2018 L'Aventure Côte à Côte
Producer: L'Aventure
Region: Paso Robles, CA
Country: USA
Grapes: 51% Grenache, 26% Mourvedre, 23% Syrah
Vintage: 2018
ABV: 15.50
Vivino: 4.3
Drink By: 2035
Occasional Wine Note: We love GSMs! GSMs, the Rhone blend usually composed of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, are great for any occasion. These are easy drinking crowd pleasers. Paso Robles is perhaps the best region in the world, at least outside of the Rhone Valley in France, for Rhone blends. L’Aventure is, at least so far, home to our favorite wines from the Paso region and this Côte à Côte is our favorite of a really strong lineup of their wines. It still fits the easy drinking crowd pleaser, but it is so much more than that.
Stephen Asseo, the owner and winemaker at L’Aventure, is just a great story. Trained in Burgundy and Bordeaux, he left France for California seeking a place to really be let loose to produce wines without the restrictions of the AOC structures in France. Today his wines are usually only available via allocation from the vineyard. We aim to wow you and thought any sample selection of great California red wines would be lacking so we pulled these from our private cellar to share with you. Enjoy!
Jeb Dunnuck
Critic Score: 98
Straight-up sexy, the 2018 Cote A Cote is a Grenache-dominated blend that includes 26% Mourvèdre and 23% Syrah, all aged in 35% new French oak. Stunning notes of black raspberries, ground pepper, Asian spices, and candied violets all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated wine that reminds me of a great vintage of Domaine de la Janasse's Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes cuvée.
It shows more chalky minerality with time in the glass and is pure, seamless, and beautifully put together. Drink it over the coming 10-12 years.
James Suckling
Critic Score: 96
This is incredible, offering red fruit, peach and some honeysuckle. Medium to full body, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. Tight and focused. 51% grenache, 26% mourvedre, and 23% syrah. Drink or hold.