Paso Robles

• Willow Creek

From a 500ml size bottle.  The name translates to "The Sin".  This is a dessert wine from Paso Robles that is made from 78% Tannat and 22% Grenache grapes.  The grapes are air dried on wooden racks and then go thru a fermentation.  During that process the wine is infused with hand roasted coffee beans and cocoa nibs.  It is a really enjoyable wine, but let's talk about the wine.  First, the drying process is supposed to increase sugar levels by 40%.  It is unclear how ripe the grapes were at harvest.  The wine is listed at 15% abv, which seems very high for a dessert wine that is not fortif

This is a blend of 49% Tempranillo, 22% Grenache, 22% Graciano, and 7% Carignan from Paso Robles.  Deep garnet in color with purple swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries and black raspberries along with spice and coffee beans.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, there is juicy fruit; black cherries and cherries along with spices.  Some depth.  Young.  Nice finish.  This could use another five years of cellaring and then drink over the next eight to twelve.  Nice on its own, this will also work well with some not too spicy tacos.  

This is a blend of 57% Syrah, 24% grenache, and 19% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.  It lists 15.9%abv.   Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, char, roasted meats and "purple" flowers.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Great energy.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is almost seamless with a plush texture but enough acidity to keep it lively.  Flavors of black raspberries, some black cherries with char and a bit of earthiness.  Long finish.  Despite the high alcohol, it is not evident on the nose or palate.  At age 10, this is ju

From what used to be known as Terry Hoage Vineyards.  It is 96% Syrah and 4% Mourvedre.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, plums, spice, black pepper and Roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Concentrated.  On the palate, this is big and slightly jammy, but so delicious.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, black pepper and spices.  Long finish.  Great on its own.  Foods will need to be able to stand up to it.  Roasted Lam Chops would work.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

This is a blend of 51% Syrah, 31% Grenache, and 18% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Plush but silky texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Some complexity but perhaps not as much as other bottlings from this vintage.  More powerful though.  Black raspberries, jammy with some blueberries.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and should continue to for another decade.  Better on its own than with food, but maybe some big roasted meat di

This is a blend of 41% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 19% Grenache, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Tempranillo and 3% Roussanne.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black raspberries, black cherries, char, white pepper, floral notes and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this has shed it baby fat but is still youthful.  it took a couple of hours to really open up.  Loads of black raspberry fruit with black pepper, black cherries, some blueberries and a bit of char.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own but may overpower most foods.  I

An unusual blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Tannat, 13% Grenache and 3% Syrah from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, cassis, char, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep.  A bit chunky with cassis, black raspberries and black cherries with underlying  char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Delicious on its own, this would be a great wine with a steak.  It will need big food.  

This is a mid level offering from the vast portfolio of Tablas Creek.  It is a blend of 43% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 19% Counoise, 5% Mourvedre and seems to be their counter-part to a high level Cotes du Rhone.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, black pepper, char, plums and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  Lively acidity.  On the palate, black cherries and black raspberries with some char and spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, i

This is a blend of 82% Syrah, 14% Mourvedre, and 4% Grenache. 15.87% ABV.

This is a big wine!  100% Grenache.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.