L'Aventure Optimus 20th Anniversary Willow Creek District Red Blend 2021

USA : CALIFORNIA : PASO ROBLES — WILLOW CREEK DISTRICTSUSTAINABLE : Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit VerdotFULL-BODIED, BLACK CHERRY, BLUEBERRY, ANISE, GARRIGUE, NEW OAKOptimus is L'Aventure's entry wine — that distinction is misleading. 55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, all estate-grown on the west Paso Robles hillsides at over 2,000 vines per acre, aged 16 months in 50% new French oak, bottled without fining or filtering. Stephan Asseo left Bordeaux in 1998 because AOC law wouldn't let him blend this way. This wine is why.2021 was the second consecutive drought year in Paso Robles — water stress drove yields to 2.5 tons per acre, producing smaller, more concentrated berries. Five critics, five scores of 93–95 pts. Wine Advocate 95 pts, James Suckling 95 pts.PAIRINGS : Braised short ribs Syrah structure and dark fruit match rendered fat; Petit Verdot keeps it from going heavy Grilled lamb with rosemary garrigue and peppery herb notes mirror the rosemary; the Syrah backbone handles lamb fat Aged Manchego tannin grip and anise cut through rich sheep's milk fat without overwhelming it

Save