Clayhouse Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
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2013-
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Suckling
James
There's an adobe home among the vines at Red Cedar Vineyard. It's no longer habitable, but the Clayhouse owners maintain it... and it's holding up pretty well after more than 150 years.
Adobe is sun-dried bricks, with the bricks formed from a particular local clay, combined with straw and water. These bricks were a primary building material in California from the Spanish mission period until the Gold Rush.There are other adobe buildings in the area, but this one, at Red Cedar Vineyard, was inspiring in important ways: It's a home, built brick by brick from elements of this place... earth, water, sun. So, that's the inspiration for the winery and wine names: Clayhouse and Adobe as depicted on the wine labels.
As Paso Robles, California has soared in number of wineries and gained in popularity, Cabernet Sauvignon has firmly taken root as the region’s number one varietal. Alone, it accounts for just over 40% of plantings and is grown throughout both the western and eastern sides of the appellation. Though viticulture here dates back to the 18th century, Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t emerge as a significant grape here until the 1970’s. But since then it has definitely made up for lost time.
Legendary winemaker and consultant Andre Tchelistcheff first recognized Paso’s potential with Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1960’s. The calcareous soil and dramatic diurnal temperature changes of Paso’s westside particularly intrigued him. Today modern winemaking techniques and focused experimentation with various clones, rootstocks and vineyard strategies optimize the region's ideal combination of soil and climate to deliver the best fruit possible.
The results are evident in the glass. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon can be mesmerizing, with rich aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, graphite, toasty oak, vanilla and spice. The structure, balance and unbridled opulence of these wines impress from first sip to last. Not surprisingly, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons have steadily grown in reputation, not just in the U.S., but around the world.