2005 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée Willow Creek District

(52% syrah, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 8% petit verdot) Opaque purple. Intensely perfumed aromas of dark berries, flowers and minerals, with a strong mocha undertone. Spicy cassis and blackberry flavors are sharpened by graphite and cracked pepper, picking up dark chocolate and licorice on the close. Leaves a vibrant, spicy impression on the long, juicy finish. This put on weight and gained sweetness with air; I'd give it at least five years of cellar time. Asseo mentioned that he is not following the current trend of experimenting with extended barrel aging for syrah (a practice most commonly associated with Guigal for their top Cote-Roties). "In the northern Rhone they need to soften their syrah, but we don't need to do that in Paso Robles," he told me.

More thick, chewy and decadent, the 2005 Estate Cuvee is comprised of 52% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot. It is blockbuster stuff with sweet blackcurrants, creme de cassis, truffle, lead pencil, chocolate and charred earth aromas and flavors all showing on the nose. It doesn’t pull any punches on the palate either and possesses massive fruit and texture, sweet tannin and a knockout finish. While it could be mistaken for a Bordeaux on the nose, it’s California all the way on the palate. Drink it over the coming decade. Jun 2014, www.robertparker.com