AUSTIN HOPE, AVERY #3, THE MAGIC SUN, GSM

PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA 2014

There’s no better feeling than introducing someone to their next favorite wine region – which is why the wines of Paso Robles are some of my favorite to recommend. The qualities that have long made Paso an attractive region to seek out are even more true today than they were 10 years ago – as prices continue to soar in Napa and Sonoma, not only do the wines of Paso deliver in quality and taste, they over-deliver on price point. And though Bordeaux varieties are gaining traction, Paso Robles remains the heart of the Rhone movement in California and a magical region for Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. With a warm climate, limestone soils and the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean, the terroir makes for the perfect location to produce wines that are ripe and powerful – yet still retain freshness and acidity. 

With names like Turley, Daou, Tablas Creek, Justin Winery and Alban Vineyards all within a 10-mile radius, this region continues to be a hotbed for new emerging producers that compete with the best in the world and today’s wine is just that. After a recent tasting of Central Coast wines, I was drawn to the wines of a young winemaker, Austin Hope, who produces several wines focused on Rhone varietals that perfectly combine purity and power. Having begun his career in winemaking by chance, it’s even more impressive that he is now producing some of the most highly regarded wines in the region that can easily match, or even outmatch, some of Napa’s best wines. With a string of outstanding vintages – ’14, ’15, and ’16 were all top-notch – we were thrilled to find an allocation of his 95-Point GSM Blend (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) to offer to you today. 

Vintner Austin Hope, whose family is intertwined in the rise of Paso Robles, spent years working to release a wine of this caliber. Grown on the Hope Family Vineyard, located just 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the Templeton Gap District of Paso Robles, the site’s rock soils of clay and limestone make it ideal for the Rhone varieties to which it is planted. The vines are carefully managed to keep cluster counts low, resulting in fruit with great intensity and rich berry flavors. The grapes are hand-picked and fermented in five-ton, open-top tanks. After extended maceration for up to 60 days, the wine aged for 25 months in 72% new French oak barrels.

A harmonious blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, their 2014 is ruby-black colored and has bold aromas of blackberry, blueberry and dried red currants, along with dried violets, blood orange rind, herbes de Provence, and pencil shavings. The palate is full bodied with big, powerful tannins, highlighted by dark fruit flavors and savory undertones. It’s rich and robust with vivacious acidity and a long seductive finish. With special pricing for our Concierge customers in a very limited number of states, today’s offer can only be accessed through this email, available for one week only. Please use the Order Now link above to secure your bottles today!