Villa Creek 2020 'Avenger' Red Rhone Blend, Paso Robles

Villa Creek 2020 'Avenger' Red Rhone Blend, Paso Robles

Item Number: 17855

UPC: 0-735202001103

Country: USA
Region: California
Sub Region: Central Coast
Appellation/AVA: Paso Robles
Estate Grown Wine: No
Vintage: 2020
Grape(s): 38% Syrah / 36% Carignan / 20% Petite Sirah / 5% Grenache / 1% Mourvedre
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 14.8
pH: 3.7
Viticulture: Certified Organic

Winemaking Notes: All grape clusters are manually harvested and double sorted by hand on vibrating sorting tables. Native yeast fermented in a selection of concrete and stainless steel with alternating pump overs and punch downs for desired extraction. Basket pressed into a selection of French and Hungarian barrels (10% new). Aged for 20 months before bottling. The Villa Creek winery is a Demeter biodynamic certified facility. As biodynamic standards allow for minimal SO2 use, additions of sulfites are only used when required and not a common practice.

Tasting Notes: The aromatics show blackberry, iron, sage, smoked meat, and purple flowers. The palate is compact showing berry and bramble, licorice, and thyme. It is very Old World in style with firm structure and a dense mouthfeel of tangy black and blue fruit, with iron and stone. Finishes with ripe tannin.

Vineyard Notes: Villa Creek wines are made with grapes grown on their home estate, MAHA, and with grapes from vineyards that meet their growing criteria of being certified organic and/or biodynamic or practicing organic farming methods. Currently their vineyard sources include MAHA, James Berry, Luna Matta and Slide HIll.

Reviews

  • Jeb Dunnuck
    Rating: 94 (9/26/2022)
    The 2020 Avenger has subtle aromatics but brings plenty of richness and texture. Darker fruits, cassis, ground pepper, and leather define the aromatics, and it has a great mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a terrific Syrah from a more challenging vintage. Count me impressed. The blend is 40% Syrah, 35% Carignan, 21% Petite Sirah, and the rest Grenache, from the MHAH Estate and Luna Matta vineyards, that spent 18 months in mostly neutral barrels.