Winery
of the Week:
Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles
By FBWorld Team
At
Hunt Cellars, winemaker David Hunt,
has an artistic side, too. Alas, David lost his sight in 1989,
so his expressions of art come in the form of his winemaking
and his music. As a musician, he plays at his own winemaker
dinners and indulges his passion for music by bestowing his
wines with musical titles. Despite his blindness, David can
still appreciate the beauty of Paso Robles. For him it comes
through in the soil, the weather, the water and ultimately in
the wines.
Here's
what our tasting panel had to say about a handful of his current
wines:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Hunt
Cellars 2009 "Thriller" Blend
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): Syrah, Cabernet, Petite Sirah,
Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Franc
Region: Paso Robles
Year: 2009
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: n/a
Review:
The nose offers aromas of cherries, blackberries, plums,
and cassis that open up into suggestions of chocolate,
clove, vanilla, and pepper. The palate delivers flavors
of blackberry, blueberry, plum, and cherry, along with
hints of creamy oak, black pepper, and sweet spice. A
lush, wonderfully layered wine, it's a dream to pair with
pulled-pork.
Rating: 94 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2009 "Red Velvet" Blend
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Region: Paso Robles
Year: 2009
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: n/a
Review:
Aromatics of cherries, blackberries, and plums meld with
suggestions of sweet spice and vanilla on the nose. Black
cherry, blackberry, and plum unfurl on the palate along
with notes of mocha, clove, and cedar. A lush, supple
wine with exquisite layers, this is a red blend to be
savored.
Rating: 95 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2009 "Unforgettable" Merlot
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): 100% Merlot
Region: Paso Robles
Year: 2009
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: n/a
Review:
A bouquet of black cherries, currants, and plums rises
up from a glass. A sip reveals flavors of cherry, baked
currants, and black plum accented by toasty vanilla. A
supple red, with good structure for aging, it's a Merlot
that even Cab lovers can enjoy.
Rating: 93 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2009 "Outlaw Ridge" Zinfandel
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): 100% Zinfandel
Region: Paso Robles
Year: 2009
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: n/a
Review:
Blackberry and boysenberry aromas interweave with suggestions
of clove, vanilla, and anise on the nose. Flavors of blackberries,
blueberries, and boysenberries unfold into nuances of
cedar, sweet spice, and licorice on the palate. A supple
Zin with excellent structure, enjoy a bottle now with
BBQ ribs or let it develop in the cellar.
Rating: 95 |
By
Jason Barlow
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
|