2012 L'Aventure Optimus

(55% syrah, 27% cabernet sauvignon and 18% petit verdot; 15.8% alcohol): Inky purple. Ripe dark berry and cherry aromas are complicated by musky underbrush and anise. Round, juicy blackberry and cassis flavors stain the palate, with juicy acidity providing verve. Becomes spicier and more vibrant on the gently tannic finish, with the dark berry and anise notes repeating. (JR)

The 2012 Optimus is similarly sexy and polished, with brilliant blackberry, black cherry, licorice, chocolate and charred earth-like aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness and a seamless, forward and hard-to-resist style. Made from a blend of 53% Syrah, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot, it will dish out loads of pleasure through 2022. ||This was another incredible lineup by winemaker Stephan Asseo, and both his 2012s and 2013s are at the top of the vintage. Looking at the 2012s, this vintage reminds Stephan of 2004, and the wines show incredible purity, as well as blockbuster levels of depth and richness. The tannin quality here is also off the charts, and this is what puts his 2012s a notch above the 2013s. For the reds, we started the tasting with 2013s from barrel. At the moment, the 2013s have more obvious tannin structure, yet they don’t lack for fruit or texture either. It will be interesting to see how these continue to develop in barrel. Either way, both of these vintages deserve a place in your cellar and it will be thrilling stuff to follow these wines over the coming decade or longer.||Tel. (805) 227-1588; www.aventurewine.com Wine Advocate.August, 2014