Founded in the late 1990s by Swiss entrepreneur Hans Nef, Vina Robles has been a defining force in Paso Robles, crafting exceptional, award-winning wines that showcase the rich terroir of California’s Central Coast. Now, under the leadership of Courtney Benham and CMB Family of Wines, Vina Robles is entering an exciting new era. With a renewed focus on interactive tastings, approachable hospitality, and elevated wine experiences, the winery continues to honor its roots while embracing the future.

We tasted their 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon and totally enjoyed a classic Cab, brimming with cassis, dark cherries, blackcurrant, ripe plum, complemented by hints of mocha, graphite, and cedar. The finish was velvety and rich. This is a bold and refined wine crafted from carefully selected estate-grown fruit that delivers intense layers of aromatics and tastes. Aged in French oak, it showcases a smooth texture, fine-grained tannins, and a long, elegant finish. Perfectly structured for aging yet approachable in its youth. $40 a bottle.

Vina Robles’s 2022 Mountain Road Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has been extensively aged for 20 months in French oak to produce a blockbuster of a red wine. The fruit for the Mountain Road Reserve grows in the Adelaida District, at an elevation of 1,700 feet and only 12 miles from the Pacific Coast. Situated in the rugged coastal mountains west of Paso Robles, this prime vineyard site features rocky calcareous soils and southwestern exposures that lend themselves to producing stunning wines.

This Cab is made in small lots of limited-production, with a bit of Petit Verdot in the blend to enhance the structure of the finished wine. A balanced style with a rich character and refined mouthfeel, the wine had the aroma of cassis, boysenberry with notes of mocha, violets and a hint of white pepper. The taste? full-bodied, juicy purple fruits and mocha with an enveloping rich creamy finish. $68 a bottle.

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