96 points James Suckling- Refined nose with cherries, cassis, ripe plums, herbs and sweet spices. It's full-bodied with creamy tannins. An elegant development on the palate with a velvety texture. The fruit is obvious at the center with a discreet touch of spices and grilled herbs on the mid-palate. Slightly chewy with a focused, flavorful developing finish. 37% grenache, 32% syrah and 31% mourvedre. Drink or hold.
97 points Jeb Dunnuck - The 2021 Cote a Cote checks in as nearly equal thirds of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. It's a killer bottle of wine revealing full-bodied richness, an expansive, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a complex bouquet of blackberries, savory herbs, peppered meats, and hints of violets. This concentrated, powerful wine stays just about weightless, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. The élevage here was 14 months in 30% new French oak, with 16% in amphora and 18% in concrete, and the balance in once-used barrels.
94 Points Decanter - The flagship GSM blend from Quality Producer L`Aventure is the more delicate offering in the producer`s Portfolio - a word not often used in Paso. Red and black fruits interplay on the nose. The palate is chewy and textured with flavours of red fruits, baking spices and floral notes. A lengthy finish rounds out this Beauty.
96+ Points Robert Parker`s Wine Advocate - (96+ points) The 2021 Côte a Côte is a blend of 37% Grenache, 32% Syrah and 31% Mourvèdre that combines power and elegance, concentration and weightlessness. The glass reveals a deep well of aromas—maraschino cherry, blueberry, licorice, rooibos tea and autumn leaves emerge from the glass and are made even more complex by undertones of earth and spice. The full-bodied palate is plush, supple and generous, though its chocolaty, floral fruit is perfectly ripe. It has a foil of mouthwatering acidity, flinty accents and a long, very latent finish. It will take several years in bottle to fully unfurl.
L'Aventure liegt auf der Westseite von Paso Robles im Willow Creek District. Das 127 Hektar große Grundstück mit 57 Hektar bepflanzter Fläche besteht aus mehreren Hügeln unterschiedlicher Höhe und komplexen Böden. Aufgrund der Nähe zum Meer hat der Weinberg klare, warme Tage und drastisch kühle Nachttemperaturen, was den Reifezyklus der Traube verlängert und Früchte liefert, die einen komplexeren und ausgewogener Wein ergeben. Stephans Wahl dieses mageren Terroirs liefert ihm die nötige Frucht, um Weine mit einer guten Balance zwischen Alkohol und Säure herzustellen. Die resultierenden Weine sind voll und reichhaltig, aber dennoch ausgewogen und elegant.
