Vina Robles in Paso Robles, has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? It certainly does to me as I was wowed with winemaker Kevin Willenborg the first time I met with him and tasted his wines at the Cab Collective in 2013, again in 2014, 2015, 2016…the wines are that good. So today I share the latest releases:
2015 Estate Sauvignon Blanc (From website)
We source our Sauvignon Blanc fruit from a small lot on our Jardine Vineyard…was harvested in early September. The fruit was picked and delivered to the winery in the cool morning hours to minimize degradation. The membrane press we use to process the fruit leaves a very low level of solids in the resulting juice and therefore preserves more of the varietal characteristics and acidity in the finished wine. The wine was cold fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks to retain the aromatics of the variety…$16 Read more.
Eve’s Tasting Notes: Ripe mouth-watering peach, fruit cocktail, sweet pineapple, dried mango and apricot on the nose. On the mouth I noted that same fruit cocktail and lush tropical fruit, with a nice minimal acidity that didn’t take over and overwhelm the palate, hints of gravel, followed by a balanced finish. Well done. 94 Eve pts.
2013 RED4 (From website)
The Power of 4 – …combines grape varieties mainly from our prestigious Huerhuero Vineyard, located in the rolling hills of Paso Robles…Variable pump-over techniques were implemented during progressive stages of fermentation to enhance fruit extraction and balance out the tannin structure. The wine was then aged in both small and large format French, Eastern European and American oak barrels for 16 months in order to add complexity while enhancing a soft, velvety finish. Vina Robles’ RED4 blend showcases the structure of Petite Sirah, the spice and cherry qualities of Syrah, the forward fruit of Grenache, and the rustic character of Mourvèdre…$17 Read more.
Eve’s Tasting Notes: Bountiful aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plums, toasted oak and Raisinette candy! The sweetness I found on the nose wasn’t in the glass though (which is a personal preference of mine, that the nose and the taste aren’t completely identical, as it makes a taster pay attention in my opinion) but instead the taste was all black fruit, black olive, spicy, big, dark and tannic yet very well balanced. 91 Eve pts.
2014 Cabernet Sauvignon – Estate (From website)
The fruit for our 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon was selected from two of our estate vineyards in Paso Robles –Huerhuero and Creston Valley…Both of these vineyards produce Cabernet Sauvignon with an overall balance of expressive flavors and structure. All the grapes were handpicked and sorted in the early morning to ensure quality and uniformity of ripeness. Afterwards, the fruit was destemmed and gently crushed into temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Pumpovers took place regularly to enhance color and help extract tannins from the skin. After pressing, the wine was racked into barrels to complete malolactic fermentation. While the majority of wine was aged in French oak, we also used some American and Hungarian oak barrels for added nuances and complexity. After 8 months of aging and extensive blending trials, some Petit Verdot was added to enhance the wine’s structure…$26 Read more.
Eve’s Tasting Notes: Blue to black fruit, fig, green peppercorn, cigar and vanilla on the nose was followed in the mouth with rich layers of dark fruit, stewed meat, spice, pepper and firm tannins. Chewy, big and good to go. 92 Eve pts.
About Vina Robles Winemaker Kevin Willenborg (From website)
Kevin is known for his great attention to detail and for working with the vines so that they express the true potential of the grape. Together with our vineyard team, he employs sustainable techniques to achieve the highest quality possible. Kevin explains: “Each wine has its own life. That life begins with the planting and development of the vines. It is then transferred from the earth through the vine as the grapes are harvested, crushed, fermented into wine and eventually bottled. The role of the winemaker is to respectfully steward this life with care and attention to detail.”
Kevin’s goal is to grow wines that completely translate the Paso Robles terroir into the bottle and let the true fruit qualities shine through in the wine. For this reason, he uses both subtle and discrete traditional as well as modern winemaking methods, in order to enhance the full expression of the grape. Furthermore, barrels are carefully selected from cooperages that are known for subtlety, and only low and medium toast levels are employed.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
