L'Aventure

Nothing quite like bonding over food and wine! I went on a road trip to central coast California to check out the wineries in the region (Justin, Tablas Creek, L'Aventure, Linne Calodo) with my in-laws over the holidays. We wanted to check out Californian vineyards beyond the usual Napa/Sonoma, and drove south to El Paso de Robles (Spanish: the passage of oaks; the locals call it Pass-O Row-Buls ). During the summer, the temperatures in the region reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and drop back down to the 50s and 60s in the evening. This hot summer sun gives the grapes a high sugar level, which then results in a high alcohol content in the wines from the region. Almost all the reds that we sampled had an alcohol content between 15% to 16%! Perfect for the lush in me! The only other region that I know of which produces delicious smooth red wines with such a high alcohol content is in Salta, Argentina (Salta wines beat out Mendoza Malbecs anyday. Just ask any Argentine you know.) As far as I can tell, the only downside to the high alcohol content is that these wines should be drank within 5-7 years and cannot be keep in the cellar for years and years (unlike the French Bordeaux). At least, that's what the people at the vineyards were telling me. Of the Paso Robles vineyards that we visited, my favorite was L'Aventure which was founded by Stephan Asseo, a self-proclaimed "maverick" vigneron who left France and came to California so that he can pursue his dream of making a wine that blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah. And how lucky we are that Monsieur Asseo decided to pursue his dream! His L'Aventure wines have received scores of 95+ and 97+ from Robert Parker. Delicious (but pricey)! I wonder how much restraint I can exercise in restraining myself from opening these wines and drinking them in the next few days. Discipline! Discipline!