Winery
of the Week:
Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, Ca
David
Hunt, the owner and winemaker of Hunt Cellars, is blind, but
he still plays the piano and names most of his wines after musical
terms. David says that his blindness makes his palate and nose
extra-sensitive. Maybe that's why he makes such special wines.
Here's what our panel thought about a handful of his recent
releases.
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Que Sirah, Syrah" Blend
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): Syrah, Grenache & Petite
Sirah
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 45-50
Review:
Waves of blueberries, blackberries, and plums dance with
allusions of clove, dark chocolate, and toasty oak on
the nose. Lovely flavors of blackberry, plum, and raspberry
wrap around highlights of dark chocolate, caramel, and
all-spice on the palate. Supple and alluring, it's velvety
and layered and will pairing nicely with ribs in a slightly
sweet BBQ sauce. 350 cases produced.
Rating: 95 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Cabovation" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 70-75
Review:
Blackberries, currants, and dark cherries blend with vanilla
and cedar spice on the nose. Focused flavors of plum,
blackberry, and black cherry mingle with suggestions of
toasty oak, clove, and smoke on the palate. Good structure
and rich flavors make this a stand out Cab. 450 cases
were made.
Rating: 94 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Clound 9" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 70-75
Review:
A mix of cherry, cassis, and blackberry jam aromas meld
with hints of toasty vanilla and clove on the nose. Lush
and smooth on the palate, lots of cherries, boysenberries,
and cassis dominate, with expressions of pine, clove,
and toasty oak in the background. Layered and framed by
supple tannins, it's an ideal wine for filet mignont.
250 cases produced.
Rating: 93 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Bon Vivant" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
One is greeted by aromatics of dark cherries, currants,
and blackberries that play among whispers of vanilla,
all-spice, and oak. The velvety palate opens up with lush
blackberry, plum, and cassis flavors and flows into brown
spice, vanilla, and campfire oak. Lovely flavor and welcoming
tannins make this a good bottle to enjoy when serving
lamb. 500 cases were made.
Rating: 94 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Rhapsody in Red" Blend
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot
& Petite Verdot
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 70-75
Review:
A mix of bing cherries, plums, and bramble berries, accented
by mocha, anise, and oak rise up from a glass. The palate
is framed by silky tannins, with flavors of cherry, plum,
and blackberry in harmony among elements of dark chocolate,
licorice, and toasty vanilla. Elegant yet layered, this
could work very well with roast duck. 350 cases produced.
Rating: 93 |
|
Hunt
Cellars 2013 "Hilltop Serenade" Syrah
Winery:
Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): 100% Syrah
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 55-60
Review:
Aromatics of plum, cherry, and pomegranate are accented
by nuances of clove, anise, and coffee on the nose. Inviting
flavors of plums, dried figs, and pomegranates coalesce
with notes of espresso, licorice, and campfire spice on
the palate. Plush tannins frame a complex profile make
this a special Syrah. 150 cases were made.
Rating: 94 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, CA
Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, CA
Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, CA
Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, CA
Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, CA
Winery
of the Week: Hunt Cellars - Paso Robles, CA
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
|