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Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles
Experience
taught David Hunt that in order to make great wine, you must
simply have the best fruit. Thus, after looking at numerous
parcels of land, he finally settled on a uniquely beautiful
property, containing over 550 acres in Paso Robles, because
he knew it would produce the world-class fruit needed to craft
truly special wines. He's what our tasting panel thought about
some of his latest releases:

Click
on labels to enlarge |
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Unforgettable" Merlot
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Merlot
Region: Paso Robles, California
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
Lush aromas of black cherries, blackberries, and plums
combine with expressions of clove, toasty vanilla, and
dark chocolate on the nose. The palate showcases flavors
of cherry, blackberry, and plum alongside accents of clove,
cedar, and mocha. Plush tannins frame the wine nicely,
carrying inviting layers through to a long, dry finish.
Rating: 93 |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2014 "Rhapsody in Red" Blend
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Merlot,
Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, & Malbec
Region: Paso
Robles, California
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 70-75
Review:
Aromatics of red plums, red cherries, and blueberries
interweave among nuances of rose petal, cedar, and vanilla
on the nose. With a sip, flavors of cherry, blueberry,
and plum emerge, flowing into floral, oaky, and mocha
like notes. Well structured and layered, it will pair
nicely with prime rib.
Rating: 94 |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2014 "Starving Artist" Barbera
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Barbera
Region: Paso
Robles, California
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 55-60
Review:
A bouquet of strawberries, raspberries, fresh herbs, and
toasty vanilla rises up from a glass. Lively fruit red
comes up front, with strawberry, raspberry, and pomegranate
leading the way, complimented by allusions of toasty butterscotch
and wild herbs. Rather elegant, but still processing good
structure and a balanced acidity, open a bottle when you
serve veal or chicken parmigiana.
Rating: 92 |
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Hunt
Cellars 2014 "Rocket Man" Zinfandel
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): Zinfandel
Region: Paso
Robles, California
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 65-70
Review:
The nose weaves together aromas of plums, blackberries,
and dark cherries with suggestions of coffee, clove, and
toasty oak. Quite supple, flavors of blackberry, dark
plum, and cassis mingle among expressions of licorice,
mocha, and toasty brown spice on the palate. Dark, smooth,
and concentrated, it will match up well with BBQ ribs.
Rating: 92 |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2014 "Cloud 9" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet
Sauvignon
Region: Paso
Robles, California
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 70-75
Review:
Inviting fragrances of black cherries, cassis, and blackberries
play among suggestions of herbs, cocoa, toasty oak. With
a sip, flavors of blackberry, cherry, and currant come
together among nuances of fresh herbs, toasty brown spice,
and dark chocolate. Focused, complex, and dry, fans of
a Bordeaux style will find a lot to like here.
Rating: 94 |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2016 "Moonlight Sonata" Chardonnay
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Chardonnay
Region: Paso
Robles, California
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
Peach, apricot, and guava aromas intermingle with notes
of toasty oak, vanilla, and lemon peal on the nose. A
sip unfurls flavors of apricots, mangoes, and guavas that
coalesce with elements of lemon custard, butterscotch,
and barrel spice. Rich but lifted by a fresh acidity,
fans of balanced Chardonnay (not butter bombs) should
seek this out.
Rating: 92 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
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*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
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