THE STORY
If you can’t get down to Paso Robles for wine tasting, why not have Paso come to the Monterey Peninsula! When the co-chair of the Monterey AWS went down to Law Estate Wines last fall, the tasting room manager Tim offered to come up to Monterey to do a tasting for our group! We felt honored and special that Tim and his charming wife Christine would share its wines on the Monterey Peninsula.
Tim shared their personal story of how they met, their previous careers as tennis coaches who fell in love with Napa (and each other) when they met at a recruiting event. Eventually, they chucked their coaching careers and climbed their way up from the bottom in the wine business in Napa to find their way to Paso Robles and Law Estate Wines.
Tim shared 6 wines with us and sprinkled throughout his presentation a fascinating story of how Law Estate Wines came to be and some facts and figures – 880 acres planted in the Adelaida District and in Willow Creek, first planted in 2007 and first vintage in 2010, averaging 2 tons of fruit per acre, and an annual production of 6,000 cases. Their impressive tasting room opened in 2013. They don’t market – it is mostly through wine club memberships and word of mouth that they sell their wines. He explained well the distinction between white label (blends) and black label (single varietal reserves) wines. And he offered us instant membership (there is a wait list) if we bought 4 bottles that day. Sweet!
If you are interested in joining the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society, check out our website. Join the national AWS and select Monterey as your local chapter! We do a First Friday wine tasting at a local tasting room and have several special tastings throughout the year. We are an informal and fun group.
My previous post about tasting at Law is here: LAW: Now That’s a Classy Release Party!
ABOUT LAW
Story of Law:
“Why are we ‘Here’? One, we have long had a passion for Rhone inspired blends. Two, Paso Robles is ‘America’s Rhone’. Those parts were easy. Our mantra was to find a vineyard site that could produce ultra-premium, limited production, Rhone and Priorat style wines that would be a true expression of the site. After two years of evaluating many potential sites (almost to exasperation), we finally found our Holy Grail. The analysis of 42 soil pits on this site revealed coveted limestone with low vigor soils. This, combined with the high elevation and steep slopes, was the unique and remarkable property that would produce the premium fruit we desired. Critical to our goal is a winery that can manifest the quality of the terrific fruit and create a world-class wine. We also believe that the Tasting Room should be an environment much like your home living room, where you can relax with friends and family while enjoying our Law Estate wines. As we continue to showcase and share the best that our estate has to offer, we will always be honored to have you joining us in the adventure.”
SHARING ITS WINES ON THE MONTEREY PENINSULA
I have 7 wines to present to you today from Law Estate Wines: 6 from our tasting and 1 from dinner afterwards. Winery notes come from their website. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
2023 Law Estate Wines Rosé, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 13.4% ABV, $40 (#1322) 46% Grenache, 43% Mourvèdre, 7% Carignan, 4% Syrah
Winery Notes: “Bursting with aromas and flavors of lemon, blood orange, citrus blossom, wild strawberry and bright red cherry, this Rose achieves the utmost freshness and remarkability. 35% of this blend was aged in stainless steel retaining an electric purity, while 65% saw time in a mix of puncheon and barrel of neutral French oak, lending to its incredible texture and body. What is truly unique to Law’s Rose is the pick of Grenache and Mourvèdre specifically for this wine, identified early in the harvest to achieve the desired level of brilliance.”
My Review: Ballet slipper pink in color. Tart peach on the palate – a dry and great food wine, although I would sip this in the micro-climate! May 2024
2023 Law Estate Wines SOPH, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 14% ABV, $87 (#1323) 44% Roussanne, 26% Marsanne, 26% Clairette Blanche, 4% Grenache Blanc
Winery Notes for the 2022 Vintage: “The unity of this wine is linked on a tight rope of balance. Soph is pretty, yet serious; giving generously, yet remains focused. A lively tension of brilliant lemon and orange peel, balances a decadent ripeness of juicy white peach, golden apple, honeycomb, and honeysuckle; an act, brilliantly poised in the balance of ripeness and tension. Like the dawn of a Spring morning, it breathes new life and starts a new beginning. This beautiful Rhone expression can be cellared to build complexity over the next ten years; gaining maturity, wisdom and even more personality, like the true inspiration behind the wine itself, our lovely Sophia.”
My Review: “Pale golden and viscous in the glass. Sweet apricot, honey and orange blossom on the nose. Slightly sweet flavors on the palate. Was served a little too cold. As it warmed up, we could enjoy the rather complex, delicious flavors – there is a lot going on in this wine!” May 2024
2020 Law Estate Wines Beguiling, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15.7% ABV, $87 (#1180) 86% Grenache, 14% Syrah
Winery Notes: “This engaging wine exemplifies its brilliant light ruby shade with a breath of garigue, red cherry, cranberry compote, and dry-roasted fennel seed. A fresh floral lift, and touches of delicate oak, give restrained hints of vanilla and caramel. Its fleshy, lush finish shows a striking mouthfeel of rich, velvety, polished tannins. While primary fruit drives this wine, Beguiling shows the promise of tertiary complexity to come, with an ideal drinking window to capture its purity of fruit within 3 years of release.”
