2014 Torrin The Maven, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

This is a big wine! 100% Grenache. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, cedar, black pepper and some cherry jam notes. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is jammy black cherries, with black raspberries and char. Long finish. It is delicious but a bit overpowering at the moment. Better on its own than with food. It is still drinking very youthfully but should continue to mature. If, however, you like big, young wines, no harm in opening now. Otherwise, hold for another five or so, and then drink for ten to fifteen years after that.

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Vintage:

2014

Current Price:

$75.00USD

America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we discussed the white Rhone style wines offered at the 2008 Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 18. This month we turn to the reds, of which we tasted 50. Among those we tasted were some old favorites and some wineries or bottlings with which we were not yet familiar. We don’t pretend that we tasted a representative group of wines, because our sample was skewed to wines we have loved in the past and others about which we have heard positive comments.

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2015 Torrin The Maven, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$75.00USD

For those who like full throttle, hedonistic wines, Torrin should be at the top of your list. This one is made from 100% Grenache. Inky purple in color. The nose is big with black cherries, cherry pie, char, spice and slight dark chocolate. Full bodied. Lush and jammy. On the palate, juicy black cherry pie filling with some underlying gravel. Long finish. Delicious. This probably drinks better on its own right now, but with some maturity it will settle down. This should make great drinking for the next ten to twelve years.

2009 Torrin The Maven, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

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Torrin makes some of the best Syrahs. They are starting to get more respect from the major critics but they still don't have the buzz of some other wineries. That is good for those people looking to get on the mailing list or not pay three figures for a bottle. If there is a "complaint" it is that the wines are concentrated and backward and in need of cellaring to get the most out of them. That is difficult because they are so good on release. Somehow, however, I managed to make this one last. 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah. Purple in color.

2013 Torrin Tsundere, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

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Current Price:

$70.00USD

Torrin makes some of the best Rhone styled wines anywhere. This is 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Tannat, so not completely a Rhone styled wine. Close enough. There wines are big and generally need at least five years to start to be approachable for my tastes. This one is just getting there. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, plums, slight black cherries, blueberries, slight dust and spice. It's great. On the palate, this is big and wide. Great texture. Loads of black raspberry fruit with some blueberries and a bit of black cherries. It's d

2013 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$208.00USD

This is 100% Grenache made only in selected vintages. The bottle lists 16.4% abv but there is no heat. Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is explosive with black raspberries, black cherries, char and slight gun powder notes. Full bodied. Light tannins. Great texture. On the palate, this is deep and complex. Black raspberries, roasted herbs and slight black cherries. Long finish. Delicious. This is still drinking youthfully and should drink well for another ten to fifteen years. Great on its own, this would work nicely with roasted fowl.

2014 Torrin The Maven, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

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2013 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review