We received the following letter from Chloe Asseo, the daughter of Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery about some pretty amazing accolades the wines recently received from Jeb Dunnuck of the “Wine Advocate”. We’ve had L’Aventure wines on numerous occasions and must say, they are definitely incredible! We’re excited for the Asseo family and for L’Aventure! Congrats, guys!!!
Greetings,
My father, Stephan Asseo, has never been one to focus on scores when making his wines. He prioritizes his terroir, the balance and texture in his wine and more importantly his personal palette as he likes to say “I make wines that I like and that I want to drink today or in ten years.” Over the past few years, the Wine Advocate has reviewed our wines incredibly well… but I think this year tops it off! We couldn’t be more happy and proud for Stephan and Beatrice (Stephan’s wife, whose cuvee For Her was named after her) on these wonderful reviews that they received from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
Please find below Jeb Dunnuck’s reviews of our 2014 Vintage. Enjoy the read!
“One of the reference point estates in Paso Robles is unquestionably Stephan Asseo’s L’Aventure. Located just off of Highway 46, in the middle of the appellation, Stephan now produces six red cuvees: The entry level Optimus based on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot; the Côte à Côte based on Grenache, with smaller parts of Mourvedre and Syrah; the Demoiselles based largely on Mourvedre; the Cuvée Chloé, named after Stephan’s daughter and always blend of 70/30 Syrah and Grenache; the Estate Cuvée based on Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (there’s always a small portion of Petit Verdot); and lastly, the For Her Cuvée, based on Syrah, Mourvedre, and Viognier. In addition to these, he makes a sensational Rhone theme white. This estate has just completed construction on a new cave, and 2016 will be the first vintage completely aged here.”- Jeb Dunnuck
Estate Cuvée Blanc 2015 – 93 points (sold out)
Always one of my favorite whites from Paso, the 2015 Cuvée Blanc is a blend of 38% Roussanne (this will be the last vintage to include Roussanne as it was replanted), 36% Grenache Blanc and 26% Viognier that was brought up in a mix of new, once used and twice filled barrels. This rich, textured, gorgeously pure beauty is loaded with notions of orange blossom, flower oil and citrus, and it stays fresh and lively on the palate while not making any concessions on texture and depth. Drink it over the coming couple of years.
Optimus 2014 – 92 points
The entry level cuvee that readers should snag a case of is the 2014 Optimus. Made from 42% Syrah, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Petit Verdot, it’s a supple, seamless and elegant wine that gives a small window into the quality and style from this terrific estate. Its deep purple color is followed by classy notes of black raspberries, spice box, dried flowers and underbrush in a fullbodied, balanced and lengthy package. It lacks the depth and length of the top cuvee here, but it is nevertheless a beautiful wine to drink over the coming 7-8 years.
Estate Cuvée 2014 – 98 points
A massive, gorgeously rich and decadent version of this cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cuvée (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot) is reminiscent of a 2005 Pomerol with its huge bouquet of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, damp earth and leafy herb aromas and flavors. Thick, full-bodied, unctuous and palate-saturating, yet still with purity and grace, it’s an insanely good Bordeaux blend (or close) from Paso Robles that will have two decades of overall longetivity.
Côte à Côte 2014 – 96 points
Looking at the 2014s, these are serious wines that are reminiscent of Stephan’s sensational 2012s (which were some of the top rated wines in the vintage). The 2014 Côte à Côte is 50% Grenache, 28% Mourvedre and 22% Syrah, all from the limestone soils of the estate L’Aventure vineyard. Deep, full-bodied, gorgeously layered and with plenty of fine tannin, this big, rich 2014 is loaded with notion of cassis, toasted spice, peppery herbs and graphite. Still backwards and tight, yet loaded with potential, give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decade.
Les Demoiselles 2014- 96 points (sold out)
Revealing a deep purple color and terrific notes of plum, blackberries, singed herbs, cedary spice and leather, the 2014 Demoiselles Proprietary Red is full-bodied and gorgeous on the palate, with building richness, fine tannin and a great finish. Made from 60% Mourvedre, 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache that spent 14 months in 40% new French oak, it possesses a deep, concentrated mid-palate and the structure and balance to evolve for a decade or more. Readers looking to see what top flight Mourvedre from Paso Robles tastes like need to latch onto this wine.
We will be releasing the Chloe 2014 and For Her 2014 in October. As always, the fall release will be “WINE CLUB ONLY” wines. You will be receiving an email closer to the release date with more details.
Chloé 2014- 97 points (CLUB ONLY- FALL RELEASE)
The 2014 Cuvee Chloé (67 Syrah and 33% Grenache) is another screaming good wine 2014 from this estate. A big, ripe, sexy and unctuously textured red that made me want to stop the tasting and just sit back and drink a glass, it offers classy notes of ripe blackberries, raspberries, roasted herbs, licorice and floral aromas and flavors. Already approachable and ready to go, drink this hedonistic, yet pure and impeccably balanced beauty over the coming 7-8 years.
or Her 2014- 100 points (CLUB ONLY- FALL RELEASE)
Pure perfection and one of the greatest wines to come from these limestone slopes on the west side of Paso Robles, the 2014 For Her is a blend of 58% Syrah, 32% Monastrell and the rest Viognier that was all cofermented and aged 14 months in 55% new French oak. This inky black colored, massively rich, yet graceful and elegant red offers killer notes of black raspberries, red plums, creme de cassis, crushed flowers and graphite. A singular wine that could come from nowhere else, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, utra-fine tannin, huge fruit and that weightless component on the palate that’s a part of all great wines. I suspect it will close down slightly for a year or two, yet drink beautifully for 10-15 years. Hats off to proprietor Stephan Asseo for this incredible wine!
If you have any questions, please contact the tasting room by email: tastingroom@aventurewin
Yes, I was aware of this amazing score and not surprised one bit. So happy and excited for them.
We feel the same way, Laura! Cheers!!!