Paso Robles

• Willow Creek

Another very nice wine from Halter Ranch.  This rosé is a blend of 93% Grenache, 5% Picpoul Blanc, and 2% Syrah.  Salmon pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose is "summertime" with strawberries, slight watermelon, slight rhubarb, and a touch of tangerine.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  flavors of strawberries, watermelons and slight bitter cherry (not in a bad way) notes.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own, but would work well with lighter dishes such as Tuna or Pasta Salad.  Drink now.  

Great showing for this wine.  It is a blend of 40% Mourvedre, 28% Syrah, 27% Grenache and 5% Counoise from California's Central Coast.  This wine has matured brilliantly and if you have a bottle, definitely worth opening right now. ... I'll wait. ....

From Terry Hoage, this is a blend of 66% Syrah, 23% Mourvèdre and 11% Grenache.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has big fruit; black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper and char.  Good energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well on its own and will work with bigger food flavors.  It went well with spicy Indian style food.  Drink over the next ten years.  

This is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah from one of the truly great vineyards in California.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, some black cherries, black pepper, spice, roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy and acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Not quite at peak but mature.  Flavors of black raspberries and black cherries with some spice, minerality and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten years.  Great on its own, this went well with a bowl of vegetarian Chili.  

This is a blend of 47% Mourvedre, 35% Syrah and 18% Grenache from Paso Robles.  While its fun to taste these young, Torrin wines really need ten years to really strut their stuff.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, roasted meats, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of black raspberries, plums with spice and char.  Long finish.  if drinking soon, give this five hours or more of air.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  Better on its own for now but as it ages this will work

This is a blend of 43% Syrah, 41% Grenache, and 16% Mourvedre.  15.1% abv.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is complex and strong with black raspberries, blueberries, black cherries, roasted meats and herbs, and char.  Full bodied.  Plush texture.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is still young at age 12.  Juicy black raspberries with blueberries and black pepper.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is great on its own and will require bigger foods.  It would be great with a hearty beef or vegetable stew.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

This is 100% Syrah.  Torrin wines are big, bold wines that really need at least a decade in most vintages to really come around for my tastes.  That said, at age 9, this was singing.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, smoked meats, slight bacon fat, black pepper and violets.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, black raspberries, char, some blueberries and some minerality.  Long finish.  This is great on its own, but even at age 9 will be a difficult food pairing.  A nice BBQ Brisket would work.  Drink over the next ten to fif

While not their "top" wine, this is an ultra premium Cabernet that is on par with Napa or any other Cabernets at this price level.  It is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is open and enticing.  Cassis, black raspberries, cigar box, chocolate, spice and char.

This is their basic Cabernet.  it is a blend of 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.6% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Merlot, and 0.4% Cabernet Franc.  It had been in a decanter for about 45 minutes when I tried it.  Nevertheless, it was at least partially shut down at this point.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very tight.  With some air in the glass, it opened a bit more.  Aromas of Black cherries, sandalwood and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, it is a bit more open.  Black cherries with some spice and char.  Moderate finish.  This wine needs time

This is a blend of 63% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache, and 3% Petite Sirah from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with black raspberries, black pepper, grilled meats, black cherries, gravel and char.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is flat out delicious.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  Still a big wine but it has calmed down since its youth.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with bigger food off