2022 Paul Lato Space Cadet
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Tasting notes
A blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache from Bien Nacido and Larner, the 2022 Space Cadet opens with an impressively delineated nose, displaying its dark, savory Syrah aromas separately from the herbal, leathery red fruits of Grenache, avoiding the muffed qualities that so easily plague blends of this kind. The palate is svelte and polished, concluding with a pure, succulent finish that builds substantial tannic grip with further aeration. One of the more structured wines in the range, this is best left in the cellar to soften for a year or so.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
It's always fun to taste the Space Cadet cuvée after tasting the two Grenache and Syrah releases, as this cuvée is a blend from both sites and both varieties. The 2022 Space Cadet is 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache that spent the first 6 months in concrete eggs followed by 14 months in 50% new French oak. Sporting an opaque ruby hue as well as classic Syrah notes of gamey blackberry-like fruit intermixed with notions of smoked meat, pepper, violets and leather. Hitting the palate with medium-bodied richness, a nicely balanced, layered mouthfeel, plenty of underlying tannins and structure, and a great finish, it's another wine from Lato that benefits from air. It will ideally be given a year or two of bottle age and enjoyed through 2034.
The 2022 Space Cadet is a rich, sumptuous wine. Inky dark fruit, leather, plum, chocolate and cloves are front and center. Overt and lush, the 2022 offers tons of immediacy, but it’s not the most complex wine in this range. The blend is 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache from Larner and Bien Nacido. This needs a bit of time to soften, as the contours are a bit angular at this stage.