Old Vines
Aromas of dark brambly blackberry liqueur, coarsely cracked black pepper, savory spice, and cinnamon aromas. Hints of Mexican-style hot chocolate and ripe mulberries/blueberries begin to evolve, enhancing complexity after some time in the glass. The wine is bold, full-bodied and complex, yet still elegant in the mouth, its character alternating between earthy dark fruits and lingering mocha/vanilla laced spice elements. The tannins are chewy and tame, and the wine has a silky, rich, mouth-filling texture that warms and will continue to evolve and mellow with bottle aging. If you can wait a few years before opening the bottle, you will be rewarded for your patience!
A warm vintage that produced fully ripe fruit, which translated into fruit-forward, aromatic wines. Vine yields were average, as were natural fruit tannin levels. Vintage 2013 produced smooth, rounded wines, packed with varietal aromas and mouth-filling fruit flavors.
Hand sorted clusters, 100% destemmed, berry sorted, then direct to 15 ton fermenter and 3/4 ton bins. Fermented for 21 days, with a combination of hand punch-downs and pump-overs as well as four delestage (rack and return) treatments. Free run wine was drained to barrel directly after fermentation.
91 - A solid and nuanced sip of this varietal for a fair price, this bottling of older vines from Paso's eastern flanks shows plump elderberry and cedar on the elegant nose. A smoked-chocolate flavor hits the palate, bolstered by blackberry syrup, white pepper, bay leaf and dried basil, with plenty of both tannin and acid.
Editors' Choice. —M.K.
Old Vines
