Wine & Spirits - Winter 2023 - 56

US Cabernet & Blends
fruit. There's freshness to that fruit, but the
thick tannins have yet to lasso all that richness
into a line. -J.G. (3,266 cases) §
90 | Ridge
$85
2020 Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Cabernet
Sauvignon ^ A selection from parcels that
produce more accessible cabernet at Ridge's
collection of estate vineyards on Monte
Bello Road, this 2020 off ers a lot of pleasure,
though the wine is not yet completely integrated.
Fermented without added yeasts, this
reveals depths of black currant fruit before
showing some of the heat of the vintage, with
a dry and austere fi nish accented by notes of
orange zest and earth. -J.G. §
PASO ROBLES
91 | J. Lohr
$45
2021 El Pomar District Shotwell Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon ^ Scents of mocha and
chocolate sauce hint at a big wine, and yet
the dark and plummy fl avors are delivered
with a brisk energy, its demonstrative richness
fi nessed by gripping black pepper tannins.
Pour for something with a char, like a
fl at iron. -P.J.C. (462 cases) §
91 | Opolo
92 | J. Lohr
$35
2021 Paso Robles Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon
^ This has scents of tar and leather, with
a grippy fruit-skin note. It's powerful and
dark, comfortably balanced between warm
black pepper tannins and lifted notes of purple
fl owers-a good middle weight cabernet
for midweek burgers. -P.J.C. §
$55
2021 Willow Creek District Reserve Collection
Cabernet Sauvignon ^ This is a big
wine with meaty accents adorning black
plum and carob fl avors, rich and juicy. It
packs a wallop on the palate, the dark fruit
framed by black-coff ee tannins. The fi nish
is precise and on point for Italian sausages.
-P.J.C. (352 cases) §
90 | Grant Burge
$27
2021 Paso Robles Ink Cabernet Sauvignon
(BEST BUY) ^ Ink is it: This dark cabernet leads
with scents of olive and India ink. The fl avors
are dark and sweet, fl ecked with elements of
violet and tar. a mashup of savory and sweet
for a lamb burger. -P.J.C. §
90 | Maddalena
$23
2021 Paso Robles Estate Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon (BEST BUY) ^ This warm cabernet
is lavishly oaked, with scents of cured
meat and dark caramel. Plump and fl eshy in
its plummy fl avors, it turns toward fi rm tannins,
dark and powerful, with some lift on
the fi nish. -P.J.C. §
92 | Postmark
56
WINE & SPIR IT S
$30
2021 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ^
Exceptionally well-made for the price, this
wine's lean scent gives way to a smoky, pur90
| Opolo
WINTER 2023
$42
2021 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ^
Leading with scents of blackberry along
with the mocha and caramel infl uence of oak,
90 | Provenance Vineyards $25
2021 Paso Robles Deadeye Cabernet Sauvignon
^ After a short earthy spell this wine
exhibits a fl oral bouquet-violet, lavender
and blue fl owers. The fl avors are fi rm and
vinous, black plum with a waxy texture, and
a sweet tannic grip to back it up. -P.J.C. §
90 | San Simeon
$25
2021 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ^
Scents of black plum and molasses, cinnamon
and clove spice are followed by driedplum
fl avors. There's plenty of oak here
to counterbalance smoky barbecued ribs.
-P.J.C. §
90 | Sundry Vineyards
$18
2020 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
(BEST BUY) ^ A minty berry scent leads in this
structured, fi rm cabernet. The dark cassis fl avors
are surprisingly buoyant and fresh, with
mocha-scented tannins on the fi nish. Nice
for the price. -P.J.C. (4,722 cases) §
89 | Hall Ranch
$25
2020 Paso Robles Cellar Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon (BEST BUY) ^ This has a scent
of tobacco and plum, violets and pickling
spice. Its fl avors are very extracted, as deep
and pulpy as plum compote, with olive-skin
tannins. For barbecue. -P.J.C. (500 cases) §
88 | J. Lohr
$17
2021 Paso Robles Central Coast Seven
Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon (BEST BUY) ^
Scents of plum and cassis give way to a dark
red-cherry fl avor, dusty and round with ripe
tannins framed by plum-skin grip. -P.J.C. §
88 | McPrice Myers
$25
2021 Paso Robles Bull by the Horns Cabernet
Sauvignon (BEST BUY) ^ This has scents
of violets and purple plum, high toned with
ple-fruited density, the saturating blackberry
fl avors framed against a touch of green herb.
This has Paso's power and concentration, but
more grace than you'd expect on the fi nish.
-P.J.C. §
this is unabashedly Paso. The fl avors seem
disciplined, fi rm and on the rails for steak.
-P.J.C. (2,376 cases) §
https://www.provenancevineyards.com/ https://www.jlohr.com/wines/2021-shotwell-vineyard-cabernet-sauvignon https://www.jlohr.com/wines/2021-hilltop-cabernet-sauvignon https://www.postmarkwine.com/
Wine & Spirits - Winter 2023

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