2019 L'Aventure Cuvee Chloe

A blend of co-fermented Syrah (69%), Grenache (23%) and Viognier (8%), the 2019 Cuvée Chloe has a deep ruby color and is especially fragrant this vintage, bursting with scents of red cherries, blueberries and blood orange with accents of violet, garrigue, tar and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is fresh and silky with pure, layered fruits and a long finish. It deserves another 3-5 years in bottle and should be long lived in the cellar.

69% Syrah McVey Block, 23% Grenache Old Block, 8% Viognier Block co-fermented. Deep purple. The nose and palate are full of menthol, mint and cassis. There is something reminiscent of children’s toothpaste due to a synthetic sweetness of mint and black fruit. The palate is soupy and full bodied. The alcohol is noticeably warm but not to the extent that one would expect from 16%! (TP)

A straight beast of a wine, the 2019 Chloe offers blockbuster levels of black and blue fruits as well as notes of graphite, ground pepper, and crushed rock. Based on a co-fermented blend of 69% Syrah, 23% Grenache, and 8% Viognier that saw a slightly shorter maceration than normal, this inky hued, full-bodied, massive 2019 still somehow stays flawlessly balanced and elegant on the palate. It’s going to take 5-7 years or more of bottle age, but it’s a brilliant, heavenly wine. Stephan Asseo, who’s assisted more and more by assistant winemaker Patrick Davies, continues to keep his L’Aventure estate near the top of the pyramid in Paso Robles. This report looks at the 2019s and 2020s, and both appear to be beautiful vintages. The 2019s are some of the finest wines I’ve tasted at this estate and have a rare mix of power and vibrancy, with incredible aromatics and sensational purity and precision on the palate.