2013 L'Aventure "Estate Cuvée" Paso Robles Red Blend

Ripe, sweetish, modern, soft style. Very fruit forward, half-half Syrah and Cabernet-based with a dash of petit Verdot, it scents smoke- and spice-accented aromas of cassis, berry, cherry-vanilla, sweet tobacco and mocha coffee. There is quite some development since our last tasting three years ago. Where super-ripe fruit is the rule, and massive wines are the usual result. While the L'Aventure wines are decidedly rich and boldly flavoured there's also always a strong undercurrent of spiciness, floral and minerality that keeps the glass of wine fruit-focused. Maker Stephane Asseo did use oak treatment, and his wines always show intense fruit and harmonious tannins. Yes, it is a bodied wine(high, but tamed alcohol). Start drinking well; can keep.

Parker awarded 97, saying this is 'The top wine of the estate and a blend that was the reason Stephan left Pomerol, the 2013 Estate Cuvee checks in as 43% Syrah, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot that comes all from his estate vineyard. It's locked and loaded with black and blue fruit, crushed rock, liquorice and ground herbs, and I wrote that it seemed like it was filtered through a rocky riverbed in my notes. Serious, structured and tight, yet fabulously concentrated and pure, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring and will keep for two decades.'