That clever little man, Matt Kettman, from the Wine Enthusiast, must truly have an amazing crystal ball tucked away. He suggested in 2018 we do some single vineyard offerings of Albarino. Consistency is important to our white offerings so we literally thought “well that's probably never going to happen”. Well low and behold just seven months later we release this 100% single vineyard offering. That's a first for us, but it's just not labeled as such. Aromatically it jumps from the glass with hints of sauvignon blanc and lily blossom. It is varietally true, being all citreen, with crisp fresh limes dominating. So refreshing. The finish is surprisingly structured with a softness/biscuity toastiness reminiscent of a classical champagne.

90pts. Jeb Dunnuck.

93pts. purely domestic wine report. December 2019

What is the meaning of Man? Whence did he come? Whither does he go? Curiously the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, from which this 42 gets inspiration tried to answer this exact question ie “the answer to life, the universe and everything”. While waiting for the answer, it might take eons to elucidate by the way...why not delve into this soft, velvety smooth veritable bowl of forest fruits? You might even come up smelling of Petunias. Oh no not again! 

Always amazes me how something so refined, balanced and sophisticated comes from our scruffy little winemaker. We suspect he will never be fully domesticated, can name the cave he recently crawled out of and has invested heavily in his dragged through a hedge backwards demeanor!  The wine however might be more at home on a red carpet. It is draped with some very, very fine oak. A bespoke Savile Row suit, if you like, designed specifically for this wine. Indeed the analogy goes much further as the blend complexity and hidden facets in this wine are akin to an exquisite cloth with a complex weave and the silkyness of super high thread counts.

Some folks see patterns in random or unrelated numbers and dates, It's a form of apophenia. If by chance you are such a person perhaps you could explain the following pattern of our Mourvedre vintages as we are somewhat flummoxed.  2013, 2014, 2016 and now 2018!. All have a signature naturally sweet forest fruit character, velvety smooth but with excellent length. 1st class examples, from these parts typically have a high proportion of hill top fruit overlain with a framework of complex smoky and earthy notes. Ours for the first time is a 100% Single Vineyard Hilltop offering. It just does not say so on the label. Dang.. I suppose schrodingers cat is truly out the bag now.

96pts. purely domestic wine report. Oct. 2020

94pts. Jeb Dunnuck. Sept. 2020

92pts. Vinous

94pts. Gold. Beverage Testing Institute. December 2020

Gold. SF Chronicle Wine Competition. March 2021

Like the lumen sucking darkness I once immersed myself in a lava cave in Iceland. Darkness you can absolutely chew on. OK perhaps the chewy bit might be related to the wonderfully ripe tannins from this single vineyard expression. Amazingly, sunny Paso Robles can take some of these lesser known varieties to new dizzying heights. Bright velvety fruit, bags of varietal character, fantastic structure and excellent mid palate fruit weight. No need to go Icelandic volcano watching to warm your tootsies. This Petit Verdot pairs perfectly with any mildy chilly or blustery evening.

Platinum. 94pts.  Monterey International Wine Competition. March 2021

91pts. Jeb Dunnuck. September 2021

Gold. Central Coast Wine Competition. June 2021

I met a jolly larrikin in the mirror this morning. Not spied him for... well I don’t remember how long really. It was that fun fellow with the child in his eyes. Reminded me distinctly of this little drop. Rich and mature with a refined cigar box persona, but with that distinct Peter Pan never grows old brightness and vitality. I believe we last partied on his barn roof being spellbound by velky vuz (the big dipper in Czech,) and that, I suspect, is its perfect pairing. A barn roof, a warm blankie and clear starlit night. BTW, the Surgeon General (maverick that he is not) probably advises against barn roofs, gravity and full bodied Petite Sirah!

Gold. 93pts. Beverage Testing Institute. December 2020

Brecon seemingly now has the oldest Cabernet Franc in Paso. Sitting proud on its own Calcareous hilltop (a visionary planting), it's reaching that point in life where it just doesn't socialise so well! On the tasting bench it certainly does not want to cuddle up to other more youthful clones or plantings. We have given up trying, bottling it as its own micro batch. Its long term buddy, the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon in Paso (also from Brecon 11%), is the only thing that seems to fit. These old vines may not have the color and tannin of their youth but have way more depth and complexity. These smooth old rascals are considered to have a lovely lightness of touch, be subtly fragrant and gently flirtatious; softer than the more masculine Cabernet Sauvignon. Strangely, it still pairs remarkably well with a tender juicy steak particularly on heady summer evenings.

A three dog night, warm your cockles kind of wine. (Cochlea =Latin for ventricles of your heart and there we were thinking we were using cockney rhyming slang).  In any event... come to think of it I can't think of an event this wine would not go well with. Kind of like your favorite black dress or a good sausage sizzle goes with any party in Australia. To wrap this up, we have taken it to the max with the other bits and bobs we can sneak into this wine to give it rather overt structure and complexity. However, its beating heart of jammy red fruit and underlying pepper and spice layers still veritably leap from the glass.

Platinum. 94pts. Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition. April 2021.

If this wine was sentient it might perhaps have “A Beautiful Mind”. Intriguingly complex, high brow, multi-layered deep and sometimes oh so dark. Strong in its conviction, although a little fruity and decidedly spicy. To the extent that it borders on being somewhat schizophrenic between the last three, i.e. each time you engage it you might randomly get a slightly different persona. A sure sign of a great vino.

Barrels with Acacia heads are said to bring elegant white peach and nectarine fruit nuances to the aromatics, and add additional structure/richness in the mid palate all without those pesky toasty or vanilla influences from Quercus (Oak) species. This unashamedly grapefruity Central Coast Albariño offering has those overtones making it amazingly seafood and salad friendly.

91pts. Wine Enthusiast.