My Review: Garnet in color, almost purple. Fruit nose with notes of cherry and earth, touch of perfume and alcohol. Intense cassis and black currant on the palate. Heavy on the Grenache. Tobacco and ash on the finish. August 2023/May 2024
2020 Law Estate Wines Aspire, Adelaida District, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15.4% ABV, $85 (#1183) 83% Syrah, 17% Grenache
Winery Notes: “The hyper-expressive dark fruit of blackberry, blueberry and fig is cloaked in rich sage, black pepper, clove and cola. Aspire elevates with a freshness shining through, in the dark crimson glass. French oak adds a vanilla and charred bacon component to its juicy, full-bodied structure. The bold finish cradles a sweet pipe tobacco, spice and dark chocolate that feel luxurious and reinforcing. Hedonistic is the appropriate word while sipping Aspire, and will culminate a pleasant symmetry and luxury now, and over the next 6 years.”
My Review: Dark purple in the glass. Caramel, cocoa, cinnamon and dark plum on the nose. Rich blackberry/cassis, blueberry and plum flavors on the palate. A slightly bitter finish. I liked this wine. Picked just right. August 2023/May 2024
2020 Law Estate Wines Audacious, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15.5% ABV, $85 (#1181) 41% Grenache, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah
Winery Notes: “Showcasing a deep cherry red and magenta core, the nose expresses delicate red fruits of currant and strawberry, assisted by structured graphite, cassis and blackberry from the generous helping of Cabernet Sauvignon. Opulent and full textured, French oak accentuates the mouthfeel, but is never dominant. This togetherness combines the lovely floral aromatics of Grenache with the savory panache of Cabernet. While accessible now and carrying a seamless structure and mouthfeel, patience will reward mid-term cellaring of around 4-6 years of release.”
My Review: Dark garnet, almost purple in color. Blackberry on the nose. Dark fruit wrapped in tobacco, with a little leather on the finish. This is a tasty, well-integrated blend. I liked this wine. August 2023/May 2024
2021 Law Estate Wines Sagacious, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15% ABV, $87 (#1324) 35% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre, 31% Syrah (new release)
Winery Notes for the 2019 Vintage: “Always true to its name, Sagacious presents the embodiment of wisdom exponentially over time, showing an immaculate purity of fruit, structure, and an everlasting finish. The 2019 Sagacious drives an array of mouth-watering black and red fruits, dried cherries, crushed violets, cedar, and dried sweet herbs. Bright, silky, and fresh in its youth, this wine is destined for an extraordinary evolution through infinite layers of aromatics and flavors, producing unbridled umami notes in its graceful aging for many years to come.”
My Review: Dark garnet, almost purple in the glass. Nice nose of dark red and black fruits, carrying over to a brighter palate than the other wines. Young. A very tasty and balanced wine. We liked this wine. May 2024
2017 Law Estate Wines The Nines, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15% ABV, $115 (#1325) 100% Grenache
Winery Notes: “This wine’s stunning fragrance will put you in a trance of juicy raspberry and strawberry cascading through a maze of cobbled riverbed stones. Its outstanding focus of freshness and purity is accentuated by hints of sage, lemon thyme and fresh green herbs, creating full-bodied richness, great mid-palate weight and silky tannins. Enchanting, yet powerful, this is certainly the most incredible expression of Grenache in a vintage that highlights the signature beauty of the variety and will continue to evolve for at least 5 years or more.” 96 points – Jeb Dunnuck
My Review: Perfume on the nose with cherry and plum notes. The palte was, in one word – woah! Full bodied with some spice, blueberry and black raspberry. A little stemmy. Soft and supple. By far, the biggest Grenache we have ever tasted! May 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
“Our modern and welcoming tasting room sits on a hill overlooking the 100% estate grown Law Family Vineyard. All of the tastings are by appointment, which allows us to create personal relationships in a seated-style tasting with our guests. Guests will enjoy a flight-format of four wines while a host explains the wines, history, facility and winemaking practices. Tastings are one hour in length. Tasting fees are $45 per person. Active Black Label Members receive four complimentary tastings each visit. Active White Label Members receive two complimentary tastings each visit…
“Click HERE to book your appointment with us through CellarPass. Please call (805)226-9200 to check availability for day of appointment requests.”
Law is open by appointment only, 6 days a week (closed Wednesdays) for tastings at 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30, 4pm. Please consult their website for more information and updates.
© Decanting Monterey 2023
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