Winery of the Year - International Sommelier Challenge, 2011
Platinum Medal - Sommelier Challenge, 2011
93 Points - Robert Whitley, winereviewonline.com, 2011
92 Points - Cabernet Shootout, 2011
91 Points - Wine Enthusiast, April 2011
Gold Medal - Orange County Fair, 2011
Gold Medal - West Coast Wine Competition, 2011
After a few weeks in Northern California, this week WineHeist heads south to the Central Coast, and more specifically to Paso Robles, home to some of the best quality to price ratio red wines in California. We have written in the past about Eberle Winery, and owner/winemaker Gary Eberle's history in Paso Robles dating back to 1973. One of the advantages that having such a long history in one place is the ability to make wine from vines that are not only fully mature, but that the winemaker has had a chance to really get to know. This attention to detail is evident in every aspect of Eberle’s 2007 Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and it shows in the litany of medals and 90+ point scores that this wine has received.
The 2007 Eberle Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from thirty-year-old vines, is deep garnet in color. The nose is unmistakably Cabernet, with kirsch, leather, dark chocolate and blackberry aromas. The palate is equally expressive, with flavors leaning more toward blueberry, black cherry, and eucalyptus. Lush and full bodied, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is made a fruit forward style typical of Paso Robles, and perfect for drinking in the near term. This has the stuffing to hold up to whatever the last days of winter may hold in store for us, but it also has the fresh fruit flavors that make it well suited to warm weather drinking. At just $27, you will not find a better bargain on an estate grown, mature vineyard Cabernet anywhere in California.
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Paso Robles
Vineyard: Estate
Alcohol: 14.9%
Acidity: .66
pH: 3.55
Brix at Harvest: 25.7˚
Date Harvested: 10/23/07
Cases Produced: 3532
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Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
90 Points
Deep garnet in color, with enticing aromas of brandied cherry, lavender, and forest floor. The palate is juicy and engaging with blueberries coursing through with depth and keeps you running back for more. Pure and balanced with perfect levels of acidity with notes of salted caramel, and cocoa. It's ripe silky tannins lead to a long supple finish that just keeps on giving.
94 Points
Deep red-purple with aromas of black currents, blackberry, plum, chocolate, earthy forest floor, licorice, graphite, and subtle floral notes of violet, spice and cracked pepper. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry fruit with notes of earth, firm acid and silky tannins. Finishes big with blackberry fruit and peppery spice.
95 Points
Lofty aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, and plum mingle with hints of baking spices and a touch of violet. The palate reveals luscious flavors of ripe berries, complemented by notes of black pepper and a subtle earthiness. With well-integrated tannins and a long lingering finish.
94 Points
Juice explodes out right of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
93 Points
Dark fruit with blueberry fruit aromas and notes of mocha and cassis. The texture is silky, rich and mouth-filling with berry pie, black tea, exotic spice and notes of chocolate fudge on the palate. Fine grain tannins lengthen the finish with dark fruit flavors mingling with just a hint of mint.
92 Points
Deep garnet core with aromas of crème de cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice mingle and swirl on the nose. The palate is equally gorgeous with extremely rich cookie, walnut, plum and cassis with a long smooth creamy vanilla finish. This one is aged to perfection and ready to show off.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
Exceptional!
Reddish-purple in color with aromas of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, herbs de Provence, and licorice. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry, cassis, and licorice that carries through, with notes of black pepper, mocha and chocolate. Very long, spicy, with a fruit-driven finish. Great aging potential.
92 Points
Rich, bold & spicy. Deep garnet colored in the glass. The nose gives loads of blackberry, plum, fresh raspberry and peppery aromas, while the palate delivers juicy berry compote, cassis, caramel and black pepper flavors before a rich, tannic finish. Four to five years in the cellar will round this out nicely.
Chewy & Ripe!
Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, bacon, blackberry jam, and black tea. Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight. Rich, structured, and complex, with a long evolving finish.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
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