiselles is a blend of 62% Mourvèdre, 28% Syrah and 10% Grenache aged in 36% new French oak. Winemaker Stephan Asseo says that the Mourvèdre vines are more than 20 years old now and that he has started picking it a bit riper than he used to. — 4 years ago
L'Aventure
Chloé Paso Robles Red Blend 2012
First night the bottle was well enjoyed. There was a glass+ left at night’s end, so we corked it and poured a glass on day 2 to find the wine had changed quite a bit and not nearly enjoyable as day 1. — 6 years ago
L'Aventure
Chloé Willow Creek District Red Blend 2015
Still young - would let it ride for a few more years but still fine to drink now if impatient. — 6 years ago
Booker Vineyard
Vertigo Paso Robles Grenache Blend 2010
On the nose, sweet & slightly baked; blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, raspberries & dark cherries. Raspberry cola, perfect intensity of baking spices, soft & savory grilled meats, touch of fresh herbs, just a whiff of pepper, lavender, lilacs and liquid violets. The palate is full bodied, round & lush. The M-M+ tannins are soft and round and about 60% resolved. Gorgeous in the mouth. The fruits are creamy in style. Ripe; blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries and ripe strawberries. Raspberry cola, vanilla, understated spice, pepper, savoy grilled meats, dry herbs, dry crushed rock powder, a little underbrush, iron pan, loamy dry top soil, some black moist earth, hint of mocha powder, milk chocolate, cigar ash, suede style leather, lavender, lilacs & liquid violets, perfect, round, mouthwatering acidity, great; balance, structure, tension and length. The very long finish is round, lush and has sex appeal. It's drinking really well with a hour/hour & half decant. Better in 1-2 years and has another 4-7 years of really good drinking ahead of it. Great pair with the grilled Kentucky Bourbon marinated chicken skewers and seasoned wild rice. Photos of; Eric Jensen (Owner/Winemaker), tasting room bar, Eric working harvest and the Booker vineyard. Producer notes and history...Booker gets it's name from the two orphan brothers, Claude and Dick Booker, who had purchased the land in the late 1920’s. By the turn of the century, the Booker brothers acquired over 1,200 acres on Paso's westside. The Booker brothers dedicated their lives to being great farmers and humanitarians. Aside from lending their farming knowledge and manual labor to neighbors, they were the area's biggest philanthropists, leaving 100% of their estate to charity when they passed, Dick in 1990 and Claude in 2000. Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres of the property in 2001. After making wine with Justin Smith (Saxum) for five years and Stephan Asseo (L'Aventure Wines) for two years, the Jensen's started Booker Vineyard. The 2005 vintage was Eric Jensen first release. Booker produces about 4,500 cases a year depending on what Mother-nature gives them. Booker is located on the westside of Paso Robles, immediately joining the famous Stephan Vineyards that produce L'Aventure Wines. The high-density vineyard is mostly Rhone varieties planted on steep hillsides of calcareous shale. They farm organically, sustainable and biodynamic and treat the entire vineyard as a living organism. Booker uses animals (normally sheep) for weed control and solar panels are placed at the house and winery. The Jensen's are definitely doing things right. If you haven't tried Booker, it's worth your effort. — 8 years ago
Raul Puga
Ridiculously good — a year ago