Paso Robles Winemakers Tour

I signed up for the Boston stop on the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
tour because it sounded interesting. I don't drink much wine from California and don't know most of the producers. Does anyone have suggestions of wineries I should be sure to sample?
Thanks,
Charles

Boston Participating Wineries:
Anglim Winery
Bianchi Vineyard
Clautiere Vineyard
Clayhouse Vineyard
Eberle Winery
Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines
EOS Estate Winery
Four Vines Winery
Grey Wolf Cellars
Halter Ranch Vineyard
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Kenneth Volk Vineyards
L’Aventure Winery
Martin & Weyrich Winery
Niner Wine Estates
Opolo Vineyards
Orchid Hill Vineyard
Robert Hall Winery
Rotta Winery
Silver Horse Winery
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Treana Winery
Villa Creek Cellars
Vina Robles
Wild Horse Vineyard & Winery
Zenaida Cellars

Charles that`s cool. The California Wine Show is in Edmonton next Wednesday!!!
Eos for their P Sirah and Tablas for their whites, altho` guess the reds will be tasty. Many new names there, where`s Brian or Tom?!!

Those we have actually had and enjoyed include EOS (PS in particular), Four Vines (unoaked Chard), and Eberle (among the best value Cabs). Tablas Creek has a very good reputation, but have not tried any of theirs.

[Jenise]

Charles, something to remember when you taste Paso wines is that their climate is such that all the wines tend to be 15% plus, heavily fruited wines. Wines around 14% are rare.

Don't have any experience with most of the wines on your list, but when I went to Paso last September, Anglim, Niner and Clautiere were recommended to me--I didn't get to them but I'll pass that recco on to you. Did visit, and like, L'Aventure and Orchid Hill, and Tablas Creek was my favorite. It's the most European of the area's producers, and they're really sticking with their Beaucastel roots and vision. A friend of mine was in Opolo's club for awhile and so I tasted a number of their wines and found them all too ripe and jammy. Treana's wines have been interesting, though not neccessarily consistent. I have tasted one Ken Volk pinot--it's all black fruit and syrah-ish, a style of pinot I don't understand. Yet Ken Volk used to be owner and winemaker at Wild Horse, whose pinots I liked. Don't have any experience with Wild Horse since the change in ownership.

In two weeks time I'll be able to tell you about the Four Winds "Maverick" zinfandel, which is actually made out of Amador grapes from the Grandpere and Deaver vineyards, with a little syrah thrown in. This producer is based in Paso but apparently buys grapes from wherever they can to produce their wines. The winemaker calls the Maverick "a jam bomb". (I'm probably going to hate it. )

Thanks for the info and advice. The one I have some experience with is Tablas Creek, whose wines I've liked, but sounds like they are atypical. I'll definitely go into it with an open mind and open glass, and perhaps open mouth.
Charles

Charles,

As luck would have it, we live about a 90 minute drive from the Paso Wine Region. Of the wineries you listed these would be the ones I have tried and/or been to their tasting rooms [the rest are either very new or recent additions]:


Eberle Winery Excellent reds, but don't overlook their Chardonnay or Viognier.
EOS Estate Winery Hm. Well, not bad for the lower end of the premium wines.
Grey Wolf Cellars Over priced, but their high-end red is not bad.
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Reds, reds, reds; Great value for the quality!
Martin & Weyrich Winery Too Italian boutique-ish for my tastes....though the Nebiolo is still pretty nice.
Robert Hall Winery If you like thin wines with lots of fruit...this is the place.
Treana Winery The third or fourth rendition of a winery in the same building...not terribly impressive, IMHO. But the tasting room is gorgeous!
Wild Horse Vineyard & Winery The Motherlode of Central Coast red wine varietals! You are just going to love this place!
Zenaida Cellars A very nice Zin, IMO.


Hope it helps and have a great trip