Paso Robles
“There is no question that a decade from now, the top viticulture areas of Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills and the limestone hillsides west of Paso Robles will be as well-known as the glamorous vineyards of Napa Valley.”
—-- Robert M. Parker, Jr. June 30, 2005 issue of Wine Advocate
El Paso de Robles – “Pass of the Oaks” in Spanish, is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This central coast wine region is the largest viticulture area in the state. With climate and terrain that mimics the southern Rhone region of France, it is the new frontier for California winemaking. During the past 20 years, the number of wineries has grown from 30 to 250 – and counting. But the land isn’t what first brought people to the area. It was the water.
In 1882, a pamphlet advertised “El Paso de Robles Hot and Cold Sulphur Springs and the Only Natural Mud Baths in the World.”
That same year, commercial winemaking was introduced to the Paso Robles region when Andrew York, a settler from Indiana, planted vineyards and established the Ascension Winery at what is now York Mountain Winery. The family planted some of the area’s earliest Zinfandel vines, making Paso Robles famous for the variety.
In the 1970’s the first large-scale modern facility in the area was built by Dr. Stanley Hoffman. He brought financing and expertise from UC Davis, planting some of the region’s first Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on his 1,200-acre ranch. Cabernet Sauvignon still remains the leading variety for the Paso Robles appellation, and accounts for 38 percent of the region’s planted wine grape acreage.
The 1990’s brought the French. In 1989, the Perrin family (of the Rhône Valley’s Chateau de Beaucastel, revered producer of Chateauneuf-du-Pape), along with American importer Robert Haas, established their international joint venture, Tablas Creek Vineyard.
Since 1989, Paso Robles has seen an explosion of plantings of Rhône varieties. It now has some of the largest acreage of Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne planting in the state.
Worldwide recognition of Paso Robles Wine Country as a premier wine region came in 2000 when Justin Vineyards & Winery’s Bordeaux-style Isosceles was named one of the top 10 wines in the world by the Wine Spectator.
In 1994 Isosceles, Justin’s iconic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, was named “Best Blended Wine in the World” at the London International Wine & Spirit Competition.
You can find a 2007 Isoscelels for around $56 a bottle. Not a bad price for a good wine. But we are always looking for the diamond in the rough, and we think Justin produces such a wine.
2007 Justin The Orphan
Made from leftover juices from the hand-harvested single vintages, the grapes, Cabs, Syrahs, and Merlots, are blended, depending on availability, into that years orphan.
Justin has done an Orphan since 2003 when there was a fire at the winery. The fire caused some damage and disarray of the proprietary barrels in the cellar. Because they couldn’t identify some of the wines, they were blended into a red wine called, “The Orphan.”
Tasting Notes
Bright purple in color with a ruby red hue, the 2007 is our best Orphan offering to date. Aromas of black fruit, raspberry and leather fill the glass. The entry is soft, balanced and layered with fruits, fig and a touch of spice. The mid palate is fleshy and fruit forward, segueing into a finish lightly touched by ripe tannins and nuances of new French and American oak. $15
Tags: California, paso robles, Red wine
