In Paso Robles wine country, Cabernet is King. Today, almost half of all vines planted in Paso Robles AVA are Cabernet Sauvignon. The Mediterranean climate offering warm days and cool nights, coupled with well-drained loam soil all echo the growing conditions of Bordeaux, France. This inevitably sets the stage for local winemakers to produce world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, and so they have, making Cabernet one of the Flagship varietals of Paso. Due to the geological diversity in the area, no two Cabernets are the same. Our vineyard estates at Bianchi Winery are tucked into the hills of the Geneseo District, on the East side of the Paso Robles AVA. The sandy loam soils of the East side provide excellent drainage for the vines, preventing over-vigor. Further, this encourages nutrient retention, acidity, and elegance in the wine. Our blend of two highly regarded clones (Clone 337 & Clone 191,) produces a fruitforward style of Paso Robles Cabernet that is also rich, structured and well-balanced. Such a unique blend stemming from both the Estrella District (Airbuckle and Rincon soils) and Geneseo District of Paso Robles (sandy loam, alluvial granite) builds layers of flavor that are a true expression of both terroirs.
The entirety of the 2022 vintage was aged in New French oak for 22 months. These barrels possess a medium-plus toast level, which adds layers of toast and spices to the profile. 80% of this vintage was sourced from our very own estate vineyard, and the other 20% came from Metz Vineyard in the nearby Estrella District. A strain of yeast called BDX was used during fermentation to accentuate varietal character, such as notes of black fruits and dark chocolate.
This Cabernet Sauvignon displays deep purple and ruby hues with a defined rim variation. The body of this vintage is medium-to-full. The nose is rich and complex, offering herbaceous notes of green peppercorn, cool graphite, balanced by hints of dark chocolate. On the palate, it reveals bold flavors of jammy black currant and black cherry, complemented by touches of cedar and leather from oak aging. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is loved for its age-worthiness, and foodfriendliness! Pair this 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon with a grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, or a sharp aged cheddar. Whichever pairing you decide, your palate will be singing!
This vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from 3 different vineyards in Paso Robles: Bianchi Vineyard, Plummer Vineyard, and Red Tail, giving it distinctively different tasting notes than previous years. Forest floor and pine needles fill the nose, giving us an impression of standing alone in a peaceful wooded area. A cornucopia of overripe dark berries like black currant and boysenberries completes this natural setting and balances out the secondary flavors of cedar, spice box and faint licorice that linger on the finish.
