L'Aventure Optimus Red Blend 2021

Critical Acclaim: 95 pts James Suckling; 95 pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate; 93 pts Jeb Dunnuck; 93 pts Decanter.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Optimus is the perfect introduction to the L'Aventure lineup. Optimus is beautifully balanced with a lot of freshness. This wine is approachable young but can be enjoyed for up to a decade. The 2021 vintage is comprised of 55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 18% Petit Verdot. It has been aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak, 50% 1-year old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel.

"Ripe blackberries, cassis and plum skins with blood orange, anisette and wet stones on offer. Full-bodied with compact, refined tannins and velvety texture. Generous and plentiful with a deep core of black fruit and a spiced, chocolatey finish. Really well made."- James Suckling. 

"The 2021 Optimus is an elegant, polished blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Petit Verdot. It takes plenty of air to reveal maraschino cherry, blueberry, leather, aniseed, gravel dust and garrigue aromas. The full-bodied palate offers expansive, spicy fruit framed by powdery tannins and focused acidity, and it has a long, latent finish."- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. 

"Moving to the 2021s from bottle and starting with the 2021 Optimus (55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 18% Petit Verdot), it sports a deeper plum/purple hue as well as rocking notes of blackberries, peppery herbs, candied violets, and subtle meaty, savory nuances. It's medium to full-bodied and has a round, layered, silky texture and outstanding length. It’s going to shine for 5-7 years, if not longer."- Jeb Dunnuck. 

"This flagship blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot was Stephan Asseo’s raison d’être to leave France and make wine in the US. Blueberry compote on the nose, which evolves into dark and brooding fruit on the palate. The fruit is ripe yet precise, a signature of Paso. Tannins are prevalent in this full-bodied wine but will soften and integrate with age."- Decanter. 

About the Winery: L'Aventure was founded in 1998 by a French winemaker, Stephan Asseo. L'Aventure is located on the west side of Paso Robles in the Willow Creek District. The 127-acre property with 57 acres planted, is comprised of multiple hills of various elevation and complex soils. Because of its proximity to the ocean, the vineyard has clear warm days and drastic cool nighttime temperatures which increases the time of the grape’s maturation cycle providing fruit that creates a more complex and balanced wine. Stephan’s choice of this lean terroir provides him with the fruit necessary to create wine with a good balance between alcohol and acidity. The resulting wines are full and rich yet well balanced and elegant. 

Varietal: 58% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot.