L'Aventure Estate Cuvee 2014

The L'Aventure estate is located in the magnificent Paso Robles region of California, and is renowned for its exceptional wines. Founded by Stephan Asseo, a passionate French winemaker who sought to break away from the restrictions of the appellation d'origine contrôlée in France. In 1998, he discovered Paso Robles, California, a promising and diverse wine region that offered the perfect climate and terroir to realize his vision. The estate embodies a harmonious blend of French winemaking traditions and Californian innovation. Under Stephan Asseo's visionary leadership, Château L'Aventure quickly gained an international reputation for its bold and innovative wines thanks to its non-traditional grape varieties for the region, such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Creatively blending the domine produces unique, high-quality wines. The estate is particularly renowned for its artisanal approach, combining traditional viticultural techniques with modern practices to maximize the potential of the terroir.

The L'Aventure estate is located on the sunny western slopes of Paso Robles, enjoying a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, sunny days and cool nights, ideal for ripening the grapes. The vineyard covers 127 hectares, made up of several hills of varying elevations, complex soils and excellent water drainage. The region's unique terroir is made up of limestone and clay-limestone soils, similar to those found in some of France's most prestigious wine-growing regions, such as Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley. These soils provide excellent drainage and encourage the concentration of aromas and flavors in the grapes.

The 2014 Adventure is similar to the previous vintage. It is also an emblematic wine which reflects both Stephan Asseo's winemaking expertise and the exceptional potential of the Paso Robles terroir. The 2014 vintage is characterized by the meticulous blending of three grape varieties: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. These grape varieties are grown on limestone and clay-limestone soils, which provide excellent drainage and contribute to the concentration of the aromas. The Paso Robles climate, with its warm days and cool nights, allows the grapes to ripen slowly and completely, developing intense aromas and a fine natural acidity.

Each grape variety brings its own touch. Syrah brings rich color and powerful aromas of black fruit and spice. Cabernet Sauvignon adds a solid tannic structure and complex notes of blackcurrant, cedar and tobacco, while Petit Verdot completes the picture with floral nuances and fine tannins. The winemaking process at L'Aventure is extremely precise and meticulously carried out. The grapes are harvested by hand and rigorously sorted by the team, ensuring that only the highest quality fruit is used in production. After fermentation, the wine is matured in French oak barrels, a large proportion of which are new, for around 15 to 16 months. This barrel ageing gives the wine additional aromas of vanilla, dark chocolate and a hint of oak, while allowing the tannins to integrate harmoniously.

On tasting, Aventure Estate Cuvée 2014 stands out for its deep, almost opaque red color. On the nose, it offers a complex, bewitching bouquet of blackberry, blackcurrant, liquorice, black pepper, clove, vanilla, dark chocolate and violet. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and powerful, with a silky texture and well-integrated tannins. The black fruit and spice flavors are balanced by invigorating acidity, giving the wine freshness and impressive length on the palate. This wine has exceptional ageing potential. Thanks to its solid structure and concentrated aromas, it can be aged for 15 to 20 years or more. Over time, the tannins will soften and the primary aromas will evolve towards more complex notes of undergrowth, leather and truffle, offering an even more refined tasting experience.

"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, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (8/30/2016, Issue 226), Rating: 98, Drink: 2016-2034