
Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, Ca
Experience
taught David Hunt, owner and winemaker at Hunt Cellars, 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. Heís what
our tasting panel thought about some of his latest releases:

Click
on labels to enlarge |
Hunt
Cellars 2014 "Cask 21" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet
Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, California
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 140-145
Review:
A mix of black cherry, plum, and boysenberry aromas come
together with expressions of caramel, oak, and dark chocolate
on the nose. Flavors of plums, dark cherries, and bramble
berries unfold into suggestions of caramel, toasty oak,
and cocoa on the palate. Plush tannins and compelling
layers make this a Cab for beef tenderloin.
Rating: 94 |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2013"Cask 21" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet
Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, California
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 140-145
Review:
Waves of black cherries, cassis, and blackberries come
up from a glass, along with accents of smoky oak, toasty
vanilla, and brown spice. With a sip, flavors of currant,
cherry, and dark plum play among nuances of cedar, vanilla,
and clove. Dusty tannins frame the wine nicely and will
give it a long life. Enjoy now with a rib eye or lay it
down for five+ years.
Rating: 93+ |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2014 "Unforgettable" Merlot
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Merlot
Region: Paso Robles, California
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
Plum and cherry aromas mingle around undertones of brown
spice, toasty oak, and anise on the nose. Lots of rich,
dark fruit, including plums, black cherries, and blackberries,
comes up front on the palate and moves into elements of
cedar, baking spice, and earth. A good structure and dry
finish make this a Merlot to enjoy with pasta in a chunky
meat sauce.
Rating: 92+ |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2014 "Irresistible" Petite Sirah
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Petite
Sirah
Region: Paso Robles, California
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 45-50
Review:
Swirling a glass brings up aromas of blackberries, plums,
anise, and toasty brown spice. The palate reveals blackberry
jam, blueberry, and plum flavors that meld among notes
of cedar, all-spice, and coffee. Plush tannins and dark
fruit frame the wine well. Pair with BBQ chicken.
Rating: 91 |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Irresistible" Petite Sirah
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Petite
Sirah
Region: Paso Robles, California
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 45-50
Review:
There's blueberries, cherries, and blackberries accented
by white pepper, clove, and toasty oak on the nose. After
a sip, flavors of blueberry, plum, and cherry emerge,
followed by whispers of brown spice, smoky oak, and pepper.
Cocoa tannins and rich layers make this a stand out Petite
Sirah.
Rating: 94 |
 |
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Encore Plus" Red Blend
Winery:
Hunt
Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet
Franc, Cabernet Savignon, and Petit Verdot
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 105-110
Review:
A bouquet of apricots, peaches, ginger, and white blossoms
rises up from a glass. Thereís flavors of peach
and apricot that play among whispers of orange blossom,
spice, and honey on the palate. A nice acidity and lively
flavors make this a good food wine. Pair with Thai dishes.
150 cases were made.
Rating: 94 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|