2015 L'Aventure Optimus

Bottled mid-March 2017 and a blend of 60% Syrah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Optimus has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed black currants, black cherries and black raspberries with hints of violets, dark chocolate, baking spices and black pepper. Full-bodied and with a lovely intensity of vibrant black fruit, it has an approachable frame of rounded tannins and lively acid, finishing long and spicy.

The entry level cuvée is the 2015 Optimus and in 2015 it’s a blend of 60% Syrah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Petit Verdot. It’s a pretty, elegant version of this cuvée that reveals a deep ruby color, notes of black raspberries, blackberries, violets, and leafy herbs, medium to full-bodied richness and a seamless, silky texture. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years. Located in the heart of the appellation, just off highway 46, Stephan Asseo’s l’Aventure Winery is unquestionably in the top 3-4 estates in Paso Robles. While he made just a handful of cuvees in the past, today he releases upwards of eight cuvees in each vintage. In addition, he’s just completed construction on a new cave/winery, and he continues to fine tune the style here, experimenting with amphora and larger barrels, with the goal of getting more elegance and purity into his wines. Looking at the wines reviewed here, the 2015s are certainly rock solid, and show tighter, elegant, and structured personalities. His 2016s are a step up over the 2015s and will be the first vintage completely made in the new cellar. They offer broad, sumptuous profiles, yet with no loss of purity or precision.