2016 L’Aventure, Optimus Estate, Stephan Vineyards Red Blend, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles.
The deeply inky all estate grown cuvee Optimus Estate red from Stephan Asseo at L’Aventure Winery in western Paso Robles is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Petit Verdot, and it’s an opulent and full bodied wine that combines the Bordeaux blood in Asseo’s veins, being from right bank, with the Cabernet and Petit Verdot and the Rhone of the Syrah. The inky deep colored Optimus really shows off the glorious vintage that this region enjoyed in 2016 with it’s densely ripe fruit and refined (though tightly wound) tannin structure, with this red being wonderfully endowed with richness and incredible length, but what impresses most is the remarkable balance in such massive wine, even at it’s 15.4% natural alcohol it remains lively and with clear detailing which shows Asseo’s deft touch and techniques. This vintage ended up with about 60% new French oak and 40% in 1-year-old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel and was raised for 14 months and then bottled with no fining and unfiltered, all in reaction to the intense fruit and powerful tannin structure, Asseo adds “In the 2016 vintage, every grape from my estate ended up making some good wine, which is not always the case. In terms of style, 2016 reminds me a lot fo the 2014. I love the balance, the silkiness and the length in this vintage. Most of the wines are big, super intense, rich and flavorful but at the same time super delicate, pure and vibrant. Once again the terroir spoke, producing some intense ripe wine but also with nuance and nice acidity! I am extremely happy with the result.” I couldn’t agree more, as mentioned and I love the thrilling full bodied palate that unfolds with thick layers of blackberry, creme de cassis, sweet plum, blueberry compote, smoky/toasty oak vanilla, sweet tobacco leaf, graphite/mineral, anise, violets and a touch of sandalwood. This young and firm, but extended air allows complete enjoyment, but this is serious stuff and could use a few years to develop, and needs matching cuisine to give it’s sexy best with robust dishes and or a hard cheese plate, drink over the next 5 to 7 years. There is a lot of excitement at L’Aventure, a recent visit to their winery and vineyard was an amazing experience in tasting, and seeing the caves, which were cut into a limestone hillside, very much like Saxum, and seeing the mix of fermentation vessels that now includes plenty of cement, wood and even amphora, as well as seeing some new grape varietals in the mix, like Graciano! The lineup here is stunning, I especially was impressed with the Cote a Cote Rhone style Grenache led red, the Sibling a proprietary blend of Grenache, Syrah and the Graciano, the unique Syrah, Graciano and Viognier blend For Her and of course the awesome L’Aventure 37% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre, 26%, 7% Petit Verdot Rosé, which is always one of my guilty pleasures, don’t miss a chance to visit this place!
($56 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive

By admin