2016 Avoyelles
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Avoyelles is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, and I suspect it will merit a triple-digit rating in 5-7 years. A wine of both power and poise, it offers full-bodied richness and depth as well as a distinct gravelly minerality, classic notes of blueberries, spring flowers, and forest floor, sensational elegance, and ultra-fine tannins. As seamless as they come, it’s still reserved and backward, and will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25+. There are numerous brilliant wines in the lineup from Patria, which are made by the talented Tony Biagi.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Avoyelles is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. More than anything else, the 2016 possesses tremendous brilliance wedded to pure power. A wine of vertical lift and intensity, the 2016 is superb. Mocha, black cherry, espresso, licorice, menthol, and spice build into deeply resonant finish.
This is very minerally and esoteric with dried herbs, blackcurrants and lavender bush. Full-bodied, deep and solid. Superb core of fruit and tannins. Extremely long and focused. Needs time to soften. Better in 2021.
The 2016 Oakville Ranch Avoyelles is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, co-fermented and aged 19 months in 100% new French oak. It has a deep garnet-purple color and comes bursting forth with vibrant red cherries, redcurrants and blackberries plus touches of cedar chest, red roses, cinnamon stick and pencil lead with a hint of spearmint. The palate is full-bodied and packed full of juicy red berries and perfumed layers with a solid backbone of ripe, fine-grained tannins and a wonderfully vibrant finish. 100 cases produced.