Paso Robles

• Willow Creek

Saxum did quite well with their 2011's, a difficult and cooler vintage than most.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight roasted herbs, white pepper and roasted meat.  On the palate, this is full bodied with a nice texture.  Pure black raspberry fruit.  Deep but opens in the glass.  Normally, I think ten years is about right to wait but this one is a bit ahead of that.  Getting closer to peak.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Works with food or delicious on its own.  Really a great Syrah.  

I love it when I can find an affordable great wine in a 375ml format.  These are (sometimes) available directly from the Tablas Creek web site.  While this wine is still young, it makes a nice glass or two (or three) while waiting for the full bottles to develop.  Great for the times you just want a bit of wine.  40% Mourvèdre, 35% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Counoise.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is really nice with dark cherries, black raspberries, some black pepper.  Nice sensuous texture.  Great fruit.  This has depth but it is quite primary right now.  Delicious, but wil

30% Rousanne, 25% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 15% Picpoul, and 10% Vermentino.  This is one of my favorite (mostly) Rhone white wines from Paso Robles.  Light golden in color.  The nose is really nice with peaches, slight canned peaches, a nice minerals streak, some vanilla candle and some lemon peel.  On the palate, this has a great oily texture.  Slightly viscous.  An excellent crispness.  Depth and complexity.  Do not serve this too cold as the complexity really comes out when the wine starts to get over 60F.  Peaches, lemons, and minerals.  Long finish.  Great with food.  

40% Mourvedre, 30% Syrah, 21% Grenache and 9% Counoise.  Tablas Creek is making some of the best Rhone varietal wines anywhere and they have been for 20 years.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice, deep and has a nice complexity.  Plums, dark cherries, slight char, black pepper and spice.  With air, purple fruits come to the forefront.  On the palate, this is young and still not yet at peak IMO.  Plums, black raspberries layered with char and spice.  A hint of muskiness as well.  Lovely mouthfeel.  Great texture.  Nice finish.  These wines are built to age and while the 2012 is more open tha