L'Aventure "Optimus" Estate Red Blend 2021
(Paso Robles, California) - [JS 95] [WA 95] [JD 93+] [DM 93]

About the winery:
Stephan Asseo, owner and winemaker at L’Aventure Winery, began making wine in 1982. In that same year, Stephan established Domaine de Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinal and Chateau Robin in the Cotes de Castillion in Bordeaux. Over the next 15 years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship and gained a “maverick” reputation. His true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law would allow. In 1996, this led him, his wife Beatrice and their 3 children, on a journey to pursue his ideal as a winemaker. In 1997, after one year of research, they fell in love with a unique terroir in the west side Paso Robles. And L’Aventure began in 1998!

Notes from the Winemaker:
Optimus is the perfect introduction to our lineup. Also known as our “crazy” Paso blend, Optimus is beautifully balanced with a lot of freshness. This wine is approachable young but can be enjoyed for up to a decade.

Syrah + Cabernet Sauvignon + Petit Verdot

100% Estate grown fruit from L’Aventure Vineyard

Very low yield: 2.5 tons per acre

Aged in new French oak and 1-year old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel

No fining, no filtering

Length of aging: 14 months

Drink: 10+ years

The Optimus blend is made up of predominately Syrah, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot and entirely estate-grown fruit from L'Aventure Vineyard. The hilly soils are intriguingly complex- due to their proximity to the ocean as the vineyard site is in West Paso Robles. The soils have a top layer of calcareous shale, filled with old marine bones, shells, diatoms, and plankton, with clay, metals, and quartz below. These vines Low yielding vines at 2.5 tons per acre. After a long growing season, thanks to the region's heavy diurnal shift, the grapes, and harvested and undergo alcoholic fermentation in 60% new French oak, followed by full malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for 14 months in barrel, no fining or filtration.

Ratings & Reviews:

95 Points - Jame Suckling:
"Ripe blackberries, cassis and plum skins with blood orange, anisette and wet stones on offer. Full-bodied with compact, refined tannins and velvety texture. Generous and plentiful with a deep core of black fruit and a spiced, chocolatey finish. Really well
made. A blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Petit Verdot. Drink or hold." (Sep 2023)

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2021 Optimus is an elegant, polished blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Petit Verdot. It takes plenty of air to reveal maraschino cherry, blueberry, leather, aniseed, gravel dust and garrigue aromas. The full-bodied palate offers expansive, spicy fruit framed by powdery tannins and focused acidity, and it has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle." - Erin Brooks (Dec 2023)

93+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Moving to the 2021s from bottle and starting with the 2021 Optimus (55% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 18% Petit Verdot), it sports a deeper plum/purple hue as well as rocking notes of blackberries, peppery herbs, candied violets, and subtle meaty, savory nuances. It’s medium to full-bodied and has a round, layered, silky texture and outstanding length. It’s going to shine for 5-7 years, if not longer." (Aug 2023)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"This flagship blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot was Stephan Asseo’s raison d’être to leave France and make wine in the US. Blueberry compote on the nose, which evolves into dark and brooding fruit on the palate. The fruit is ripe yet precise, a signature of Paso. Tannins are prevalent in this full-bodied wine but will soften and integrate with age." (Aug 2023)