The 2020 Hair of the Bear is a blend of co-fermented Petite Sirah (75%) and Roussanne (25%). Deep ruby-purple, it's very fragrant, offering blueberry, cassis, violet, sage and lavender aromas. The palate is full-bodied, supple and concentrated with floral fruits and a very long, luxuriously mouth-coating finish. It really comes alive with some time in the glass, so give it plenty of time in the decanter. It's an ideal style for pairing with braised meats. 210 cases were made.
- Erin Brooks (2022)
2014 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée - 98 Punkte
A massive, gorgeously rich and decadent version of this cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cuvee (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot) is reminiscent of a 2005 Pomerol with its huge bouquet of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, damp earth and leafy herb aromas and flavors. Thick, full-bodied, unctuous and palate-saturating, yet still with purity and grace, it's an insanely good Bordeaux blend (or close) from Paso Robles that will have two decades of overall longevity.
- Jeb Dunnuck
2018 The Bard - 96+ Punkte
A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Petite Sirah, the 2018 The Bard comes from 12 different vineyard sources and is composed from 40 separate lots. Deep garnet-purple colored, it soars from the glass with notions of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and plum preserves, giving way to a a wave of clove oil, chocolate box, exotic spices and cracked black pepper. Full-bodied, rich and plush in the mouth, it has loads of spice-spiked black fruit layers, lifted by just enough freshness, going long and mineral-laced on the finish.
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown (2020)
