Central Coast

• Edna Valley
• Mt. Harlan
• Paso Robles
  • Willow Creek

Looking for a new winery to follow.  If you like American Rhone wines, this is one to check out.  Purple in color, deep and inky.  On the nose, black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meat and spice/vanilla.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit.  Deep.  Medium tannins.   Good balance.  This is a big wine.  It is delicious now but if your prefer a little more restraint, I think this has the stuffing to age for another decade, perhaps two.  

Light yellow, silvery, gold in color.  Really nice nose with slight waxiness, minerals, citrus and slight dust.  On the palate, this is crisp.  Good citrus.  Deep but tight.  This wine drinks well now, but should improve in a cellar for a decade at least.  Long finish.  Very food friendly.  Pretty wine.  

Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, white pepper and slight bacon fat.  With air, some slight grilled meats.  On the palate, black raspberries with a bit of bacon fat.  This is ripe but still drink rather Northern Rhone-ish.  Good balance.  Long finish.  worked well with food.  

Light golden in color.  The nose has spice and lemons.  On the palate, this has a loose/fat texture but at the same time a crisp acidity.  While a bit more precision is nice, the overall package is very pleasing.  Nice lemons notes on the palate.  Good finish.  Clean and very drinkable Chardonnay.  Worked well with food.  

One of my favorite white Rhones from California. Served a bit too cold, this needed to warm up a bit. Then it was great. Green/gold in color. The nose is lemony with a slight waxy note once warmer. Also a nice mineral streak. On the palate, this is crisp and bright. Lots of energy. Lemons with that mineral streak. Long finish. Worked well with food. Its hard to guess on the ageing trajectory of these wines, but it seems very young now and enjoyable. I will hold at least one to age a bit and see.

Saxum just killed it in 2007 and now that the wines have shed their baby fat and some of the exuberance, they are rocking.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and gamey meats (in a good way).  On the palate, wonderful texture.  High energy.  This is a big wine but so light on its feet.  Lots of alcohol but it never shows in anywhere.  Delicious.  Deep and complex.  Still, may have some upside as this ages.  Easily has a decade, probably two.  Just a fantastic wine.  

Inky purple in color, bright.  On the nose there is nice black raspberry fruit with black pepper.  On the palate, this is a big, fruity wine.  Lots of black raspberry fruit.  Slight mineral backbone.  Deep but tight.  I think a few more years of cellaring will bring out even more of its potential.  Although it drinks cooler climate, it is a big wine.  Nice texture.  Long finish.  

Torrin has quickly become one of my favorite Rhone blends anywhere.  I urge people to get on their mailing list before it fills up (if it hasn't already).  2011 was a difficult vintage for many in paso, but Torrin handled it quite well.  This one is a unique Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat blend.  Gorgeous wine that was delicious if still young.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, graphite, some black cherries and an underlying char.  Full bodied.  These are big wines.  The black raspberry carries thru to the palate as does the underlying char.  A great minerality as well. 

Pop and pour.  This needs air or cellar time.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has great black raspberries with black pepper and some roasted meats.  Very young.  Firm tannins.  Great black raspberry fruit.  Plenty of depth but hard to see the bottom.  It opens slightly in the glass.  The last sip three hours later is the best.  Plenty of upside for this wine.  It is delicious but if drinking it now, open it 12 hours in advance to breathe.  

Always a star.  This is is still young.  This bottle was opened at 9:00 am and served at 11:00 pm.  It was served with dessert; a bittersweet chocolate tart and it worked wonderfully.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has chocolate covered cherries, black raspberries, slight floral qualities and spice.  On the palate, this has a lively quality to it.  Juicy acidity. Lush.  This is a big wine but smooth with no signs of alcohol.  Delicious.  Ripe but not overtly or sweet.  Long finish.  Upside for sure and development.  No harm in drinking now but will continue to evolve for a while.