2002 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée Willow Creek District
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Tasting notes
(a blend of 50% syrah, 45% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot; 15. 9% alcohol) Saturated ruby. Aromas of black licorice, black pepper and mushroom. Supple, ripe and strongly peppery, with the wine's syrah and cabernet components both obvious today. Finishes with slightly drying tannins.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2002 Estate Cuvee, a blockbuster blend of 50% Syrah, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot, reveals a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of blackberries, blueberries, flowers, licorice, and a background note of toasty oak. Full-bodied yet elegant with vibrant acidity, superb definition, and a multilayered, concentrated mouthfeel, it can be drunk now or cellared for a decade. The 2002s were bottled about five weeks before I tasted them, so perhaps some allowance needs to be factored in these tasting notes. However, they are very impressive efforts, even though they may have been slightly closed. Tel. (805) 227-1588
About the producer
L’Aventure is one of the leading wine estates in Paso Robles, California. It was founded by Stephan Asseo and his wife Beatrice who left their native France in 1997 in search of a place to make wine without the restrictions of France’s appellation system.