2019 Booker Oublie

Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Oublié 22 has a pure, layered perfume of blueberry, violets, underbrush, pepper and dark spices. The palate is silky and seamless, with slowly blossoming nuances that emerge on the long finish.

The 2019 Oublie checks in as 34% Grenache, 31% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, and the balance Tannat and Petite Sirah. This cuvée used to be a kitchen sink-like catch-all, but today, it seems to always be a classic GSM-like blend. The 2019 boasts a deep purple hue to go with terrific blackberry and darker cherry fruits as well as notes of spice, chocolate, and ground pepper. Deep, rich, medium to full-bodied, and perfectly balanced, it has another 10-15 years of prime drinking. Eric Jensen continues to tweak the style of these wines, and today the wines play in the much more elegant, streamlined end of the spectrum while still bringing plenty of classic Paso Robles fruit and texture. Alcohol levels are almost all under 14.5%, yet the tannins are ripe, and the wines have solid mid-palate density, integrated acid levels, and straight-up terrific overall balance. These all required plenty of air to show at their best, and I don’t think there’s a wine reviewed that won’t benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age.